Kimberly Simms curates, emcees and gives talk at TEDX Greenville Oct 11

Get your tickets! Free! October Salon: Tuesday, October 11, 2016 Slam! Want to explore the art and power of Poetry Slam? Listen for your voice. This year, Greenville Slam celebrates 20 years of promoting literary arts and creativity in Greenville! Join two members of the original Greenville Slam Team, Vera Gómez and Kimberly Simms, and learn how the magic of this movement inspired their own voices and the many diverse voices poetry slam offers a stage. This TEDx Salon features a high energy, curated poetry slam (ala National Poetry Slam style) as well as a TED Talk and a discussion on how poetry slam continues to define Greenville as a national hub for arts and culture. The salon is sponsored by South Carolina Humanities, a not-for-profit organization; inspiring, engaging and enriching South Carolinians with programs on literature, history, culture and heritage. http://www.eventbrite.com/e/october-salon-slam-tickets-28209044010?aff=es2

Our Poets

Vera Gomez and Kimberly Simms were integral members of the original Greenville Slam Team who made history at the National Poetry Slam as the first all-women team in 1997 and who took the Regional Championship at the 1998 Southern Fried Poetry Slam. Both poets continue to inspire youth in our community through their work with the Metropolitan Arts Councils’ SmartArts program and the Peace Center’s Peace Voices program.

VERAGOMEZ. Vera Gómez, who’s a firm believer in the power of words, is a published poet, performer, and staple of Greenville’s literary arts scene. She is the current president of Emrys, which runs a monthly reading series, open mic and publishes the annual Emrys Journal. Learn more about her atwww.veragomez.com.

KIMBERLYSIMMS. Pioneering poetry slams since 1994, Kimberly Simms was inducted as a Legend of the South in 2016 by the National Poetry Slam. In 2002, she founded non-profit Wits End Poetry, which manages the Greenville Poetry Slam and a weekly open mic. She is the 2016 Carl Sandburg NHS Writer-in-Residence. Learn more about her at www.kimberlysimms.com.

D.DOVE. D. Dove is an actor, musician, and spoken word artist who was a member of the 2016 Greenville Slam Team that recently placed 4th at the Southeast Regional and semi-finals at the National Poetry Slam.

NATEHAMES.Nate Hames is a seasoned spoken word artist, a member of the 2015 Greenville Slam Team, a Sergeant in the US Army, and a veteran of the Iraq war.

ALEXANDRAHARRIS. Alexandra Harris is a native Hoosier and Furman senior with a passion for affordable housing development, coffee, and, of course, poetry.

JENICEPLEASANT. Jenice Pleasant is a singer-songwriter, poet, and visual artist who has been a member of two Greenville slam teams. She is known for beautifully weaving music into her jazz inspired poetry.

BLAQSOCRATES. BlaQ Socrates is a classically trained vocalist and spoken word artist and activist. A student at University of South Carolina Upstate, he is majoring in African American Studies and Gender with a minor in English.

October Events with Kimberly Simms

October 2016

Above: Kimberly Simms acting as Master of Ceremonies
for a bout at the National Poetry Slam.

October 4th. Art Amok Poetry Slam. Red Light Cafe 8:30pm 553 Amsterdam Ave Atlanta GA. Come support host Theresa Davis and share your poem in the open mic! Night also features a poetry slam! Catch me in the open mic and bout managing.

October 8th A Night of Love and Laugter. 7:30 pm Featured reader. WOW Performing Arts Center, 5816 Shakespeare Road, Suite A, Columbia, SC  29223

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-night-of-love-and-laughter-tickets-27325432103?utm-medium=discovery&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&aff=escb&utm-source=cp&utm-term=listing

October 11th TEDx Greenville Salon: Poetry Slam. Ted talk leader, emcee, curator, and featured reader. 6:30 pm Zen Greenville, SC. http://tedxgreenville.com/salon-home/

October 22nd. Art on the Trail Festival. Emcee and featured reader in the Art on the Trail Poetic Journeys Prize Celebration. 11:00 am. Then meet me for the Poetry & Tea Reception. Finally don't miss my Poetry Art Talk on the Demonstration Stage. Trailblazer Park. Travelers Rest, SC http://www.artonthetrail.com/

Saturday, October 29, 2016 12:15-1:15— The Petigru Review Launch Party & Catered Lunch. South Carolina Writer's Association Conference. Featured reader as a contributor to the 2016 Petigru Review!

Kimberly Simms organizes Poetic Journeys Contest for the Art on the Trail Festival

Must be a resident of South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, or Tennessee. Prizes will only be awarded in person on October 22nd at 11 am at the Art on the Trail Festival.

TRAVELERS REST, SC:    The Travelers Rest Artists Alliance and Wits End Poetry announce the first annual “Poetic Journeys” Poetry Prize as part of the 2016 Art on the Trail Festival held in Trailblazer Park October 21-22 spearheaded by Kimberly Simms. The Art on the Trail Festival is held annually in October in Travelers Rest and features Fine Arts, Fiber Arts, Sculpture, Photography, Live Music and Performers, Poetry, Children's activities and More! Winners will be announced by October 12th. 

The first prize adult winner will receive $100 if they attend the prize ceremony. Winning poets will have the opportunity to share their poems at a celebration in their honor at the Art on the Trail Poetry Prize Celebration: A Poetic Journey through the Mountains of South Carolina on October 22, 2016 at 11:00 am at Trailblazer Park as part of the Art on the Trail Festival.  The event will be hosted by local poet and teaching artist Kimberly Simms Gibbs, who is the 2016 Carl Sandburg Writer in Resident. A “Poetry and Tea” reception with local poets, prize, winners, and the public will immediately follow the celebration.  Winning poems will also be featured online.

First, second, and third prizes will be awarded certificates of honor. Full details of the contest are available at ww.witsendpoetry.com. More information about the festival is available at www.artonthetrail.com.

• Submit 3 to 5 poems in any style or length on the theme Mountains on my Mind. 
• Submit poems as word documents or pdf.
• Include a cover letter with your biography, city of residence, and if needed - explanation of how your poem connects to the theme, "The Mountains on my Mind."
• Please put your name, address, and email on your group of poems then submit them as one document. 
• FEES: Free (no contest fee) to early birds who submit before September 1st. After September 1st, there will be a $4 reading fee.

Poems on the theme Mountains on my Mind could refer to any set of mountains in the Southeast. The poem could be about hiking, the outdoors, mountain life, growing up in the mountains, mountains as a state of mind, mountains as a metaphor, or any other interpretation of the theme, "Mountains on my Mind." Please note poems should not contain profanity or be of an explicit nature as winning poems will be shared with a broad audience. Poems can be in a form, can rhyme, can be free verse, or can even be narrative.

Wits End Poetry is a 501 C 3 Charity whose mission is to provide high quality poetry programming to adults and students in Greenville County and beyond. 

Poems by Kimberly Simms featured in Charleston Currents

Check out three of my poems in Charleston Currents monthly poetry feature: Palmetto Poem. This column is managed by Poet Laureate of SC Marjory Wentworth.
http://charlestoncurrents.com/2016/08/palmetto-poem-three-by-kimberly-simms/

Upcoming Appearances with Kimberly Simms

August 2016

August 4th National Poetry Slam "Publishing Toolbox Workshop" Workshop Leader. The Georgia Center for the Book 10:00 am Decatur, GA. http://npsdecatur.com/sched.html

August 5th National Poetry Slam. Legends of the South Showcase. Featured performer The Georgia Center for the Book 2:00 pm Decatur, GA. http://npsdecatur.com/sched.html

August 9th Creative Writing Across the Curriculum. Facilitator of 2 hour workshop for instructional staff at League Academy. Greenville, SC.

August 26th 7:30 pm Cee Cee Michaela's Creative Expression. Featured reader.

August 27th Noon. Safe Harbor Benefit Poetry Slam Hosted by Moody Black. Chicora Alley. Downtown Greenville, SC.

September 2016

September 13th Tease Tuesday Burlesque at Red Light Cafe Atlanta. Featured Poet. 8pm. $10. Kimberly Simms performs poetry as part of this Cabaret night!

http://www.eventbrite.com/e/tease-tuesday-burlesque-nerdtastic-tickets-26671964564?aff=escb&utm-medium=discovery&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-source=cp&utm-term=eventcard



October 2016

October 8th A Night of Love and Laugter. 7:30 pm Featured reader. WOW Performing Arts Center, 5816 Shakespeare Road, Suite A, Columbia, SC  29223

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-night-of-love-and-laughter-tickets-27325432103?utm-medium=discovery&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&aff=escb&utm-source=cp&utm-term=listing

October 22nd. Art on the Trail Festival. Featured reader. Trailblazer Park. Travelers Rest, SC http://www.artonthetrail.com/

October 11th TEDx Greenville Salon: Poetry Slam. Ted talk, facilitator, curator, and featured reader. 6:30 pm Zen Greenville, SC.

November 2016

Poetic Journeys Poetry Prize as part of the Art on the Trail Festival

TRAVELERS REST, SC:    The Travelers Rest Artists Alliance and Wits End Poetry announce their first annual “Poetic Journeys” Poetry Prize as part of the 2016 Art on the Trail Festival. Winners will be invited to read their original poems at the Art on the Trail Festival held in Trailblazer Park on October 22^nd sponsored by the City of Travelers Rest. Adults and students living in the Upstate, SC region are invited to submit their own original poetry on the theme “Mountains on my Mind” between August 10th and September 15, 2016. 

The annual Art on the Trail Festival will be held October 21 - 22nd in Travelers Rest and it will feature Fine Arts, Fiber Arts, Sculpture, Photography, Live Music and Performers, Poetry, Children's activities and More!

Adults over 18 residing in the Upstate region may submit up to 3 poems using the online submission manager at https://witsendpoetry.submittable.com/submit. There is no reading fee for poems submitted before September 1^st. All poetry styles are welcome. 

First, second, and third prizes will be awarded in each category, and all winners will have the opportunity to share their poems at a celebration in their honor honor at the Art on the Trail Poetry Prize Celebration: A Poetic Journey through the Mountains of South Carolina on October 22. The first prize adult winner will also receive $100. Full details of the contest are available at www.witsendpoetry.com. More information about the festival is available at www.artonthetrail.com.

Students: Educators and parents are invited to submit their student’s original poems via the online submissions manager at https://witsendpoetry.submittable.com/submit or via email to witsendpoetrysc@gmail.com. Poems can be written in any style but should be written on the theme “Mountains on my Mind”. Poems are judged within grade categories: 3-5th, 6-8th and 9-12th. Each poem should contain in the top right corner: City, School, First & Last Name, Grade, and Teacher. Questions should be directed to the Poetic Journeys Contest Director Kimberly Simms Gibbs. The first prize student winner will receive gift certificates totaling $50.  

The contest and celebration event are being managed and hosted by local poet and educator Kimberly Simms Gibbs, who is the 2016 Carl Sandburg Writer in Resident. Simms will also give a reading and be available for questions at the Poetic Journeys Celebration. This program is funded in part by a grant from the SC Humanities Council’s Speakers Bureau.  A “Poetry and Tea” reception with local poets, prize, winners, and the public will immediately follow the celebration.  Winning poems will also be featured online. We are currently looking for local businesses to donate items for the tea reception, as well as gift certificates for prizes.

Wits End Poetry is a 501 C 3 Charity whose mission is to provide high quality poetry programming to adults and students in Greenville County and beyond. 

Kimberly Simms at Southern Fried Poetry Slam

This week I am travelling to Greensboro, NC for the South East Regional Southern Fried Poetry Slam from June 8th - 12th 2016. I will be hosting/emceeing four-team competitive bouts as part of the 32 city regional tournament.  

The entire festival will take place in the Downtown Greensboro Arts district from June 8-12, 2016 and will include, in addition to the central competition, daily themed open mics, a poetry picnic, community service, youth poetry slam and more. The Southern Fried Poetry Slam is the largest regional poetry slam in the country.

This will be my tenth year participating in Southern Fried! I first participated in the Southern Fried Poetry Slam in 1997 as part of The Greenville Slam Team at the Downhome in Johnsonville, TN as part of the 5th Annual South Easter Regional Slam first started by Allan Wolfe. 

What was the Downhome like? Check out this video live from the stage in 1998. And maybe you can even guess which female slam poet is the subject of this poem (ok - its me - lol).

In 1998, I was a member of the championship slam team that won the 1998 Southern Fried South East Regional Poetry Slam held in Greenville, SC. 

Before retiring from active competition, I was a member of the first all-women slam team in the nation, The Greenville Slam Team 1997-1998. In 2002, I resurrected the slam as the Upstate Slam Team, and I was the slammaster from 2003 to 2008. I was a competing member of the Upstate Slam Teams 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2008 (six National Poetry Slam Teams).

In 2014, myself, Moody Black, and Kimbi the Goddess plus a whole heap of amazing folks - organized the Southern Fried Poetry Slam in Greenville, SC: http://www.goupstate.com/article/20140601/ent/406011013

This year South Carolina will send slam teams from the following cities to Southern Fried: Upstate, Spartanburg, Columbia, and Charleston.

More information about our local slam can be found at www.witsendpoetry.com

Note: Kimberly attended the following Southern Fried Poetry Slam's: 1997, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 20014, 2016

Kimberly was on the organizing committee for the Southern Fried Poetry Slam in 1998, 2005, and 2014.
Kimberly was the acting tournament director for the Southern Fried Poetry Slam in 2004 (Miami), 2005 (Charlotte), 2006 (Birmingham). She was the finals co-host in Birmingham, Alabama. She was the back stage manager in 2004, 2005, and 2014 Southern Fried Finals.