WORDS IS CELEBRATING
WORDS performances is set for May
23rd and will be held in Yosemite,
California.
Founder James Downs says, “This
community arts organization has been
a performance outlet for many poets,
song writers, storytellers, even
novelists. I’m hoping that as many of
the artists who have participated in
the past can make it up to Yosemite
and share in this day.”
James is in the process of securing
a space for WORDS, so stay tuned
here for further information.
Come on up to the beautiful spring
blooming Sierra and join us as we
celebrate WORDS performances in
May. Everyone welcome.
James Downs
WORDS performances is set for May
23rd and will be held in Yosemite,
California.
Founder James Downs says, “This
community arts organization has been
a performance outlet for many poets,
song writers, storytellers, even
novelists. I’m hoping that as many of
the artists who have participated in
the past can make it up to Yosemite
and share in this day.”
James is in the process of securing
a space for WORDS, so stay tuned
here for further information.
Come on up to the beautiful spring
blooming Sierra and join us as we
celebrate WORDS performances in
May. Everyone welcome.
James Downs
A Short History of WORDS performances
WORDS performances was formed out of a perceived
need. Yosemite poet James Downs returned to Yosemite in
1999 after a short absence and noticed many of his writer
friends had no outlet for their works. Having had directing
and performance producing experience in community theatre
back in his home state of Texas, James realized that he could
initiate and produce a writer's night for Yosemite.
After research, James made contact with the National Park
Service. NPS allows space in their auditorium if no
admission is charged to the audience. Chris Edison has been
very helpful in scheduling each event.
The first WORDS performance took place in early 2000
with participants presenting poems, songs, stories and an
excerpt of a novel in progress. The other community need
fulfilled was that another arts activity was made available
for the Yosemite community; forty of them attended the
first performance.
Since that initial performance, there have been sixteen more
WORDS performances, at least two a year including one
with grade school children at Yosemite Elementary School.
On November 4, 2006 the seventeenth Words performance
took place in Yosemite Valley Visitor Center East
Auditorium and a good gathering shared their works
WORDS has often brought guest artists to perform their
works along with the local Yosemite artists. Past guest
artists have included singer-songwriter Mark Spoelstra and
poets Grace Grafton, Tony White, Brandon Cesmat, Sandra
Stillwell, Maria Rosales, Gail Entrekin and Joe Zaccardi.
James Downs's publisher Poetic Matrix Press has been an
on-going co-sponsor of WORDS performances and
WORDS has been a show place for many Poetic Matrix Press
authors. WORDS has received matching funds for the guest
artists from Poets and Writers, Inc.
This local Yosemite arts group has included regular
performers Cynthia McFann, Julie Miller, John Peterson,
James Downs, guitarist Mike Gover and others.
WORDS performances is happily now an established
cultural activity for both writer-performers, guest artists
and community audience members alike in Yosemite Valley and
the surrounding gateway communities.
WORDS performances was formed out of a perceived
need. Yosemite poet James Downs returned to Yosemite in
1999 after a short absence and noticed many of his writer
friends had no outlet for their works. Having had directing
and performance producing experience in community theatre
back in his home state of Texas, James realized that he could
initiate and produce a writer's night for Yosemite.
After research, James made contact with the National Park
Service. NPS allows space in their auditorium if no
admission is charged to the audience. Chris Edison has been
very helpful in scheduling each event.
The first WORDS performance took place in early 2000
with participants presenting poems, songs, stories and an
excerpt of a novel in progress. The other community need
fulfilled was that another arts activity was made available
for the Yosemite community; forty of them attended the
first performance.
Since that initial performance, there have been sixteen more
WORDS performances, at least two a year including one
with grade school children at Yosemite Elementary School.
On November 4, 2006 the seventeenth Words performance
took place in Yosemite Valley Visitor Center East
Auditorium and a good gathering shared their works
WORDS has often brought guest artists to perform their
works along with the local Yosemite artists. Past guest
artists have included singer-songwriter Mark Spoelstra and
poets Grace Grafton, Tony White, Brandon Cesmat, Sandra
Stillwell, Maria Rosales, Gail Entrekin and Joe Zaccardi.
James Downs's publisher Poetic Matrix Press has been an
on-going co-sponsor of WORDS performances and
WORDS has been a show place for many Poetic Matrix Press
authors. WORDS has received matching funds for the guest
artists from Poets and Writers, Inc.
This local Yosemite arts group has included regular
performers Cynthia McFann, Julie Miller, John Peterson,
James Downs, guitarist Mike Gover and others.
WORDS performances is happily now an established
cultural activity for both writer-performers, guest artists
and community audience members alike in Yosemite Valley and
the surrounding gateway communities.
| A twice yearly program of poetry, music and the spoken word by and for the Yosemite Community, Park visitors and members of the gateway communities |
| WORDS |
| performances |
WORDS Returns!!