Durham, N.C. – This Saturday afternoon, a pop of color and a celebration of poetry will emerge from a previously unadorned brick wall at the intersection of Corcoran and Main streets. Downtown Durham, Inc. will host a Corcoran Poetry Wall Launch Party on March 7 from 1-3 p.m., as a part of Public Space Project Season 2.
The Corcoran Poetry Wall is a mural by Bethany Bash featuring the public installation of two different poems, written by Durham residents Kristi Stout and Nina Oteria. The launch party will feature Stout and Oteria reading selections of their poetry, as well as readings by Dasan Ahanu, Megan Bowser, Kate Van Dis and Kofi Robinson. There will be a brief open mic portion for community members who would like to share their work. Jeddah’s Tea will provide refreshments. Community members can also participate by picking up free chapbooks and/or dropping off their own poems in the yellow box adjacent to the wall.
“Our theme of ‘the unseen,’ under earth and underwater, inspired us to bring our hidden words forward in hopes of encouraging others to do the same,” said the artists in a statement. “We aim to bring Durham residents into contact with poetry written by their neighbors. We hope to change the traditional perception of who poetry is for and what poetry can say.”
The Public Space Project is an activation initiative powered by Downtown Durham, Inc. It focuses on retaining and supporting the creative and artistic cultures of Durham and upholding public spaces of convergence. This program, now entering its third season, provides grants to individuals and organizations who bring unifying, creative, free of charge experiences to downtown Durham public spaces. It has been recognized as a Best Practice by the International Downtown Association and is supported in part by a grant from the Mary Duke Biddle Foundation. Public Space Project installations are free and open to the public.
For more information, visit DDIPublicSpaceProject.com or downtowndurham.com.
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For more than 25 years, Downtown Durham, Inc. has been the economic development engine for downtown Durham, NC. Downtown Durham is home to more than 55 retail stores, 120 restaurants and bars, and 4,000 residential units – all in an area just under one square mile. As the entity responsible for the business improvement district, DDI provides resources to keep downtown Durham clean and safe, and to attract visitors and residents to downtown businesses, venues and events. For more information, visit downtowndurham.com.
