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Speak a Powerful Magic: Ten Years of the Traveling Stanzas Poetry Project
Foreword by Naomi Shihab Nye

This beautiful and moving book, featuring a representative collection of Traveling Stanzas poetry illustrations, celebrates the tenth anniversary of this award-winning community arts project. Launched in 2009 as a collaboration between Kent State University’s Wick Poetry Center and Professor Valora Renicker’s visual communication design students, Traveling Stanzas pairs poems with striking graphic designs. The resulting images, in both print and digital forms, have been featured in galleries, in community spaces, in interactive media, and on regional and national mass transit. Speak a Powerful Magic features poems by schoolchildren, immigrants and refugees, patients and caregivers, and veterans, alongside the work of well-known contemporary American poets, and it demonstrates that poetry is truly of the people. We turn to poetry to give voice to what is troubling us, to honor what we love, to make sense of our lives, to remember our past, and to commemorate what we’ve lost. Here, it becomes clear that poetry, especially when coupled with the visual arts, has the potential to broaden our understanding and bring people together in ways that more traditional communications simply cannot.

While the eye is drawn to the colors, lines, and images of these graphic representations, we are rewarded with far deeper meanings by reading the poetry gathered in this book. Speak a Powerful Magic demonstrates that there is a place for poetry even among those who think they have no interest in it, that there is space for conversation beyond our normal divisions, and that our human responses are more common than not.

Chautauqua Institution is proud to partner with the Wick Poetry Center in bringing poetry to everyday lives. Speak a Powerful Magic includes two poems created in workshops with the Wick Poetry Center staff in Chautauqua County Schools. The Wick Poetry Center’s work, methodologies and proprietary technology are featured in Chautauqua’s Poetry Makerspace, open to all during the summer assembly season, 10 a.m.–1 p.m. and 2–5 p.m. on weekdays in Hultquist Center First Floor (under the awning).

About the Wick Poetry Center
The Wick Poetry Center encourages new voices by promoting opportunities for individuals and communities locally, regionally, and nationally. Wick engages emerging and established poets and poetry audiences through readings, publications, workshops, and scholarship opportunities. Founded in 1984, the Center was established by Robert Wick, a sculptor and former art department faculty member at Kent State University, and his brother, Walter Wick, in memory of their sons Stan (1962–1980) and Tom (1956–1973). 

CLSC Young Readers and Book Launch: "Speak a Powerful Magic"

Wednesday, July 24, 12:30 p.m.
Alumni Hall Ballroom
Teaching artists Charles Malone (Wick Poetry Center) and Sony Ton-Aime (Chautauqua Literary Arts graduate fellow) will share selections from the Speak A Powerful Magic poetry anthology, as well as writing prompts that inspired some of the poems in the book. Attendees will engage in these same writing exercises and leave speaking powerful magic of their own! Speak a Powerful Magic includes poems created by Chautauqua County school students from Jamestown and Clymer schools.

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CHQ Literary Arts Lecture: "The Role of the Poet," Shara McCallum

Wednesday, July 24, 7 p.m.
Hultquist 101
Chautauqua Literary Arts Lecture:"The Role of the Poet," Shara McCallum poet-in-residence. The lecture will be followed by a reception to celebrate Speak a Powerful Magic, the new poetry anthology from Kent State University featuring poetry created by Chautauqua County high school students from Jamestown and Clymer schools.

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Poems created by Chautauqua County students

July 7–11, 2019   

The CHQ Olympics will take place during Week Three — Sunday, July 7, to Thursday, July 11. Teams of four to six people of all ages will compete in a variety of activities — intellectual, physical, artistic, and just plain silly. Some activities will be competitive, with points awarded to teams in the top three finishing positions; points are awarded in other activities for team participation only.

Teams are encouraged to complete five or more CHQ Olympics activities in order to qualify for medals. Gold, Silver and Bronze medals will be awarded to teams earning the top three numbers of total points.

Register your team

Schedule

Kick Off Carnival on Sunday, July 7

Tye Dye | Noon–4 p.m. Sunday, Bestor Plaza

Carnival Games | Noon–4 p.m. Sunday, Bestor Plaza

Bounce House | Noon–4 p.m. Sunday, Bestor Plaza

Closing Ceremonies on Thursday, July 11

Selection of Games and Activities | Noon–2 p.m. & 4–6 p.m. Thursday, Bestor Plaza

Creation Station: Sculpt A Medal | Noon–2 p.m. & 4–6 p.m. Thursday, Bestor Plaza

Inflatable Obstacle Course | Noon–2 p.m. & 4–6 p.m. Thursday, Bestor Plaza

Points Presentation | 5:30 p.m.. Thursday, Bestor Plaza

Every Day Free Play

Lawn Games | Noon–2 p.m. & 4–6 p.m. Monday–Wednesday, Bestor Plaza

Jumbo Games | Noon–2 p.m. & 4–6 p.m. Monday–Wednesday, Bestor Plaza

Poetry Makerspace | 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday–Wednesday, Hultquist Center

Hidden Poetry Around the Grounds | 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Monday–Wednesday

Choose Your Own Wellness Adventure  | All day Sunday–Thursday, Location: Everywhere

Timeless Classic (play a board or card game) | Sunday–Thursday, Time & Location: Participant's choice

Creation Station (a daily arts activity) | Date and Time TBA, Bestor Plaza

Minute to Win it Games | Date and Time TBA, Bestor Plaza

STEM Challenges | Date and Time TBA, Bestor Plaza

Chautauqua Scavenger Hunts | TBA

Every Day Pick-a-Play (Fees may apply)

Paddle Boarding | 1–3 p.m. Monday–Thursday & Noon–4 p.m. Sunday, Sailing Center

Kayaking | 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Monday–Thursday & 1–5 p.m. Sunday, Sports Club

Sailing | 9 a.m.–6 p.m. Monday–Thursday & Noon–4 p.m. Sunday, Sailing Center

Lap Swimming | 6 a.m.–1 p.m.; 4:30–7 p.m. Monday–Friday & Noon–3 p.m. Sunday, Turner Pool

Lawn Bowling | 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Monday–Thursday & 1–5 p.m. Sunday, Sports Club (Must be 14 or accompanied by an adult)

Shuffleboard | 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Monday–Thursday & 1–5 p.m. Sunday, Sports Club (Must be 12 or accompanied by an adult)

Organized Play

Beach-to-Beach Color Sprint | 4:30 p.m. Thursday, July 11, Sports Club

Children's Bounce House | Noon–2 p.m. Sunday and Noon-2 p.m. & 4–6 p.m. Monday–Thursday, Bestor Plaza

Scavenger Hunt | 1 p.m. Monday, Sports Club

Kayaking Paddles and Popsicles | 2–6 p.m. Tuesday, Sports Club

Competitive Events

Inflatable Swan Race | 4–6 p.m. Monday, Children's Beach

Blindfolded Partner Putt | 4–5 p.m. Tuesday, Golf Learning Center

Inflatable Obstacle Course | Noon–2 p.m. & 4–6 p.m. Thursday, Bestor Plaza