Kirk Judd featured with Morgantown Poets

(This news courtesy of the Morgantown Poets)

Poet, performance artist and West Virginia Writers, Inc. founding member Kirk Judd will be featured with Morgantown Poets at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 15, at Monongalia Arts Center (MAC).

The event is free and open to the public. The MAC is at 107 High Street, downtown Morgantown (beside Hotel Morgan).

Judd has performed poetry across West Virginia at fairs, concerts and festivals for the past 30 years. The author is internationally known for his performance work combining poetry and old time music.

Judd is the author of two collections of poetry, “Field of Vision” and “Tao-Billy.” He’s a coeditor of the widely acclaimed anthology, “Wild, Sweet Notes – 50 Years of West Virginia Poetry 1950 – 1999.”

The author is a founding member of Allegheny Echoes, Inc., dedicated to the support and preservation of WV cultural heritage arts. As part of a cultural heritage exchange with the Ulster-American Folk Park in Omagh, Northern Ireland, Judd has presented his original poetry with Allegheny Echoes staff members and musicians on the BBC and in a highly successful performance tour across both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Judd was also a member of the Appalachian Literary League and a former president of West Virginia Writers, Inc., the statewide writing organization. The poet has lived, worked, trout fished and wandered around in West Virginia all of his life.

Public parking is available near the MAC in the parking garage at the corner of Pleasant and Chestnut streets and at the city lot behind 142 High Street (enter off Spruce). The MAC is accessible to individuals with special mobility requirements; schedule ahead at least seven days prior to the event by calling 304-292-3325, or write to info@monartscenter.com.

Morgantown Poets is an informal not-for-profit, all-volunteer community group that meets 7-9 p.m. the third Thursday each month at the MAC, providing literary enthusiasts in north-central West Virginia the opportunity to express themselves, share their work, network and to connect up-and-coming writers with more established authors. New writers are welcome. Join on Facebook by entering “Morgantown Poets” in the search. Or join the mailing list at morgantownpoets@yahoo.com or the listserve, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/motownpoetry.