The Woolsey Heights poetry reading series, founded by Paul Ebenkamp and Andrew Kenower, has become a cherished fixture in South Berkeley, intertwining domestic life with poetry performance. As it enters its 14th or 15th year, this monthly gathering uniquely fosters community and creativity amidst rising rent pressures. Attracting audiences of 20 to 50, it showcases a broad spectrum of poets. Kelly Egan, an Oakland poet, emphasizes its significance within an artistic ecosystem struggling against commercialization, highlighting the appreciation for spaces like Woolsey Heights that prioritize art for its own value.
The DIY aspect—the reading is in someone's house—is so special...This has a different vibe that has nothing to do with commodification.
The Woolsey Heights poetry reading series, now in its 14th or 15th year, blends the domestic with the performative, offering art for art's sake.
Hundreds of poets from Portland to Poland have participated in this laid-back, quasi-underground affair, part of a disappearing literary scene.
With skyrocketing rents making it challenging for creatives to stay, Woolsey Heights serves as a vital support for the artistic ecosystem of the Bay Area.
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