Get into the spirit of love by supporting Cal Poly’s literary journal Byzantium at Lovers Speak, the annual Valentine’s Day-themed poetry reading. The event on Wednesday evening will display poetic talent featuring professors David Kann and Carl Wooton, as well as love-themed student work.
The Steynberg Gallery will host the romantic evening, offering complimentary beverages and snacks, as well as the artistic ambiance that only a gallery could provide.
English professor James Cushing will head the ceremonies. He promises to be clad in Valentine’s Day attire, including red pants that he purchased on Hollywood Boulevard.
“I have been associated with Lovers Speak since it started about three years ago,” he said. “It’s a delightful annual custom.”
Cushing, San Luis Obispo poet laureate for 2009, is not sure whether he will be reading any of his own work at the event, but said that the journal is the main focus.
“Byzantium is really, really good depending on who enters the contest,” he said. “A good time is always had, it will be exciting. Everyone will be reading love poems.”
English senior and Byzantium editor Emily Anderson helped organize the event and hopes people will see the reading as an opportunity to have a unique Valentine’s Day experience while helping the journal raise money for publishing costs.
“There is a huge need for donations,” she said. “No one is willing to donate because the economy is so bad right now and we usually make all of our money from advertisements and getting donations from the English department.”
The journal depends on donations because it is distributed for free. Anderson said that they need about $5,000 to meet publishing costs.
They haven’t collected much money so far, she added. “We are really hoping that a lot of people come,” Anderson said. “It’s a social event, and if people aren’t necessarily into poetry, there is food. It will be a great place to bring a date because it is all Valentine’s poetry.”
She said the event has been held at Cal Poly in the past, but will be at the Steynberg gallery this year to attract more guests and provide a more fitting backdrop.
“We decided it would be a better venue to have it at the gallery because it is artistic and it is a coffee shop,” she said. “It will be a really romantic.”
Anderson predicts about five professors and five students will be reading, but said that it may conclude with an open-mic segment.
The raffle will feature a variety of prizes and one larger prize, she said.
Raffle tickets will be sold for $3 at the event in hopes to get the community involved.
Byzantiam starts at 7 p.m. today at Steynberg Gallery on Monterey Street.