January 2024 featured poets, Harvey Gray and Wil Gibson.
Third Thursdays is a monthly poetry program in partnership with Poetry Center San Jose and hosted by Mighty Mike McGee!
Willow Glen Library, 1157 Minnesota Ave, San José, 95125
Sign up for the open mic begins at 6:30pm. Featured poet begins shortly after 7pm. Open mic to follow.
Poetry Center San José presents featured poets Harvey Gray and Wil Gibson!
Unrelated Issues started in a middle school writing group where Wil was a teacher and Harvey was a student. Then Wil met and married Harvey’s Mom, Susanna. Then Wil became Dad. Then son became the Youth Poet Laureate of their town. Then dad became the adult Poet Laureate of their town. Then they all put on a couple annual poetry festivals.
Then dad & son decided to go on a poetry tour… that pretty much gets us up to date.
Harvey Gray Mitchell is combination perma-teenager/poet from the Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation who enjoys reading Vonnegut, watching Romero zombie movies, and bothering his younger sister. He has lived in Humboldt Country all his life. He served as the Eureka youth poet laureate for two years (2018-2020) and attended Dodge College of Film and Media Arts at Chapman University for one year (2022-2023). He writes poetry about adolescence, trauma, resilience, queerness, and, ultimately, love.
Harvey has an eye for subtext and syntax far beyond their 20 years, has published 4 chapbooks of their work and have an upcoming full length collection with Swimming With Elephants Publications.
Harvey loves his family more than anything. Everything he writes is for them.
Wil Gibson has been touring the country for the better part of 20 years; poeming across the country with a revolving cast of tourmates, this tour might be his proudest because he gets to alongside his son, who also happens to be one of his best friends. He is a proud partner, father, and grandfather, currently the Eureka, CA Poet Laureate, and is and is co-director of ReWorded Poetry & Entertainment alongside his loving and patient partner (in all things) Susanna.
He has opened for or shared stage with Andrea Gibson (no relation), Buddy Wakefield, Brother Ali, Mybrightestdiamond, Charlie Neville, & Kurtis Blow.
Together, they put on a unique, truthful, passionate, & artistic poetry show that explores parenthood, childhood, & friendship.
For booking contact unrelatedissues@wilgibson.com currently booking January and February 2024 for the West Coast.
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Poetry Center San José's mission is to nurture and promote diverse literary expression in our community as a means of exploring, defining, and enriching the human experience.
For those under 18 years of age who may be attending, we recommend that a parent/legal guardian be with you during the program.
Please observe our Safety Guidelines.
To request an accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act for library-sponsored events, please call 408-808-2355 or email Accessibility@sjlibrary.org at least three business days prior to the event