August Rush Productions, formed by Linisa George and Zahra Airall - co-directors of Women of Antigua's production of Eve Enser's The Vagina Monologues - invite you to a new revival of a storied art form - the spoken word. August Rush Productions will produce and host poetry nights every 2nd and 4th Thursday, beginning 14 Jan 2010, at the O’Grady’s Pub (formerly Funky Buddha) on Redcliffe Street. 

Airall and George state their main goal of the bi-weekly events "is to give spoken word artistes a venue to express and share their thoughts with those who are eager for quality and diverse entertainment."

The evenings, titled “Expressions” will have a featured poet presenting up to 5 pieces from his/her collection every 2nd Thursday, while 2 weeks later,  poets/spoken word artistes will be asked to present pieces that relate to the evening's theme. Also, local artists will have their work featured "and a challenge will be made to the poets present to create a piece from one of the visual arts on display."

“Expressions” is scheduled to run until the end of June, where you can expect to see some of Antigua’s most talented spoken word artistes, poets, and visual artistes to include Kimolisa Mings, Craig Edwards, Sabriya Simon, Emile Hill, Mark Browne, Rhonda Williams, and Sokoto George.

This week’s featured spoken word artiste will be Aziza Lake:

Considered to be a very laid back individual, who is easy to talk with, daughter of the soil Aziza Lake will admit that she sometimes likes being in the spotlight, particularly if it’s part of one of the organisations she’s involved in.  Currently a student at Midwestern State University, in Texas, where she’s majoring in theatre arts with a minor in art and journalism, Aziza loves what she describes as “active learning ... the type of learning that takes place outside of a classroom ... from your environment.” 

Loving history and politics, her passion for the arts is no secret. When writing evolved into something more personal and intense, Aziza began sharing her work with friends and stepped up to the mic at public forums. A part of the Young Poet’s Society when she was as the Antigua State College, she’s graced the mic as poetry nights at the Traffic Night Club, Funky Buddha and will now be returning to the latter under its new management as O’Grady’s.
Not liking to put a label on her work, Aziza’s poetry spans time and emotions reflecting the persona in the moment she creates her piece. In that essence she considers her style to be an ever changing one, free of rhyme, and giving a natural flow to her own experiences.  “I’m glad that someone is continuing the poetry nights ... so many times it’s started and then died down ... but we need more avenues like this for the arts. I don’t think enough attention is given to the arts in Antigua ... and we have a bad habit of only giving artistes lip service until they’ve made it big outside of the Caribbean ... that needs to change,” Lake said of the arts in Antigua and Barbuda.

Commenting on the art of spoken word and poetry, she sees it as a positive and strong form of not only communication, but it “creates a community. I find that listening to someone’s work ... I can relate to what they’re saying ... and people have connected with me when they listen to or read my work ... we all have experiences that are similar and this affords us another way to connect with each other ... like a community.”

For more on Lake’s work, check out Aziza Lake Poetry on Facebook.

Artistes who would like to get involved in "Expressions" are asked to contact August Rush Productions by phone - 783-4120 or 779-6634 - or email augustrush.antigua@gmail.com.

"Expressions" cover charge is only $5 and the shows begin at 8:30 p.m.