Mount Pleasant Magazine Sept/Oct 2021

29 www.MountPl easantPodcas t . com | www. ReadMPM. com | www. I LoveMountPl easant . com arts & entertainment Is Free Verse an extension of your official duties? It’s an extension of my love of the art form. The objective is to present poetry in ways you might not expect and put it in public spaces. This is especially important, as my goal is for poetry to be more of a normalized conversation in the art world and for students to have more opportunities to be published and perform. What would you tell young people who are looking for a creative outlet? That their voices matter, and poetry provides an opportunity of expression that is fairly easy to get into. I’ve seen the power of poetry everywhere I go. Would you agree Amanda Gorman took poetry to a new level during the 2021 inauguration? Absolutely. What she did is what all poets do: provide an opportunity for reflection through carefully crafted words. What she’s doing for the art form is beneficial to all of us. Do you think the Grammys should have a separate category for poetry? Pay attention, Recording Academy! Yes, because currently, the ‘spoken word’ category is a playground for celebrities. A poet will win soon enough, though. You just released your eighth book, ‘The Birth of All Things.’ Can you tell us about it? It’s about Black fatherhood, joy, racism, anxiety, Bjork, Star Wars and love. It’s also the culmination of all my writing styles in one place. What’s next for Markus Amaker? A kid’s book, more electronic music, another poetry album, opportunities created from my recent Academy of American Poets fellowship award, and hopefully more sleep — I have an 18-month-old! How can readers participate in the Free Verse Festival? You can purchase tickets and interact with the festival through our website, freeversefestival.com, and our social media channels. Photo by A l i ce Keeney. facebook.com/drybarcharleston @drybarcharleston We can’t think of a better way to throwa birthday party than with braids and blowouts for YOU+ YOUR BESTIES! Drybar Charleston at 556 King Street offers private event space and can customize the party for your needs. Email anna@drybarcharleston.com to plan your celebration An Artistic and Gentle Touch Dr. Kari Ryan and Dr. Kristi Dillard Call today or visit our website to request an appointment! 843.881.1638 MtPleasantDentist.com 815 Lowcountry Blvd., Mt Pleasant, SC 29464