Inaugural Blue Light Reading draws a crowd for poetry

More than 100 people gathered together in the Indiana Memorial Union University Club  Friday, not for a rock concert or a sports event, but for poetry.

“This was an amazing turnout,” said Jennifer Luebbers, an associate instructor in the English department. “My students were here, and they said they really loved it.”

This entirely student-organized event was sponsored by the literary journal Indiana Review in partnership with Canvas Creative Arts Magazine and IU’s College Arts and Humanities Institute.

The Blue Light Reading, named for the desk lamp with the blue light bulb that sits in the hallway to signify when the Indiana Review office is open, welcomed three poets to Bloomington : Curtis Bauer, Steve Scafidi and Erika Meitner.

“You can see a sort of strong string of humanity in these poets. Some poets are super ironic, but these poets aren’t afraid of writing from their hearts,” faculty member Ross Gay said.

Bauer opened the night with an English translation of a poem by a Spanish poet.

“That was really refreshing to see, someone representing a wider community of writers that doesn’t just include American writers,” Luebbers added.

Scafidi followed Bauer with poems such as “The Boy Inside a Pumpkin” and “The Rocking Chair Bookcase.”

“It always delights and moves me to see a crowd at a poetry reading,” Scafidi said. “There are so many other wonderful ways to spend one’s time. To see people, mostly strangers, dressed up and ready to hear a poem or two is a lucky thing.”

Meitner ended the night’s reading with a selection of poems that offered an understanding of family and relationships that was both humorous and moving.

“I liked Erika because she brought in some comedy and made it light. She really finds the beauty in the mundane,” said Emily McGowan, member of the Union Board of Directors.

McGowan also noted that this reading was the first collaboration between Indiana Review and Canvas.

“It’s something that needs to happen more, because we have similar goals. Canvas is all about promoting the creative arts on campus. Often there aren’t enough outlets for that.”

The turnout seems to have encouraged sponsors to continue their poetry efforts.

“I would love for the Blue Light Reading to become a tradition,” said Alessandra Simmons, editor of Indiana Review. “We need to have more dialogue with writers and thinkers; we need to make opportunities to be inspired.”