Monthly poets' gathering welcomes self-expression

The Bazaar Café, 408 E. Sixth St., will host the first night of the Spotlight Poetry Reading Series at 7:30 p.m tonight. The event is organized by MATRIX (www.matrixmag.com), a local non-profit organization that aims to provide public forums for literary and visual artists in Bloomington, and will feature four local and regional poets -- Jada B., Tony Brewer, Jason Ammerman and Jody Rust.\nMATRIX was conceived by Joseph Kerschbaum, a local poet who recently released his first spoken-word CD, Cafe Li'ture Poetry Reading Series "1 of 29." \n"The goal of the series is to give some local and regional poets a bit of space to explore themes, make connections between poems and to give background on some of their favorite pieces," Kerschbaum said.\nBrewer, one of the featured poets today, co-founded MATRIX with Kerschbaum in 1998.\n"We're a poetry-oriented organization that hopes to contribute to the literary scene here in Bloomington," Brewer said. \nIn addition to the monthly readings, MATRIX hosts other events such as open mics and poetry slams. \n"Success for the poetry slams usually depends on audience participation. The open-mic crowd is similar, consisting of those who'd rather get up and speak than sit and watch," Brewer said. "People who come to the readings, however, are usually those who'd rather simply listen." \nJada B., a popular spoken-word poet based in Bloomington, organizes the Verbal Terrorism Readings in the area. Ammerman, from Indianapolis, has published one poetry collection, "The Blood of the Revolution," with another one due for publication later this year. \nRust is a veteran of the performance scene in Indianapolis. She organizes the Cafe Li'ture Poetry Reading Series and works with the Ethridge Knight Arts Festival in Indianapolis.\nBazaar Café employee Dan Viuch recalls how MATRIX started. Kerschbaum and Brewer came into the café and asked whether they could use the space for a poetry reading. \nViuch said there will be no cover charge and that his co-workers might set up a PA system. \n"I'm off on Tuesday, but I think I'll come by anyway and check it out," he said. \nAlthough MATRIX has been a local fixture for a number of years, the group has only recently begun hosting readings at the new venue. \n"The considerable challenge with a new location is to basically get the audience out there," Brewer said. "Some people might just have trouble finding it." \nThe Bazaar Café is located beside the Runcible Spoon restaurant and will also be hosting poetry readings on the third Friday of every month.\n-- Contact staff writer Daniel Castro at dacastro@indiana.edu.