Performing for Black Mountain North Symposium

I will perform my multi-media ASL poetry, using original composed electronic music and videos for the Black Mountain North Symposium. The event is a big one with many poets/artists presenting their workshops, performances, visual arts, and music from all over the United States of America, mostly New York State and near by, and local Rochester poets and artists. I am honored to be requested to participate this event. I am looking forward to performing, meeting new/old friends, and learning.

The web address is http://www.blackmountainnorth.org/

Here are the information about myself.

6:15-6:30 Eddie Swayze, ASL Multimedia Poet (Innovation Center)

Eddie Swayze is a poet, performing artist, actor, visual artist, electronic music composer, and educator. He discovered ASL poetry during the 80′s, and now presents his ASL poetry along his original composed electronic music and video. Mr. Swayze graduated with an MFA degree from Rochester Institute of Technology. He teaches American Sign Language at Rochester School for the Deaf and tutors English/Literature at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf. His poems have been published by HandType Press, Gallaudet University Press, Clevis Press, Tactile Mind Press, Dark Lady Press, Talon Magazine, and a few more. He won two awards in ImageArt poetry reading as part of the annual GLBT ImageOut Film Festival. His poetry performance is featured in a short clip in the documentary film The Heart of The Hydrogen Jukebox by Miriam Lerner. He received two New York State Council on the Arts grants and four Strategic Opportunity Stipends grants.

Article about My Art Career in SIGNews paper

I received a newspaper, SIGNews, in the mail and it has an article about my art career. It was edited by Raymond Luczak. In the article, I was telling the readers how I interpret myself as an artist, what I do, and what I want to accomplish with in the future.

The Crowd: GLBT Deaf and Hard of Hearing Poetry Night

Here is the full house crowd during the GLBT Deaf and Hard of Hearing Poetry Night at Equal Grounds, Sept. 20th 2010. The top image is the crowd outside of the audience area. The bottom image is the crowd in the audience area in front of the stage.

GLBT Deaf and Hard of Hearing Poetry Night at Equal Grounds

This blog wouldn't let me add more pictures and had to post another one to be able to add two more pictures left. The pictures are David Baughman and Vicki Nordquist. The other pictures are: Matt Schwartz, Diana Robert, and Raymond Luczak.

GLBT Deaf and Hard of Hearing Poetry Night at Equal Grounds

GLBT Deaf and Hard of Hearing Poetry Night at Equal Grounds was a success with up to almost 100 people attending, a full house crowd. September 20th, starting at 7 PM, I and the the performers did the skits on stage: Matt Schwartz, Diana Robert, David Baughman, Vicki Nordquist, Raymond Luczak, and myself (Eddie Swayze). I was very much honored to be able to present this special event, made possible by the Rochester Deaf Awareness Week 2010. I thank Equal Grounds for offering the space. I also thank the two interpreters who voiced for the ASL-impaired audiences: Luane Davis Haggerty and Allysa Vaisey.

GLBT Deaf and Hard of Hearing Poetry Night at Equal Grounds

I am pleased to announce that Raymond Luczak, a renown poet/writer, will be our special guest performer for GLBT Deaf and Hard of Hearing Poetry Night at Equal Grounds next Monday. Many of his work has been published extensively over the years. To get familiar with his work, click on his webpage address:

http://www.raymondluczak.com/

This event will be shown on Monday, September 20th, 2010. GLBT Deaf and Hard of Hearing Poetry Night will consist of myself (Eddie Swayze), Diana Robert, David Baughman, Matt Schwartz, Vicki Nordquist, and Raymond Luczak. We will perform poetry, stories, and humor in American Sign Language (ASL) and our work will be voice-interpreted for the hearing audiences who do not know how to read ASL. It is free to the public. This event is made possible by Rochester Deaf Awareness Week 2010 and ASL Poetry Society (my Facebook group).

Equal Grounds is located on 750 South Avenue, Rochester, NY 14620.

Spread the word and come if you can to enjoy the rich, unique poetry performances done in ASL by deaf and hard of hearing glbt performers.

Completed "Male Lovers" Artwork

The artwork is finally completed and ready to be submitted to ImageArt (glbt art exhibit, juried selection process, under ImageOut Film Festival). I titled it "Male Lovers".

I did some touch-ups, improving the shades/highlights, the proportions of the hands/fingers, and a few. I then painted the wood cylinder piece that the artwork is hanging from with black paint. I bought a brown string and tied it into knots on the left and right of the wood cylinder piece, then added some glues on the knots to make them not slide. I can hang this whole artwork with that string.

I shall hope that this work will be selected by the jurists for the exhibit. Cross my fingers.