Jemimah Howard
News Reporter

The third annual “Poets & Writers of Mesa State” reading series kicked off Thursday night, at Planet Earth and the Four Directions Gallery boasting the work of Mesa State College professors, Luis Lopez, John Nizalowski and Barry Michrina.
This was the first in a five part reading series scheduled for the third Thursday of every month until January.
Lopez, author of three books of poetry, read from his newest book, “Each Month I Sing,” which won the American Book Award in 2008. Lopez is a seasoned writer and reader. His last reading was in Aspen last month and he plans on going to Santa Fe in the near future to assist in a workshop for young writers.
Like Lopez, Michrina has written three books. He has also served as an editor of the journal “Anthropology of Consciousness,” and continues to be editor of Vignettes. His reading, however, reflected his study on a more human level.
Michrina’s work of fiction was about a young boy who cared for his wheelchair bound father, and the love-hate relationship that they shared. Michrina followed this piece with several well crafted poems.
Nizalowski, author of Hooking the Sun, read an excerpt from an essay entitled “Beyond the Barrier.” This piece of creative non-fiction was packed with mythology and history woven together with vivid language. He anticipates the release of his second book this year.
Nizalowski started the reading series three years ago out of a desire to have the writing professors of Mesa get out into the public of Grand Junction. According to Nizalowski, it is not the same to have the readings on campus because it limits the people that attend to mostly students and faculty. This rings true as witnessed on Thursday. Nizalowski credits Caole Lowry, owner and curator of Planet Earth, as being a immense part of what makes these readings work.
Planet Earth and the Four Directions Gallery is located at 524 Colorado Ave. Lowry has hosted this event from its inception and feels fortunate to be a part of it. She is an avid supporter of the arts and plans to continue to supply a venue for local artists and writers.
“The readings have been wildly popular,” she said, “and they speak well of our community in writing and poetry.”
u
jahoward@mesastate.edu