ANISHINAABE-SONG-PANEL

The Saint Paul Almanac is pleased to announce the ninth in its 2012–2013 season of acclaimed Lowertown Reading Jams, which celebrate the rich literary history of Minnesota’s capital city.

The “Anishinaabe Song/Poems for the New Millennium” Lowertown Reading Jam will be presented on Wednesday, June 26th, 2013, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Black Dog Coffee and Wine Bar, 308 Prince Street in Saint Paul. This presentation of the popular and eclectic series is hosted by Marcie Rendon. All ages, no cover, donations accepted. Food and beverages for sale.

About the “Anishinaabe Song/Poems for the New Millennium” Lowertown Reading Jam

Back at the turn of the last century there were folks who traveled around this country documenting Native people’s demise. They took photos, painted pictures, and recorded our songs. This evening is about Us singing our songs/reading our poems at the beginning of this new millennium to be recorded by Us for future generations. We continue to live. We continue to create.

Watch SPNN’s video of the Lowertown Reading Jam

About the performers

marcie-rendonMARCIE R. RENDON is an enrolled member of the White Earth Anishinabe Nation. She is a mother, grandmother, writer, and sometimes performance artist. She is a playwright, poet, and freelance writer. A former recipient of the Loft’s Inroads Writers of Color Award for Native Americans, she studied poetry under Anishinabe author Jim Northrup. She was a 1998/99 recipient of the St. Paul Company’s LIN (Leadership In Neighborhoods) Grant to “create a viable Native presence in the Twin Cities theater community.” With the support of this grant she was able to collaborate with other native artists to create the infamous FREE Frybread script. She received a 1996-1997 Jerome Fellowship from the Minneapolis Playwright Center. Her first children’s book, Pow Wow Summer, was published by Carol Rhoda Publications in 1996. Her second children’s book, The Farmer’s Market/Families Working Together, was released in the spring of 2001. In addition to her creative writing, she is a freelance writer for newspapers, magazines, and grants writer.

Marisa-CarrMARISA CARR is a multidisciplinary artist, poet, composer, and performer. Born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, she now lives in Minneapolis. Marisa believes in art as a vital tool to engage, challenge, and mobilize by intersecting the personal, political, and spiritual. Her work is situated physically, emotionally, and intellectually within the various communities of which she is part. Marisa especially enjoys facilitating projects with youth, and helping young people learn to use art as a tool to speak back to power and explore their hopes and visions for themselves and their communities. She is Turtle Mountain Ojibwe from the turtle clan.

Sigwan-RendonSIGWAN RENDON is a 16-year-old sophomore who attends St. Paul Conservatory for Performing Arts dance program and Tu Dance Studio. Her first published poem, “Home” is in the 2013 Saint Paul Almanac. She is a big sister to three and does some mighty fine Instagram photography.

Jake-VainioJAKE VAINIO is a 14-year-old freshman who attends Harbor City International School. His first instrument was piano (played for 4 years), soon to be followed by trombone (3 years) and finally guitar (1½-2 years). His musical spectrum ranges from ambient to jazz to classical to grunge. He enjoys writing songs in his free time, his record time being “around 10 minutes.” He is the lead guitarist in a band in which the members have not yet decided on a band name. Jake is currently in the midst of recording a solo concept album, which “should not be expected to be released for a good long while, but hopefully will be worth the wait.”

Location

The “Anishinaabe Song/Poems for the New Millennium” Lowertown Reading Jam will be presented on Wednesday, June 26th, 2013, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Black Dog Coffee and Wine Bar, 308 Prince Street in Saint Paul.