Wordstock Poetry Festival Brings Authors and Fans to Central Florida

Poets and poetry fans from as close as Orlando and as far away as New York came to the Bamboo Arts Center in DeLeon Springs Saturday, September 29, for the first annual Wordstock Poetry Festival.  Central Florida poet Russ Golata organized Wordstock to celebrate the local poetry community and support the 100,000 Poets for Change.  That group is aworldwide grassroots organization that uses poetry and music performances to call for environmental, social, and political change within the framework of peace and sustainability.

           Golata has written five poetry books and leads several open mike nights throughout the area.  He and Gary Broughman, a poet and independent book publisher (www.chbmediaonline.com) started planning the event last November.  Their goal was to dedicate a day to poetry and spirituality where poets could share their work.  In addition to a poetry reading at noon coinciding with readings in over 115 countries for 100,000 Poets for change, activities included a yoga class, poetry workshops, vendors, a silent auction, musical performances, and a poetry slam competition.  

            They chose the Bamboo Arts Center for the event because they had a very positive experience at last year’s Creative Spirit Festival.  Saundra Emerson, Bamboo’s Executive Director, started organizing retreats on her property in rural DeLeon Springs overlooking Bear Cave Lake, five years ago.  The property contains an organic garden, dojo, pool, and lakefront.  “I call this a celebration center,” Emerson said, “Nothing expands one’s consciousness like celebration.  We want to help people be the change they want to see in the world.” 

Golata was very pleased with the response to the inaugural event.  “Poets have come from thousands of miles away to attend.  We sold out all the motel rooms in DeLeon Springs,” Golata said. 

            Poetry readers ranged from experience poets like Slam competition winner Curtis Meyer to first time poets like Katie Beck, a twenty-something yoga instructor from Ormond Beach.  “Today is the first time I ever read a poem in public.  I’m shaking” she announced to the crowd.  The audience encouraged her with applause and supportive statements and despite visibly shaking she finished her poem. 

            Katie said of her reading, “It was pretty awesome.  I felt a tingling sensation all through my body.”  When asked if she was going to write and read more poems after this, she answered a resounding “yes.” 

            Broughman thought they achieved their goal with this first Festival.  “We had great energy. People left with their spirits uplifted.”  He and Golata are already planning Wordstock 2013.

            You can find more information about the Bamboo Arts Center and upcoming events at www.bambooartscenter.com.