Poetry and Hip-Hop Performance Part of UA Creative Campus Initiative

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The University of Alabama Creative Campus Initiative and PUNCH Writer’s Project will present “A Missing Link: Poetry and Hip-Hop” on Thursday, Feb. 23 at 8 p.m. in the Ferguson Theater.

Tracie Morris, a multi-disciplinary poet and performing artist, will give a reading of her work with a reception to follow. Morris has worked in theater, dance, music and visual arts. Morris holds multiple degrees from Hunter College and New York University and is currently an assistant professor at Eastern Michigan University. She has toured extensively throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Africa and Asia. Her sound poetry installations have been presented at the Whitney Museum and the Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning.

There also will be performances by local artists, dancers and rappers, including stepping (dance performance) by the Kappa Alpha Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc.

PUNCH also runs an ongoing writing workshop for UA students and the Tuscaloosa community. At 4:15 p.m. that same day, Morris will teach a poetry workshop “Performing the Sounds of the Poem” in 109 New College. In the workshop, students will learn strategies to improve their writing and reading abilities. Participants must bring in one poem from a well-known poet that they like as well as one of their own. Students will look at how sound considerations help them with editing and developing poetry for the page and performance.

The concert and workshop are free and open to the public.

Sponsors for this event include the Coalition for Diversity and Inclusiveness, New College, College of Arts and Sciences, Women’s Resource Center, SGA Financial Affairs Committee, and Cultural Community Programming.

For more information about this event, contact Latoya Scott at 205/292-7907 or Rich Hamilton at 970/443-4109, rhamilton@bama.ua.edu.