Slam Community Nurtures Creative Freedom

S L A M C O M M U N I T Y NURTURES CREATIVE FREEDOM IN IDAHO’S POETS

BY SKYLAR 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. (Above) Big Tree Arts goes beyond reciting poetry during championship competitions. (Below) Poetry slammers of Big Tree Arts stand together for a photo under the Storyfort Banner.

PHOTOS COURTESY BIG TREE ARTS

“The National Poetry Slam sees hundreds of poets from across the country. And our team is known, on the national level, as the ‘weird’ team.”

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At the end of the night, slam hosts would randomly select audience members to judge each poem on criteria like creativity, performance and originality. By the end of the year, the top poets would have the opportunity to compete for a spot on the Boise team bound for the National Poetry Slam. A competitor themself, Lange has performed slams at the national level in Atlanta, Denver and Chicago.

“ e National Poetry Slam sees hundreds of poets from across the country,” they said. “And our team is known, on the national level, as the ‘weird’ team.” at Boise weirdness, Lange says, comes from the team’s desire to nurture creative freedom, and the Boise team isn’t just reciting poetry. ey’re choreographing and writing songs to accompany their work. And they’re pushing the boundaries of spoken-word performances.

“Slam poetry began in the 1980s as a way to get more people into poetry,” Lange explained. “It was more accessible than academic, textbook poetry. And I see value in the serious nature of poetry, but I’ve seen a big change in how accessible it is and how diverse it is. It’s not just bongos and turtlenecks. It off ers a lot of creative fl exibility and freedom.”

As Lange and Big Tree Arts work their way out of their hiatus, they hope to continue giving Idahoans and aspiring poets a creative outlet. e nonprofi t and its poets promote arts education and teach poetry and creative writing workshops, especially in Idaho’s underfunded, alternative, and rural schools.

Short of packed indoor spaces and events like Storyfort to showcase their talent, Lange is looking for more ways to connect with the Gem State’s experienced and up-and-coming slam poets. ey hope to come back stronger with outdoor workshops to support schools and arts education. Even in these “wild times,” Lange and the organization want to open doors for new voices.

Visit boisepoetry.com to connect with Big Tree Arts and learn more about the organization.

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