Chris Olander features with AndYes
Monday, January 21, 7:30
Sacramento Poetry Center, 1719 25th St
Host: Penny Kline
Free Event . . . Open Mic
| “His (Olander’s) stage presence is captivating, he not only invites you to the party, but makes you think it’s your birthday.” — Bill Gainer “Chris Olander is a master at using the alliteration of sounds and of intonation as well.” — W. Staple & G. Snyder Chris Olander, poet, teacher and bio-educator with California Poets in the Schools (CPITS) since 1984, blends performance techniqueswith spoken word to create an Action Art Poetry: musical image phrasing to dramatize relative experiences–a poetry arising from oral and bardic traditions. “I am a sound poet exploring various meanings of words, phrasings and ideas arranged in sound and rhythm patterns. “More dynamic than listening to a recording or reading, I become the poem. I use contemporary events to bring forth and reveal mythic themes and archetypes that social and religious institutions repress within duty, shame, routine and repetitive behaviors. Individual recognition of common archetypes within the poems re-establishes respect between humans and the others of nature and renews the integrity of all individual species within the community of a given place. We are all in this together—what we make of it is what we get!” M.A. Creative Writing, 1983, Ca. State University, Sacramento. NCArts Literary Committee member of Nevada County Arts Council, 2013-18. Organizer and featured reader in the Berkeley Watershed Poetry Festival for 20 years, 1998-2018, sponsored by “Poetry Flash” and R. Hass, U.S. Poet Laureate. Artistic Director for Nevada County Poetry Series in GrassValley for 13 years, 2000-2012. Artistic Director for Poets Playhouse Series in Nevada City for 10 years 1989-98. Poet Coach for CAC’s Poetry Out Loud Program for High Schools inNevada, Placer, Sacramento and El Dorado Counties, 2007-2018; his students have won CA State Competitions in 4 years: 1 first place, 1 Second Place, 2 third places; 13 county champions for Placer and Nevada Counties. Chris has several Chapbooks, audio CDs and CDs accompanied by various musicians. |
AndYes is the founder and teacher for in the professional youth poetry mentorship program called “Operation FreeSoul” in Sacramento. As well, he is als
AndYes is the founder and teacher for in the professional youth poetry mentorship program called “Operation FreeSoul” in Sacramento. As well, he is also the Grand Slam Poetry Champion of Sacramento, and is a first-generation Cuban-American National Poetry Slam poet who is a part of Zero Forbidden Goals (an arts and activism group). He has been working alongside The City of Sacramento, the Crocker Art Museum, Planned Parenthood, and has been featured across Sacramento, the Bay, Washington, Oregon, and overseas in Europe with 100 Thousand Poets for Change. Additionally, he is featured on Button Poetry, and has represented the City of Sacramento in the National Poetry Slam both times the city has sent a team in the past 10 years.His work has also been featured in publications like The Huffington Post, as well as news and television broadcasts across the country. Among his many engagements, his highest achievement was being asked to speak at the California Democratic Convention in 2018, in San Diego.
AndYes is preparing to go on his first national tour – having done several West Coast tours previously – and any assistance given would be appreciated. Contact AndYesPoetry@gmail.com for more information!
“Capitalist Hearts”
I have been loved selfish
By Capitalist hearts
Looking for returns that exceed their investment
And bailout-hopefuls
Praying I save them from bankrupting themselves.
I am shaken-down
For every scrap of loveThey can scrape from my pocket.
They blame meWhen their fingernailsCatch on the holes in my clothesAnd the loose change that fallsFrom the cloth they erode,The wear of their handsPressed into my body.
They leave me Broke
