Literati & Open Mic Night

I pity the fool, and yet I love the fool. For the love of poetry, spoken word, comedy, and music… I invite you to the Mankind Murals Inc studio on Diamond Street, on Friday, April 1st at 8 pm to share in our local art and literature scene. Doors open at 7:30. No foolin’! And as we did with our first studio session, we will continue to generate a podcast to further share our local Literati.

The theme in April will be “For the Love of Fools”. I invite you to consider the creative possibilities of the fool. Celebrate your inner muse, through poetry, prose & music. Consider the things we learn and have discovered in such moments. We’ll open and expand upon the very archetype of The Fool, as a character shown in different lights and in a wide variety of illustrations and art. As we can all relate to the fool, in our own various stages of life… we find love for the fool who can speak of great empathy, and truth to power, through parody and lyrics that amuse, make us laugh, and lift our spirits.

Literati is about creating a space for local literature, spoken word, and local artwork. “Literati” is a concept that originally started at Main Street Books, led by my friend Llalan Fowler aka ‘Bookstore Lady’. As we begin a new chapter of Literati in 2022, aiming for a sense of reclaimed culture and human connection, it’s time to bring back a platform for literature and the spoken word.

Welcoming: Poetry, Fiction, Nonfiction, Spoken Word, Genre, Novel or Novella, Short Narrative, Flash Fiction, Lyrics, Monologues, Theater, Published or Unpublished Writing. Readers may bring one, or a few short pieces to share, and suggested to be about 5 – 10 minutes.

Musicians: Please bring acoustic instruments. 1 – 2 original songs recommended. Cover songs should be limited to 1. Notify ahead to coordinate a performance that requires anything beyond an acoustic set. Digital piano is available for musicians who would like to play piano at Literati.

Video/Film: Please notify ahead to coordinate video/film. A digital projector is available for artists, photographers, and filmmakers who may wish to present work during Literati.

Studio located at Mankind Murals Inc, 88 North Diamond Street, Mansfield Ohio.
White door second floor above Hursh Pharmacy. Parking is available in the parking lot as well as across the street at the Municipal Parking Lot.

You may bring your own wine or beer. And of course, bring friends! This event is free of charge. Donations are suggested for house drinks and housekeeping. You can also make a donation online at: https://www.mightycause.com/organization/Mankind-Murals

Reach out to the most foolish of them all, Luke Beekman for more details. Looking forward to celebrating “For the Love of Fools” with you at Literati!

~Luke Beekman
Director@MankindMurals.org