Lyric, betterArts Host Standing-Room-Only Poetry Reading, Open Mic

betterArts on Sunday held a poetry reading and open mic at the Lyric Coffee House and Bistro featuring visiting artist-in-residence Megan McShea that packed the Clayton cafe's upstairs to capacity.

McShea is a writer and poet in the North Country for a two-week betterArts Residency. She is based out of Baltimore, MD. The writer has had five residencies at the Hambidge Center in Rabun Gap, GA, as well as various solo retreats. She has authored three chapbooks, two books, and been featured in more than a dozen anthologies.

For her two-week betterArts residency, McShea worked on a series of prose poems. She shared some work from her residency, along with several pieces from previously published works. Those in attendance were also treated to a reading by Henderson-based R.M. O'Brien, an accomplished poet who recently studied Punjabi in India and has been translating ancient Sikh devotional poems. Following these readings, the event turned into an open mic with several local authors sharing their work.

Here are photos from the event (all photos by Kenny Lavezzi):

The betterArts Residency Program offers artists of every discipline space and time to work on specific projects against the backdrop of Better Farm, a sustainability education center in Redwood. For more information, click here.