Iconoclast Beckons Bards to Irvington
Article and photos by Melodie Yvonne Ramey
INDIANAPOLIS, IN (May 17, 2018) – Open mics are an abundant commodity in any community. These are wonderful for solo musicians and bands, but they can sometimes leave out a very large section of creatives. There are often so many talented artists vying for spots at an open mic that it can often be difficult for lyricists and poets to get their time at bat. This oversight of talent is extraordinarily saddening if one even takes a second to look back at some of the great wordsmiths of history like Edgar Allan Poe, James Whitcomb Riley, and Maya Angelou.
Long before mp3s and film it was the balladists and the bards that created terror, conquered foes, and won the hearts of fair maidens far and wide simply with the flick of pen on paper or whispered words on the wind. Fortunately, right in the heart of Hoosier country in the lovely Irvington Historic District a poetic pulse beats like battle drum calling the last few and true literary soldiers to arms. This siren sonnet sails out of the doors of the beautiful Irving Theater every Thursday evening courtesy of the venues gracious proprietors as well as Iconoclast Open Mic Poetry host, Devon Ginn.
Ginn opens every show with a gigantic and genuine welcome as well as the repeated declaration that the theater shall remain a completely nonjudgmental and safe space for all to share throughout the duration of Iconoclast. All are welcome from all walks of life, and all opinions and stories are encouraged. Devon does want to ensure a comfortable and safe space, however, so the only rule besides making sure everyone gets a turn is that of trigger warnings. Trigger warnings are a short description of the possible upsetting content given by the artist followed by a brief pause before they read to allow time for anyone to step out that may be sensitive to the material. This one and only simple rule is easily followed by regulars and new comers alike making Ginn’s job easy, and creating a familial environment that keeps people coming back every week.
There are many attendees that return weekly, but one incredible artist by the name of Cher Guevara is a crowd favorite. Guevara is a regular at Iconoclast as well as a member of the Transylvanian Lip Treatment’s iconic Rocky Horror Picture Show cast. This combination of acting and writing talents is surely what gives Cher that special star quality that attracts idolatry from many of the event attendees. Guevara presents to the crowd infallibly every time whether it be original work or older classics, and inspires the audience to achieve that kind of greatness in themselves.
It’s always assured that by the end of the night every member of the audience gets their turn to hop up and trip the light fantastic with that Iconoclast mic if they like. More often than not even attendees with no notion of performing end up onstage thanks to the welcoming ambience created by regulars like Cher Guevara and host Devon Ginn. It’s beautiful humans just like these two that give hope to the universe in a time where literacy is dying and the beauty of words has been reduced to mere acronyms and smiling poo. The world can only hope that the magnanimous Devon Ginn will continue his poetic tradition for a long time to come, and that Iconoclast will persevere making writer’s dreams come true for infinity and beyond.
Check out the next Poetry Open Mic at the Irving Theater on their Event Page
Follow the Irving Theater to keep up to date on all their upcoming events on their Facebook Page
Check out the full photo gallery and videos from last week’s Open Mic Poetry night below
Check out more videos from Poetry Open Mics at the Irving Theater at www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7sewp3CwZm2KzHh3Q7IS6whMNriGvdcO
Check out even more LIVE Poetry Readings on Melodie’s YouTube at www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7sewp3CwZm32ubOerFaC7JSnqmGEAyM6
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Photo and video footage shot for Photographic Melodie by Melodie Yvonne Ramey. Shot with Nikon D800E
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Categories: Concert & Events Reviews, Concert, Theatre, and Performance, Concerts & Events, Concerts & Events 2018, Live Poetry Readings, Melodie Yvonne, Photo Reviews, Poetry, Poetry on the Side, Reviews
