Kirya Traber
Artist • Educator •Activist (415) 571-5658 446 Ocean Ave Apt 3H Brooklyn, NY 11226
kiryatraber@gmail.com
Education Bachelor of Arts: San Francisco State University, Psychology, 2008 California State Summer School for the Arts: 2000 (Creative writing. Lead Instructor: Tracy Gourdine) Youth Speaks 2003-2007 (Creative writing and performance. Lead Facilitators: Marc Bamuthi Joseph, and James Kass) Intersection for the Arts 2010 (Acting. Lead Instructor: Margo Hall)
Honors and Awards Governor’s Award of Excellence in the Arts EOP Ray Uribe Scholarship Brave New Voices Slam Champion Congresswoman Barbara Lee’s Certificate of Recognition Sundance Mayor’s Summit Award for Environmental Activism in the Arts Astrea Lesbian Writers Fund, Honorable Mention, Poetry
2000 2003 2004 2006 2007 2011
Current Projects If This Be Sin (working title) 2011 A multi-genre, full-length performance piece examining celebrity and Queerness through autobiographical texts and the work of Gladys Bentley. Set to premier in workshop for the 2011 National Queer Arts Festival.
Publications Tiny Little Maps to Each Other A collection of five young women poets Traber, et al, Authors First Word Press (Paperback), San Francisco, CA
2006
black chick Poetry Collection Kirya Traber, Author Self Published, Chapbook San Francisco, CA
2009
Traber, Kirya. "Roll Call." Other Tongues: Mixed-Race Women Speak Out Multi-disciplinary Anthology Adem, Adebe DeRango and Thompson, Andrea, Editors Inanna Publications and Education Inc., Print. Toronto, ON
2010
Selected Performances Kirya Traber has featured as a spoken word performer, actress, and keynote speaker in over 100 performances across the United States and Canada. She is recipient of multiple national awards and has appeared in print and online publications, radio broadcasts, and television programs. Here are some of her favorites: Colleges/Universities: Prescott University Presents Sister Spit: Next Generation, Prescott, AZ Scripps College Presents Sister Spit: Next Generation, Santa Clara, CA University of Arizona Presents Sister Spit: Next Generation Gallagher Theatre Tucson, AZ Brown University Presents Sister Spit: Next Generation, Providence, RI Butler University Presents Sister Spit: Next Generation, Indianapolis, IN
2009 2009 2009 2009 2009
Keynotes: San Francisco State University Sociology Dept. Graduation, inspirational speaker SF, CA. 2008 UC Berkeley Gender Studies Graduation, featured poet, University of California, Berkeley, CA 2009
Festivals: Bay Area Teen Poetry Slam Finals, top five finalist, Herbts Theater, San Francisco, CA 2004 Brave New Voices International Teen Poetry Slam, National Champion, Los Angeles, CA, 2004 Peace Out International Homo Hop Festival, Oakland, CA 2004-2005 San Francisco Dyke March, Dolores Park San Francisco, CA 2004 Stern Grove Festival, Stern Grove, San Francisco, CA 2005 San Francisco Lit Quake, San Francisco, CA 2006 Bay Area Hip Hop Theatre Fest, La Peña, Berkeley, CA 2007 National Queer Arts Festival: Mad To Live, a Michelle Radar Reading, San Francisco, CA 2007 National Queer Arts Festival, The Outsiders: a Michelle Tea Radar Reading, 2008 San Francisco CA San Francisco Gay Pride Writer's Tent, San Francisco Civic Center, CA 2008 San Francisco Independent Artist Week Opening Panel, Museum of African Diaspora, SF, CA 2008
Conferences: Robert Redford’s Sundance Mayor’s Summit, Sundance Preserve, Utah Green Build International Expo Chicago, IL Dream Reborn, Memphis, TN, 14th Annual LOVE FEST, La Peña Cultural Center, Berkeley, CA San Francisco International Women’s Film Festival Opening, the Women's Building, SF, CA University of California Santa Barbara Women of Color Conference, Sister Spit: Next Generation, Santa Barbara, CA Cal State East Bay Queer Arts Fest, Cal State East Bay, Hayward, CA
2007 2007 2008 2009 2009 2010 2009
Selected Special Events: Senator Barbara Lee’s Birthday, Grand Lake Theater Oakland, CA Strike, a City Lights Reading, San Francisco, CA International Museum of Women: Exploring Womanhood & Transformation, Bay View Branch Library, San Francisco, CA Safety Fest Opening Celebration presented by Mangos with Chili, Bench and Bar, Oakland, CA June Jordan's Poetry for the People, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
2006 2008 2009 2010 2011
Selected Performance Venues: Galerîa de la Raza, San Francisco, CA 2008, 2009 Oakland Museum, Oakland CA 2008 Elliot Bay Books Presents Sister Spit: Next Generation, Seattle, WA 2009 Le Voyeur Lounge Presents Sister Spit: Next Generation, Olympia, WA 2009 Rhizome Café Presents Sister Spit: Next Generation, Vancouver, BC, Canada 2009 Mississippi Studios Presents Sister Spit: Next Generation, Portland, OR 2009 Bedlam Theatre Presents Sister Spit: Next Generation, Minneapolis, MN 2009 Women & Children First Presents Sister Spit: Next Generation, Chicago, IL 2009 Aut Bar Presents Sister Spit: Next Generation, Ann Arbor, MI 2009 Toronto Free Gallery Presents Sister Spit: Next Generation, Vancouver, ON, Canada 2009 Bluestockings Bookstore Presents Sister Spit: Next Generation, Manhattan, NY 2009 Red Emma’s Bookstore Presents Sister Spit: Next Generation, Baltimore, MA 2009 Modern Times Bookstore, black chick, Chapbook Release, San Francisco, CA 2010 The Nuyorican Poets Café, Friday Night Slam Featuring Kirya Traber, New York, NY 2010
Theater: Cause: Featuring Robert Moses’ Kin, writer/performer, Living Word Festival, Yerba Buena Theater, San Francisco CA The Playwright’s Foundation In the Rough Series, actor San Francisco, CA Bullrusher, actor, lead roll, Shotgun Players, the Ashby Stage, Berkeley CA, L'Histoire du Soldat, actor, Oakland Opera, Oakland Metro Operahouse, Oakland CA, Translations, actor, San Francisco Queer Arts Festival, The Garage, San Francisco, CA,
2004-2005 2007 2007 2008 2009
Television/Radio: “Queeriosity”, Outloud Radio, Speak On It Uth TV Hard Knock Radio 94.1 KPFA, Various. Street Soldiers 106 KMEL Pirate Cat Radio Childhood Matters 89.1 KISS FM
2004, 2005 2005 2004-2006 2007 2010 2010
Curator Queeriosity The Center, San Francisco, Ca. 2005-2011 Celebrating writing and performance from LGBTQ youth, and established artists. A multi-generational, multi-genre night of performance. Past Features: Artistic Director Eclipse, Micia Mosely, Katastrophe, Enrique Urueta, Daphne Gotlieb, Thandiwe, and more.
Queer Mission Galeria de la Raza, San Francisco, Ca. 2008 A showcase of writers, performers, and musicians who represent the thriving culture of queer artists in the mission district, and the legacy that feeds them. Featuring MamaCoatl, Mexica Queen, and more. Insurgency Mama Calizo's Voice Factory, San Francisco, Ca. 2008 A collaborative performance piece using movement and spoken word to investigate the intersections of race, culture, assimilation, reclamation and colonization as we assert our queer mixed bodies to be powerful and indivisible sites of resistance. Co-curators: Luna Maia and Nico Damascus. In Sickness and In Health The Center, San Francisco, Ca. Best friend pairs take the stage for a night of spoken word, film and photography. Featuring Michelle Tea, Meliza Beñales, Yosimar Reyes, Storm Florez, Amos Mac, and more. Co-Curator: Sarah Marloff.
2010
Arts Educator Poet Mentor, Youth Speaks Inc, San Francisco Bay Area, 2005-2008 Developed original Frierean based spoken-word curriculum for middle and high school students. Instructed 10-20 week residency programs in schools, and community programs to youth 10-19yrs old. Program Manager: Residencies, Youth Speaks, San Francisco Bay Area 2008-2010 Managed school based Residency program across San Francisco Bay Area middle and high schools. Hired and train mentors to facilitate writing workshops for youth. Developed and evaluated program wide structure and pedagogy. Collaborated in event production and management for Bringing the Noise performance series, the Youth Speaks Teen Poetry Slam, and Brave New Voices International Teen Poetry Slam Festival. Rhode Island School of Design, Lead Workshop Facilitator Developed and facilitated arts-educator training workshop for students of RISD.
2009
Modern Times Bookstore, Lead Workshop Facilitator Developed and facilitated advanced writing workshop series for youth and adults.
2010
Arts in Education Program Manager, Youth Speaks Inc, San Francisco Bay Area 2010-Present Manage school and community Residencies, School Visits, Community Out Reach and Events, and National Speak Green programs. Coordinate special projects and collaborations with third party organizations. Collaborate in event production and management for Bringing the Noise performance series, the Youth Speaks Teen Poetry Slam, and Brave New Voices International Teen Poetry Slam Festival.
Selected Press Featured San Francisco State Xpress “Poetry Slam Gives Teens a Voice.” March 16, 2004 http://xpress.sfsu.edu/archives/arts/000970.html. “Kirya Traber, a stunningly confident young woman”- San Francisco Chronicle “Poetry reading paves the way…” Aug 16, 2005 http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/08/16/DDG2JE781O1.DTL. Featured
Curve Magazine “Dykes to Watch Out For.” Vol. 16 #1 2005 "The radiant Kirya Traber." –San Jose Mercury News “Bulrusher: a theater review” September 22nd, 2007 Featured MTV.com Street Team 2008 “Bringing the Noise for MLK” January 28, 2008 http://think.mtv.com/044FDFFFF0098A13200170098CC59/ “Kirya Traber displayed her acting talents”- The Opera Tattler “Renard,” October 26,2008 http://operatattler.typepad.com/opera/renard/ “I'm convinced people are better humans after they've been witness to Kirya Traber.”- Bitch Magazine Online “Sister Spit Then and Now”, October 9, 2009 http://bitchmagazine.org/post/sister-spit-then-and-now Featured Autostraddle.com “Read a F*cking Book: Ten Lesbian and Bisexual Poets to Fall in Love With,” August 26, 2010 http://www.autostraddle.com/read-a-fcking-book-ten-lesbian-bisexual-poets-34457/ Featured Video Huffington Post.com “Gay And Lesbian Pride Month: Celebrating With Stonewall Poetry” http://www.huffingtonpost.com/patrick-pressl/stonewall-poetscelebrati_b_884931.html#s298454&title=Kirya_Trabers_These Featured San Francisco Chronicle “'Queer Rebels of the Harlem Renaissance' in S.F.”
http://www.sfgate.com/cgibin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/06/29/NS901K197J.DTL#ixzz1VtKSr1gh