Back to School Poetry Slam ft.
Anis Mojgani and The Asia Project
EVENT DETAILS
Open to the
UMD Community & the Public
NO TICKET REQUIRED!
Monday September 10th
Stamp Atrium
Event Starts at 7:00 pm
Doors Open at 6:15 pm
Shake the dust and open yourself to the power of spoken word! Join us for a back to school poetry slam featuring Anis Mojgani, two-time National Poetry Slam Champion, and The Asia Project, acoustic music poetry act, who have both have inspired audiences across the globe.
The event will feature performances from The Asia Project and Anis Mojgani. Afterwards, attendees will be able to interact with Anis Mojgani in an extended Q&A and participate in a book signing. You don't need to pick up a ticket. Just show up, open your ears, and open your mind.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Anis Mojgani is the author of five poetry collections, all published by Write Bloody Publishing: In the Pockets of Small Gods (2018), The Pocketknife Bible (2015), Songs From Under The River(2013), The Feather Room (2011), and Over the Anvil We Stretch (2008). He is a two-time National Poetry Slam Champion and winner of the International World Cup Poetry Slam. A TEDx Speaker and former resident of the Oregon Literary Arts Writers-In-The-Schools program, Mojgani has performed for audiences as varied as the House of Blues and the United Nations. His work has appeared on HBO, NPR, and in such journals as Rattle, Paper Darts, Forklift Ohio, and Used Furniture Review.
Pulling inspiration from his Black and Iranian heritage, his childhood memories, his worldview, love, and existence, Anis takes seemingly commonplace subject matter and sculpts inspiration from them. Weaving dream-like tales that dip into imaginative imagery, Anis’s poems make the ordinary almost surreal and, through jolts of wide-eyed writing and striking honesty, make that which is fantastical remarkably relatable. Both innocent and heartbreaking, introspective and curious, the humanity his work carries causes listeners to remember and experience a childhood that is not their own but feels like it was. In the words of Tony Hoagland, “Anis Mojgani restores us to the genius of child-mind—his poems are heroic adventures that take us outward and upward for our own collective good.”
A graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design, Mojgani works on the covers for his own books as well as occasionally providing work for others. Originally from New Orleans, he currently lives in Portland, OR.
THE ASIA PROJECT
Since 2009, The Asia Project has toured over 600 colleges with an acoustic music poetry act that has amazed audiences all over the country. On the microphone is Asia Samson: writer, poet and part-time ninja. He has been seen on HBO Def Poetry Jam and has shared the stage with such artists as Janelle Monae, Jill Scott, DMX, Mos Def, Dead Prez and KRS-One. Accompanying him on the guitar is his brother-in-law Jollan who uses music to create an atmosphere that brings poetry to emotional levels you would never expect.
Together they have been featured on TEDx, Button Poetry, and have worked with companies like Disney and To Write Love On Her Arms. They have broken college-booking records for the most booked poetry act garnering them the awards of APCA College Performer of the Year and thrice APCA Spoken Word Artist of the Year.
Okay, so maybe Asia isn’t the ninja we said he was but we can guarantee-
you won't see them coming.