Mar. 15, 2007 – – Through the art of spoken word, the writers of Vibes Poetic hope to inspire other poets and performers to showcase their talent and leave audiences with a piece of their souls. Hopefully their vision will be fulfilled this Saturday when they perform at the Blue Moon restaurant in Frederiksted.
"It's not easy to give a part of your soul," said member Adrian Edwards. "But the audience gives positive feedback." Edwards describes Vibes Poetic as "a collection of people who read and write poetry." According to a recent press release, Vibes Poetic is made up of a group of dynamic, young people on the island who want to make a difference in the community through the arts.
Member Alexis "Malachi" George brought the group together in early 2005. According to George, the group "started as a means to create an outlet for poets on the island." According to member Shanarae "Demi" Matthew, forming the group allowed poets doing separate things to come together and be a collective voice. The different people in the group, Matthew said, made her want to write better and tackle issues that she hadn't addressed before.
George said the art of spoken word has recently taken on a new life on the mainland and hopes that the old-school turned new-school form of entertainment catches on throughout the Caribbean. "Now is a good time for this," George said. "People are more receptive, and spoken word has made an impact through Def Jam's [Poetry Slam] and other shows."
When George began gathering poets together, many possible venues to showcase their talent were tested out before the group settled on their home in Frederiksted at the Blue Moon. Every third Saturday of the month, the group will get together and give audiences their take on that month's theme.
March's theme, "Our Women, Our Home, OURstory," encompasses a celebration of both women and V.I. history. The event will feature poetry from Sajeta, described by the group as "one of St. Croix’s most talented spoken-word artists." Music goes hand in hand with spoken word, and this month's event will feature the saxophone talents of Adhali.
"Our atmosphere is dedicated to trying to provide support to those who want to write," George said. To further inspire the dormant writers of the island, the monthly shows offer an open mike to those who have the courage to stand before a lounge full of strangers. George encourages all writers to stand up and be heard without fear of criticism. "You're not reading or speaking to an audience that is critical of you," he said. "The audience is receptive and willing to hear your take on life itself."
The Vibes Poetic crew will be sharing their souls with you this Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the Blue Moon on Strand Street in Frederiksted. The open-mic session begins at 8:30 p.m. "Vibes Poetic is nature, it's political, it's sensual, it's exotic," said George. "It's an experience everyone should come out and enjoy."
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