S L NURTURES A CREATIVE M FREEDOM IN IDAHO’S C POETS O M M U N I T Y BY SK YL AR BARSANTI If K Lange had to guess, they’d say their first slam poem performance wasn’t very good. When they were in high school, Lange didn’t think they had much more to write in a poem than the crush they had on a kid in their science class. “I don’t remember what I read,” Lange said. “But I’m sure it was dumb because I was 15, and I didn’t know what I was doing.” But that first night wasn’t about what Lange read. What they recall most—attending a poetry reading for extra credit, listening to Cheryl Maddalena recite a memory about a family escape on safari—is what that night gave them. “What I loved about slam poetry then—and why I’m still trying to make it work in these wild times—is it gave me this space to have a platform,” Lange said. “The world doesn’t give a lot of platforms to 15-year-olds who have something to say. But what they’re saying isn’t just important to them. It’s part of a communal and cultural dialogue. That’s been a transformative thing.” Today, Lange is the program director for Big Tree Arts, a Boise-based nonprofit that’s been promoting performance poetry in the community since the mid2000s. Before the coronavirus put Lange’s programs on hiatus, Big Tree Arts would host two poetry slams per month. They’d take up donated space in downtown Boise, in Goldy’s Corner or Even Stevens. And they’d open the doors to poets of all ages, experience levels, and performance styles. These open mic nights, or “community gatherings of creative folks,” saw some 10-15 poets compete to earn points throughout the year. The subject matter would range from the serious—the challenges of overcoming addiction—to the silly—someone’s undying love for Chili’s chicken strips. BOISEWEEKLY ANNUAL MANUAL 2020-2021
(Above) B i g T r e e A r t s g o e s beyond reciting poetry during championship c o m p e t i t i o n s . (Below) P o e t r y slammers of Big Tree Arts stand together for a photo under the Storyfort Banner. PHOTO S C OURTESY BIG TREE ARTS
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