Spoken word is often one of the most overlooked art mediums when it comes to performance. Junior and ASB Exec President-elect Marlee La Madrid, along with her DECA partners, wants to change that.

“I noticed at Liberty writers don’t really have the space to showcase their work like musicians or artists do,” La Madrid said. 

La Madrid is correct. While artists at Liberty hold galleries and contests, musicians concerts and open mics, and actors plays and one-acts, authors, poets, and screenwriters do not share these opportunities. 

Junior Charlotte Soliven was both La Madrid’s DECA partner and co-collaborator in organizing the event, emphasizing the importance of showcasing work overlooked by other artists.

“People work so hard behind the scenes, and I think we should have an opportunity to 

showcase that at Liberty,” Soliven said.

The event was held on March 19 in the Black Box theater. Eager artists and audience members alike gathered to listen to the collection of works that were showcased, seven in total. Soliven was overjoyed for the opportunity for the poets in particular to read their work.
“I think that there’s something about poetry in particular that is so communal to me. There’s something very nice about performing your work in front of other people, and I think that so often we view literature as a solitary activity, and it doesn’t have to be that way,” Soliven said.

La Madrid and Soliven hope to inspire more sharing of creativity and inspiration to do good through spoken word and showcasing under acknowledged art. 

“Showcasing art shows the appreciation for smaller communities at Liberty that are often overlooked, and I want to make sure everything they’ve ever accomplished and worked towards are acknowledged and have an outlet,” La Madrid said. 

The group plans to hold the gathering again, to continue doing good and attracting more attention.
“Spoken word’s roots are in sharing with other people, and I’m trying to keep that tradition alive,” Soliven said.