Poets and writers are invited to write in and around the historic Edwin Markham House at History Park.
Poets@Play is a monthly writing workshop in partnership with Poetry Center San Jose.
Edwin Markham House @ History Park, 635 Phelan Avenue, San Jose, CA, 95112
Poetry Center San José presents Poets@Play with facilitators Harvey Gray and Wil Gibson!
Poets may share a favorite poem by another poet, or one of their own, followed by a writing workshop. Please bring the tools you will need to write.
Facilitators biographical below info.
We will do our best to establish a safe space free of hate speech but also stay open to people's fears and real dialogue if it is needed.
Admission is FREE.
Free parking in the Staff/Volunteer lot on Phelan Avenue.
Please enter History Park from the Phelan Avenue side. Questions? Call 408-368-0353
RSVP recommended but not required: programming@pcsj.org
Meet Harvey and Wil!
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.
Learn more about History Park through History San Jose.