After grabbing a couple of beers at Matinee on Main Street last evening (they have Space Juice in stock), my wife and I walked outside and noticed that a throng of people had gathered nearby. We scuttled across the street to BOX Gallery and happened upon a music trio being led by Little Cake. The musicians were playing on the sidewalk – an informal concert – as part of poet Noah Falck‘s urbanist experiment calling Pop-Up Poetry Series.
“The idea is to invade – or a better word may just be to invite – poets & musicians to fill public spaces along Main Street and the East Side, so that people stumble unexpectedly, as you did, upon great poetry and lively music,” said Falck. “It is a sort of guerrilla poetics project.”
Falck’s foray into the world of impromptu poetic gathering started with two out-of-town poets – James Meetze (San Deigo) and Nate Pritts (Finger Lakes region) – along with a ‘house band’. While the two poets at last evening’s oratorical function were from other parts of the country, Falck intends on showcasing local poets as well.
It was apparent last evening that the crowd was jazzed to see the spectacle – Little Cake performed her first gig with her own original material. The poets then took to the ‘stage’. Altogether, the musicians and the poets infused this section of Main Street with an energetic and artistic vibrancy that captivated all who passed.
Hopefully this was just one of the many Pop-Up Poetry events that we will encounter in days, months and years to come. It’s these types of unexpected performances that get people to stop and think about what’s really important in life. By taking a few minutes to appreciate this sort of public street art, it’s easy to forget the daily grind and simply unwind.