Hot Springs poet, teaching artist, activist and Wednesday Night Poetry host Kai Coggin will celebrate the publication of her third book, "Incandescent" at this week's reading.
The regular open mic session for all poets will begin at 6:30 p.m. at Kollective Coffee+Tea, 110 Central Ave. Coggin will begin at 7 p.m., followed by a book signing, and another round of open mic. Admission to Wednesday Night Poetry is free and open to all ages.
Coggin is a former Houston Regional Teacher of the Year -- top five finalist out of 85,000 teachers -- turned poet, author and teaching artist who moved to Hot Springs from Houston in 2012. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Poetry and Creative Writing from Texas A&M University. As an arts advocate, Coggin serves on the board of directors for the Hot Springs Area Cultural Alliance.
She is a teaching artist in poetry on the Arts in Education Roster with the Arkansas Arts Council, and is "one of the busiest artists with Arkansas Learning Through The Arts," a news release said.
During the school year, she is invited to conduct poetry residencies across the state with students ranging from second to 12th grade.
"I always tell my students that poetry is a safe place for your feelings. Young people are struggling with so much these days, and giving them a tool to express themselves is something I wish I had as a kid. I know giving them this method to transcend hardships through writing is my purpose in the world. This last school year, I had the honor of teaching poetry to over 3,200 students," Coggin said in the release.
Every few months, including Tuesdays this July, from 7-9 p.m., Coggin conducts a weekly adult creative writing workshop called "Words and Wine" at Emergent Arts, 341-A Whittington Ave.
"We read and discuss poems while drinking wine, and then we write poems," Coggin said. "The wine makes everything flow a little smoother. It's a fun and nonjudgmental creative outlet for adults."
Coggin's poetry has been nominated three times for the Pushcart Prize, as well as Bettering American Poetry 2015 and Best of the Net 2016 and 2018. She is the author of three full-length collections, "Periscope Heart," 2014; "Wingspan," 2016; and "Incandescent."
This Wednesday is the official Sibling Rivalry Press publication date for "Incandescent."
"Incandescent means to 'emit light as a result of being heated' ... the world is heated right now and there is so much chaos and darkness. I am projecting my light through these poems, their righteous anger, and the love that will carry us through. We must use our Light now, when the world needs it the most. We must burn bright. We must be incandescent," she said in the release.
This week marks 1,586 consecutive Wednesdays of poetry in downtown Hot Springs since Feb. 1, 1989. WNP founder Bud Kenny will host this week. Email [email protected] for more information.
Entertainment on 06/18/2019