KELSEYVILLE >> The second event of the Poet Laureate Reading Series takes place Friday at 6:30 p.m. at the Riviera Common Grounds Coffee House featuring the poetry of emeritus laureate James Bluewolf.
Presented by current Lake County Poet Laureate Casey Carney and Common Grounds proprietor Andrea Williams, the series is held on the second Friday of each month through April and is designed to promote local poetry by showcasing each of Lake County”s eight poet laureates in sequence, along with a guest poet and musician.
The Poet Laureate is an official appointment by a government or conferring institution for the purpose of promoting poetry in that jurisdiction. The appointments occur from local to national levels. In Lake County, the two-year position began in 1998 with the appointment of Jim Lyle. In 2002, James Bluewolf was selected as the second poet laureate of Lake County.
Bluewolf — an internationally published poet, recording artist, and youth mentor — has been active since the early 1970s.
He is the author, narrator and co-producer of the documentary film “Hinth”el Gaahnula; A Narraritve History of the Lake County Pomo to 1900.” Produced in conjunction with the Big Valley Rancheria and the Administration for Native Americans, the documentary is archived in the Smithsonian Institute Libraries, and available at the Lakeport Library.
Hinth”el Gaahnula covers 12,000 years of Pomo history and culture, with attention to the Bloody Island Massacre (Bo-No-Po-Ti), Bear Flag Rebellion, Gold Rush and treaties. It includes voiceovers of family traditions and memories.
Bluewolf, a descendent of the Choctaw tribe, is a Caucus Member of the Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers, and was chosen as their “Children”s Writer of the Year” for his 2007 book, “Speaking for Fire.”
Locally he has received three “Proclamation Of Commendations” from the Lake County Board of Supervisors for his work in coaching more than 500 youth athletes.
Bluewolf”s latest project is as the host of “Wolf Tracks,” a combination music and spoken word show featuring poems, stories, Native American and classic baby boomer music. The show airs on Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on KPFZ 88.1, radio and live web streaming.
The Friday reading will also present guest poet Sandy Stillwell and percussionist Jason Norris.
Poets and musicians interested in being a guest artist during the series should contact Carney at lakecountypoetlaureatecarney@yahoo.com.
Riviera Common Grounds Coffee House is located at 9736 Soda Bay Road in Kelseyville.
