Nationally-Ranked Poet

In Bethel Series

BETHEL — Poet Jason Carney is emerging as one of the hottest new performance poets in the south. Drawing on his life experiences, he is able to mold truth from a collage of visual images, which he then weaves for his listeners with a tactical procession.

Rarely will audiences find Mr Carney in a light-hearted state of mind within his words. He speaks with the conviction of someone seeking sanctuary from an invalid world. From furious-paced political commentary to the glorious revelations one can find within the eyes of a child, Mr Carney seeks to transcend the mythology of where he comes from.

Mr Carney, who has been a member of the Dallas Slam Team for the past three years, will be the guest poet at the Wednesday Night Poetry Series at Bethel Arts Depot on February 2. The series is presented every Wednesday evening in the new artists’ co-op building that has transformed the town’s former railroad station off Greenwood Avenue into a bright, exciting place for the arts of all genres.

Doors open at 7 pm, with an open mic session running from 7:30 to 8:30 pm. Featured poet begin their performance at 8:30. Admission for Mr Carney’s performance is $3.

Mr Carney, a former bartender who now makes a living writing and sharing his verses, lives in Dallas with his wife and daughter. In 1999 he placed fourth — out of 300 of the top performance poets in the world — as an individual poet at the 1999 National Poetry Slam. His greatest achievement to date, the poet feels, came as being a member of the aforementioned Dallas Slam Team, which took second place at the 1998 National Poetry Slam.

Local poets are welcome to share some of their work in the Bethel series. All ages are welcome at the Wednesday Night Poetry Series. For additional information call Faith Vicinanza, 426-3388, Michael Seri, 270-6202, or Bethel Arts Junction, 748-2828.