Teen Poetry Happens For Love and Get In Your Muse Submissions!

How exciting to have TPH @ The Bean happen on Valentine's Day! As you can see from the video, folks got their love words, songs, and art in motion.

We have just one more week to collect submissions for the 3rd edition of The Alexander Muse teen art and literary magazine coming out April 17, 2012. The last day to turn in your poetry, short story prose, art, and photography is Wednesday, February 29, 2012. (Hey! At least this is a Leap Year!)

Photography can be submitted to me digitally at mhager@alexandercountync.gov. If you have used film, you may turn in your print to The Spilled Bean, Alexander Central High School, or to me at the library.

This contest is open to all Alexander County high school students regardless of where you attend school - ACHS, alternative school, area public schools, boarding schools, or home school.

There are 1st, 2nd, and 3rd prizes in each of the 4 categories. Also, 3 Honorable Mentions will be published in each category.

1st prize in art, poetry, and prose - a $25 gift card for Wal-Mart provided by Wal-Mart of Taylorsville.

The 1st prize for photography will be a classic Pentax 35mm SLR camera donated anonymously to The Alexander Muse! (Cool beans! - Thank you, Anonymous!)

2nd prize in all categories - a $15 gift card to The Spilled Bean provided by the Alexander Friends of the Library (Thank you, Friends! You are so good to us.)

3rd prize in all categories - a $5 gift card to The Spilled Bean provided by The Spilled Bean (You are cool without sayin'! - but I said it anyway!)

Shannon at The Spilled Bean will also give our honorable mentions a free scoop of ice cream. Thank you, Shannon and Brandy of The Spilled Bean, for ALL you do!

We, also, have another incredible list of judges for this year. They are:

Art - Ellen Ball, Lindsay Barrick, and John McIver

Poetry - Joseph Bathanti, Tim Peeler, and Adrian Rice

Prose - Joann Crawford, Scott Owens, and Jan Schoeppler

Photography - Janet Cull, Milt Hawes, and Joseph Young

We thank each of our judges for sharing their time and expertise with The Alexander Muse and the Alexander County community!

Students may submit as many items in as many categories as they wish, but may only win in one category. So, give her a go, people! Submit your stuff today!

Mel

Teen Poetry Happens Teens Rap Battle 2012

Next Tuesday, February 14 will be a "loving" TPH @ The Bean. All art, prose, poetry, and photography will revolve around love - OR NOT.

We'll have a good time regardless! Just like last month, which I am finally getting posted today. Sorry about that. With the rearrangement of my area in the library and the Hunger Games Par-Tay planning, I have been slammed!

Enjoy the epic rap battle from January 10th. Sorry the sound quality is rough. My camera tanked on me right in the middle of recording.

Also, a reminder that February 29 is the last day to submit items for the Alexander Muse teen art and literature magazine. We are collecting poetry, prose, art, and photographs from high school teens from Alexander County. This will be the 3rd edition of the magazine and I am excited to see the finished product.

Keep an eye out on Facebook for Hunger Games party info. And also at the Hunger Games Party blog at http://www.hungergamesparty.blogspot.com/ .

Love,
Mel

Festive Teen Poetry Happens Brings Beloved Poem Alive

Teen Poetry Happens at The Bean was a joyous occasion on Tuesday, December 13. We received word that The Spilled Bean owners, Shannon and Brandy Childers, had just added baby Kadee to the family shortly before the meeting. And, we recreated one of the most famous Christmas poems, "The Night Before Christmas" by Clement C. Moore, through voice, art and photography.

We had a great crowd of 35 or so to join us at The Spilled Bean. The project was a visualization technique where students draw what they hear in the poem.

I believe you will see how much fun we had doing this by watching the video. Hope you enjoy TPH "The Night Before Christmas" and have a blessed holiday season!

Mel

YAYAs Enjoy Dinner and a Movie at the Library for the Holidays

On Tuesday, December 6, 17 YAYAs converged at the library for the annual dinner and a movie celebration for the holiday. The book club watched A League of Extraordinary Gentlemen loosely based on the graphic novel by the same name written by Alan Moore, et al.

Personally, I have never watched a movie sooooooo far removed from the novel. The movie changed the leader, added many characters, and totally changed the plot line. Though the book was not recommended to the YAYAs to read as it is an adult novel, the movie was PG-13 and we could handle that.

So why watch/read it?

The characters are all from famous works of literature. As readers, YAYAs got a kick out of characters such as Dorian Gray, Tom Sawyer (neither were in the novel btw), Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde, and Mina Harker. Her character was from Bram Stoker's Dracula (which YAYAs read several years ago) and showed herself in the film rather dramatically!

My thanks to those YAYAs who braved the yucky weather to come. A special thanks to Taylorsville's Subway for a great deal on our meal. You rock!!

Next week is TPH @ The Bean and we will be doing a neat visualization exercise with art and poetry. Don't let the big word scare you. It will be fun!

Happy Holidays!
Mel

Photography Discussed With Guest, Micah Henry

Teen Poetry Happens @ The Bean added some new members at our November meeting. It's because our publication, The Alexander Muse, has added a new category - Photography. What better way to introduce the element of photography than with one of our community's dedicated photographers, Micah Henry.

Mr. Henry is the managing editor of The Taylorsville Times and also the co-founder (with Janet Cull) of the Brushy Mountain Film Users Group. He provided several great tips for getting the best shot - including the use of light, the rule of thirds, and what works and does not work in backgrounds. I have more of his Photography Tips sheets here at the library if you weren't able to be at the meeting to get one.

We at TPH truly appreciate Mr. Henry's time and expertise that he shared with us. Thanks, Micah!

Remember, we are already collecting entries for The Alexander Muse contest. Teens from Alexander County (whether in public, private, home school, or alternative school) may submit as many works in as many categories they wish. Be aware that students may only win once and in one category.

1st, 2nd and 3rd Place will be awarded in four categories - Art, Poetry, Prose (Short stories), and Photography. There will also be 3 honorable mentions in each category.

Entries can be dropped off at various points at Alexander Central High School or at the Alexander County Library. Entries will be accepted until February 29, 2012.

The 3rd edition of The Alexander Muse will be published in April 2012. The debut event details will be announced at a later date.

So, get creative and get those entries in for The Alexander Muse 2012 edition!

Elsewhere for YAYAs, Photography for TPH at The Bean

The YAYAs have spoken about Elsewhere, the novel by Gabrielle Zevin that was the focus of our November meeting. There was a resounding thumbs up on the book which is told from the point of view of Liz, a teen who is hit by a taxi while riding her bicycle. She dies and ends up in Elsewhere.

YAYAs talked about the well, the binoculars that could see to earth, rivers, a 7 year old ship's captain,the benefits of fishing, doggiespeak, and knocking on pipes. If you want to know about these things, we suggest you read Elsewhere as well. :)

Tuesday, November 8 at 3:30 pm is the next meeting of Teen Poetry Happens at The Bean. Ms. Duncan, Ms. Is, and I are very excited to announce that another "P" has been added to Poetry, Prose, Painting, Pen and Ink, Pencil, and other Printings. Photography! Yes, that's right. Photography will be a new category we will discuss at TPH. It will also be a new category for The Alexander Muse teen art and literature magazine we will publish in the spring.

So bring some photos we can wax poetic about! Micah Henry, our editor of The Taylorsville Times, will also join us at the meeting to give great tips on getting the awesome shot.

Hope to see you soon at the library! Or at a great library function. Such as Sunday, November 6 at 3:00 pm at Reformation Lutheran Church when Tamra Wilson will be talking about her book, Dining With Robert Redford and Other Stories. Should be a wonderful time! Sponsored by our beloved Alexander Friends of the Library, the program is free and open to the public.

Ciao for now!
Mel

Blackout For Halloween

Ahhhhh. Another fabulous Teen Poetry Happens @ The Bean for Tuesday, October 11! We had some folks in the community who came just to listen and they were impressed by the creativity and enthusiasm of the gang.

We had around 35 folks in attendance including our new collaborator and The Spilled Bean owner, Shannon Childers. Shannon said he and his wife, Brandy, are glad we have our creative group coming to the Bean.

Thanks, Shannon and Brandy, for making the smooth transition for our community. To say we were a bit flipped out is an understatement when the announcement was made that the Bean was sold. We will definitely miss Tim and Ciaara, but are glad such a nice family is left in their stead.

Good luck, Tim and Ciaara! We wish you an excellent, new journey! Miss you!

Thanks to those who shared their works with us at TPH. It's great when people bring in their favorite poet's works to read - or the BEST when they have their own works to share. Art too. Don't forget photography has been added to the mix.



The blackout form of poetry created for this month was first introduced to the teens by our beloved local poet, Bud Caywood, last year at TPH. The form, founded in the Bohemian era, takes a printed page and eliminates words to leave behind a poem. I think you will find in the following poems, that it was successful!




"Discover Prime Time"
Go outside and play?
Mountain paths, trails and a
world of beauty
A breath of fresh air
Perfect place
Gaze a star
Remind yourself just how great
"great outdoors" are.
Where is West Virginia?
Wild and wonderful

"Break"
Break flowers and a bit of forest
Instead gather, buy - scatter them down
Everyday, natural
Go rich
Seated across from one another.

"Drama Queen"
Twenty-something founded a website for parents.
Her latest book is called Do I Get Grounded?

"Fight"
Know there are millions left
These build and form every surface
and lead to disease.
Penetrates
Kills

"Depression"
Depression hurts.
You've had one too many days.
You catch a glimpse of yourself
in the mirror.
Suddenly you can no longer...
That's the day you do something -
Therapy, diet, exercise,
Play

"Conjure Up"
Conjure up.
Display boldly.
Here's how
The flattening out.
Scrunch up.
Ruffled
Smaller if desired
Decorative
Adhere together.
Download and print.
Cut out.
TORN

"What Else?"
The music piped the odds.
It's a carefully orchestrated medley
that evokes a time
when life was far simpler.
You feel the magic to open up.


Don't you think these are neat? Gotta love them! It's a great concept to have a page full of words and pare them down to say something you want. Try it!

Our next meeting will be November 8 at 3:30 pm. Hope to see you at The Bean.

Mel

The Alexander Muse 2011 Has Arrived!

Hi All!

What a joyful celebration on Tuesday, April 19 at The Spilled Bean when we introduced the 2011 edition of The Alexander Muse! Over 100 folks joined us with delicious snacks provided by the Alexander Friends of the Library and rocking music by Band of Music (thanks for stepping in, guys!) and local favorite, Below Freezing.

The poetry, prose, and art pieces were stunning this year! Ms. Duncan, Ms. Is, and I are so proud of the teens who contributed to the work. You guys rock!

We thank the judges who gave of their time to help determine the winners. Judges for this year’s magazine were: For art - Martha Burgin, Bud Caywood, and Kate Worm; for prose - Joyce Hostetter, Tim Peeler, and Gary Bebber.

Poetry judges were North Carolina Poet Laureate, Cathy Smith Bowers, Nancy Posey, Ann Chandonnet, and Doris Stephens. There were 28 prose entries, 54 art entries, and 64 poems that were judged.

Winners in the art category were: 1st Place and the cover page, Dallas Perry with “Landscape”; 2nd Place and the back cover, Rebecca Chapman with “Element in Time”; 3rd Place and the title page, Christina St. Clair with “Brighten Up”. Honorable Mentions in art were Carolina Arias, Kristin Collins, Louis Miller, William Vannoy, and Hunter Wiseman.

In the poetry category, winners were: 1st Place, Christy Vaughn with “Does Rain Free-Fall?”; 2nd Place, John Harriman with “Burning Buildings”; and 3rd Place, Erica Burley with “the fly on the trash”. Honorable Mentions in poetry were Abigail Keller, Harlee Korte, India McWhorter, Ashleigh Reid, and Adonna Smith.

Those who placed in the prose category were: 1st Place, “Eerie Setting” by Josh Bowman; 2nd Place, “Prose of Captain Acid” by Alan-Michael Bresch; and 3rd Place, “Unearthly Visitors” by Jordan Cruz. Honorable mentions in the prose category were Kandace Allen, Chace Carswell, Devin Mitchell, Justin Owenby, and Brittany Sullivan.

1st Place winners received a $25 gift card provided by Wal-Mart of Taylorsville. 2nd place winners received a $15 gift card for The Spilled Bean provided by the Alexander Friends of the Library. A $5 gift card for The Spilled Bean was provided for the 3rd Place winners by The Spilled Bean.

Honorable Mentions received a free scoop of ice cream provided by The Spilled Bean. The Alexander Muse wishes to thank these organizations that provided prizes. And a special thank you goes to the Alexander Friends of the Library for sponsoring this year's publication!

Also, thank you Tim Panza and The Spilled Bean for hosting us all year. Thanks to The Taylorsville Times as well for doing a great job printing The Alexander Muse!

We will have a May TPH - our final meeting of the year :( - on May 10 at 3:30 pm at The Spilled Bean. Hope everyone can make it.

Have a blessed Easter!

Mel

Get Your Motor Running...

Ahhh! School begins next week and things will be returning back to normal at the library. Summer reading has past (with great numbers which I will proudly blog about at a later time) and so it is time to get storytimes and Teen Times up and running.

We begin next Tuesday, August 24 here at the main library with a WELCOME BACK preschool storytime at 10 am. There will also be one on Friday morning, August 27 at 10 am.

But teens! Dates are finalized for YAYA and Teen Poetry Happens @ The Bean (TPH). YAYA meetings will be held on the first Tuesday of every month at 3:30 pm at the main library. The first meeting will be on September 7. This young adult book club is for the reader who cannot put a book down, who will read when he/she should be sleeping or doing homework. You know who you are! Come join us!

TPH @ The Bean will begin September 14 at 3:30 pm at guess where? - The Spilled Bean! Meetings will be held every 2nd Tuesday of the month. This group of creative high school students loves poetry, prose writing and art. We do neat projects each time. Musicians share lyrics and songs. All within the delicious atomosphere of the Bean.

So put us on your calendar! Hope to see you soon!

Mel