January: Andy Young Wrap-Up

Our evening with Andy Young started out with a burst of energy and just kept going. After Sam Jannenga’s stirring invocation, Ms. Young jumped right in, carrying us with her through her mesmerizing voice. This event was undoubtedly an “auspicious evening” for 1718 as well—a great start to our Spring series! Andy Young’s work had an international flair to it; this well-traveled writer has a gift of imagery that offers an eye into the elements of other cultures that are almost always lost in translation. The audience was treated with some of her new work, and the personality Ms. Young puts into her reading was not lost on the crowd. She threw in a few lighter, comedic notes, including one poem about Condoleeza Rice, and ended the evening’s traveling spree—which included Baghdad and the Gaza Strip—with a series of works in Egypt.

Andy Young’s reading was a great success, and she joined the audience to hear from the solo student reader of the evening—Daniel Stephenson of Loyola. Daniel’s first poem was a delight in itself, but his second and third pieces undoubtedly created an auditory sensation most of the listeners had not experienced before. His “vertical rhymes” were written for two voices, and the reading had the polished performance and perfect timing of a musical duet.

These two Appalachian readers led an enjoyable evening—thank you, all those that braved the cold to attend, and of course, the 1718 readers and staff for putting this all together.

If you could not attend, don’t worry! To borrow Andy Young’s favorite quote of unknown origin:
“It’s always morning somewhere in the world,” and every morning brings us closer to the rest of the great events 1718 has lined up this season!