CONTACT: Nick Demske; 262-619-2570 or nick.demske@racinelibrary.info

Racine – Line Assembly, a group of six poets touring the nation to give readings and workshops, will visit the Racine Public Library on Saturday, July 13^th, to give a free poetry workshop for readers and writers at all levels.

Beginning at 2pm and lasting approximately an hour and a half, the workshop will consist of activities that generate new poems, as well as conversations about sustaining a life of writing for participants and members of their communities. Participants will also be encouraged to share poems or other writing that inspires them, resources to find more poetry, and thoughts on what they’d like to see in their own communities.

The central premise of Line Assembly’s workshop is the belief that poetry is all around us, very much alive, and always changing. It is written in classrooms and break rooms, in parking lots and under covers. The poets of Line Assembly will bring what they know to the conversation and ask only that participants come with enthusiasm, an open mind, and the following suggested items: pen or pencil, favorite poems/quotes/lyrics, and whatever they use to jot down their ideas.

Line Assembly is made up of six poets who met in college and have continued to collaborate during the past ten years because of their shared love of poetry and community:

ADAM ATKINSON is a PhD candidate in creative writing at the University of Utah and the co-editor of OH NO. His poems have appeared in Black Warrior Review, Caketrain, and others.

LILLIAN-YVONNE BERTRAM is a PhD candidate in creative writing at the University of Utah. Her poetry collection, But a Storm Is Blowing from Paradise, was published by Red Hen Press in 2012. Her chapbook, cutthroat glamours, is forthcoming from Phantom Limb Press in 2013.

ZACHARY HARRIS holds an MFA in creative writing from Cornell University and teaches at the Pittsburgh Creative and Performing Arts 6-12 School. His chapbook, There is another poem, in which the news is erased and rewritten, was published by New Michigan Press in 2010.

BEN PELHAN holds an MFA in creative writing from Louisiana State University and teaches young students pursuing GEDs in New Orleans. His poems and videos have appeared in Black Warrior Review, Spork, and others.

ANNE MARIE ROONEY holds an MFA in creative writing from Cornell University. Her poetry collection, Spitshine, was published by Carnegie Mellon University Press in 2012, and her second chapbook, Shell of an egg in effort, is forthcoming in 2013.

S.E. SMITH is an MFA candidate in fiction at the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and the founding editor of OH NO. Her poetry collection, I Live in a Hut, was published by Cleveland State University Press in 2012.

Line Assembly is made possible by the support of more than 300 individual donors, as well as the Puffin Foundation and Pittsburgh Filmmakers. NOTICE: Some portions of the workshop may be documented on film. Appearing on film is not required in order to participate in the workshop.

For more information or to view examples of past Line Assembly workshop activities please visit http://lineassembly.com. You may also contact Nick Demske at 262-619-2570 or nick.demske@racinelibrary.info.  To view the promotional video that helped Line Assembly raise more than $18,000 in grassroots support, search online for “Line Assembly Kickstarter.”