ArtHaus hosts local artists at Poetry Slam

On April 24, for the third time in a year, both Decorah residents and Luther students were treated to a conspicuously atypical Midwestern artistic hullabaloo. Thirty people performed in front of a crowd of nearly 130 at a poetry slam at the Elks Lodge, hosted by the ArtHaus, a newly-opened center for the arts in downtown Decorah.

The poetry slam consisted of two separate categories: an original voices section in which performers read original works in a non-competitive forum and a slam section in which contestants read any piece, original or not, in a competition based on both the content and performance of the poem.

"One nice thing about the event was that it had a really good cross-section of both community members and Luther students and faculty. It was a mix of people from all over Decorah,” ArtHaus co-director Kristen Underwood said.

Indeed, the winner and runners-up in the poetry slam represent that subsection equally. George Shardlow (‘10) won the slam with an original piece, and a duo consisting of biology professor Mary Lewis and a community member under the eccentric pseudonym of Maxxx Madcap took second place, performing a rendition of the lyrics to The Doors’ song “People are Strange.”

Matt Myers (‘09) performed in the slam after Assistant Professor of English Amy Weldon suggested it to his creative writing class.

“I was a little bit nervous since it had been quite a while since I’d performed like this, but it was a comfortable and supportive environment so I wasn’t traumatized by any means,” Myers said. “My poem took only about a minute to perform, but it felt like no time at all. More than anything, I enjoyed being part of a collective presentation from several great performers and writers.”

That comfortable environment was originally a concern for Underwood, as overwhelming interest in the event had convinced the ArtHaus staff that a new venue would have to be found to accommodate a growing level of participation. The first two poetry slams, one in the fall and one in the winter, drew so much community interest that over 40 people were turned away at the door to ArtHaus’ small downtown studio. A venue switch to the Elks Lodge for Friday’s event allowed all those interested to watch the event, but it also retained the same intimate feel that is characteristic of ArtHaus.

“I thought the night was a great success,” Underwood said. “We tried a new location, and we were very happy not only with the turnout but with the feel of the room. It still felt cozy to me, and it’s really important to me that it feels warm and supportive. I was out downtown putting up posters, and lots of people stopped me to say thanks, and that they loved the new venue—we have had overwhelmingly positive support. It’s great to see people knocking down doors to see poetry.”

According to Weldon, community support like that has been largely untapped in recent years. Outside of a number of local groups and a few open-mic nights, ArtHaus has had a monopoly on the performing arts in Decorah, tapping into overwhelming interest in spoken word as an engaging and inclusive art form.

For Weldon, poetry slams reveal an important aspect to poetry that is often forgotten.

“What people don’t realize is that poetry is really made to be read aloud,” Weldon said. “It’s got to be read aloud and experienced with the ears and the body. You have to make that music with the poetry, and if you don’t read it aloud, you miss a lot. Poetry is alive, and living things rely on a voice.”

That expression resonated with performers on Friday night.

“I think there’s something unique about reading written words out loud that can really eclipse silent reading,” Myers said. “I enjoy plays for that reason — they bring texts to life. In a similar vein, performing poetry helps bring life to the words on the page. It’s somewhat similar to performing songs and arias in recitals, except that in the poetry slam there’s no notation for inflection, rhythm, speed or timing. As a performer you get complete freedom to make the poetry work for you.”