What Does the Future Hold for Poetry in Texas?

APRIL 11, 2013 (AUSTIN, TX) - The Bullock Texas State History Museum welcomes some of the state's leading poets for An Evening of Poetry April 25 at 7 p.m. in the Texas Spirit Theater.

Enjoy a special evening of poetry readings and discussion about the arts in Texas. Distinctive guest poets will present their own poetry works, discuss the influence of Texas on their art, and converse about what the future holds for poetry and other art forms in Texas.

Featured poets include Jan Epton Seale, who was appointed by the Texas Legislature as the 2012 Texas Poet Laureate. Her work is published nationally in such venues as The Yale Review, Texas Monthly, and Newsday. She is the recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship in Creative Writing, and her publications include Homeland: Essays Beside and Beyond the Rio Grande (1995); Airlift: Short Stories (1992); The Nuts & Bolts Guide to Writing Your Life Story (1998); and six books of poetry.

Other leading poets who will recite works and engage in discussions are Celeste Guzman Mendoza, co-founder of CantoMundo, a master writer's workshop for Latina/o poets; Ebony Stewart, a spoken word artist who creates visual and performance pieces with words; Sarah Cortez, a member of the Texas Institute of Letters, the author of an acclaimed poetry collection, How to Undress a Cop, and winner of the PEN Texas literary award in poetry; and Carrie Fountain, a fellow at the University of Texas’ Michener Center for Writers whose poems have appeared in Crazyhorse, AGNI, and Southwestern American Literature, among others.

An Evening of Poetry is part of the Bullock Museum's "In Their Own Words" lecture series, featuring Texas women describing their impact on the state in their own words. The series will cover the fields of education, preservation, business, and the arts. Each program will feature strong Texas women who have shaped and continue to shape the state of Texas.

The series is presented in conjunction with the special exhibition, Women Shaping Texas in the 20th Century, on display through May 19 in the Albert and Ethel Herzstein Hall of Special Exhibitions at the Museum. It is the first major exhibition in 30 years to tell the story of the critical role of Texas women in forging our state's development. An Evening of Poetry is free and open to the public, but RSVPs are appreciated by calling (512) 936-4649.

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​​The Bullock Texas State History Museum, a division of the State Preservation Board and an accredited institution of the American Alliance of Museums, creates experiences that educate, engage, and encourage a deeper understanding of Texas. With dynamic, award-winning exhibitions that illuminate Texas history, people, and culture, educational programming for all ages, and an IMAX® theater with a screen the size of Texas, the Museum collaborates with more than 700 museums, libraries, archives, organizations, and individuals across the world to bring the Story of Texas to life. For more information, visit www.TheStoryofTexas.com or call (866)369-7108.