Artists attended a “family reunion” at an intimate art gallery Friday night and reveled in art, conversation and comradely.
Poets from HBO’s “Def Poetry Jam” series, performed a rhythmic, hip-hop inspired dual poem.
Coval, also the co-founder of the world’s largest poetry slam, Louder than A Bomb, said he prefers to perform at community-centered events where he can appreciate local culture.
“It’s best to come to places like this and see how people live,” Coval said.
Coval said he was fascinated by the style of poetry he witnessed at the event, which he said may be indigenous to Baton Rouge.
Donney Rose, program director for Forward Arts, said the organization emerged from the Wordplay Teen Writing Project parented by the Big Buddy Program. Becoming a single, arts-driven entity would make it easier to focus on educating youth through the arts, he said.
“We’re just trying to give opportunities for people’s voice to be heard,” Rose said. “If nothing else, our program aids in young people becoming better