August 2008
Returning ThirdEye feature Cuban, hailing from Jacksonville, alongside his Minoriteam mate Sonja from Tampa blazed the stage for the Civic Media Center (www.civicmediacenter.org) fundraiser held on August 2nd at the Pride Community Center (www.gainesvillepride.org). Minoriteam won the 2008 Southern Fried Slam back in June and Cuban and Sonja dazzled the audience with their solo and duo pieces. ThirdEye's Kylie also featured as an opening act for them. The open mic portion of the evening was fantastic with so many new poets up there for the first time! We knew you had it in you…Gainesville is loaded with fresh talent! JQAM from Organik Recordings provided us with great music before and after the event, thanks!
The evening also featured a lovely visual art display from some of our local visual art favorites; Mary Held, Natalie Cisneros, Robert Brown, and Pat High with wolf medicine bags.
Thank you to our sponsors. Our events are made possible by your generosity; Thai Fusion, Melting Pot, Sweetwater Organic Coffee, Five Pound Pixel, Dr. Carol Kim, Dr. Lynne Barolet, Lacey Nagy, Kylie Slavik, and Mary Held.
Look for us in October with our 3 Year Anniversary coming up. You know its going to be HOT!!!
June 2008
ThirdEyeSpoken’s Lacey Nagy produced a series of spoken word art workshops at GHS in conjunction with the Literacy Festival. Students came twice a month after school to learn how to write and perform their poetry and some classes contained as many as thirty teen poets. Every workshop featured a poet from the community; Ryan “Ansr”, Paola, Sami J, Kylie Slavik, Starr Blaisedale, David Maas, Prophet of What, and even the Original Woman from Colorado stepped in for a surprise visit. Kerri Ward and Andrea Vallerand were the supporting GHS teachers who created a poetry chat book for the students and even wrote a couple of duets together. Stuart Clarry donated 100 Cds and cases and Prophet of What set up a live studio and recorded the students’ first poetry Cd compilation.
We honored these dynamic young individuals by hosting an event at the beautiful Thomas Center on Friday, June 6, 2008 which featured Jordan House, Viviane Mardy, Shannon Latimer, Chris Yozgat, Kyle McCormick, Julien Barrass-Buskirk, John Singleton, and Isabel Teller. The event benefited and paid these young poets to celebrate their hard efforts and encourage them to be a part of the poetry life in Gainesville. Asia Elliot from Tampa co-featured and received a standing ovation for her infamous performance poem, “He Loves Me.” She has been writing spoken word since age twelve and was awarded a four year spoken word art scholarship in Wisconsin. The evening was full of fresh fire and as always, there were plenty of fun give-away door prizes and a forty-foot long table full of food to feed our guests!
Thank you to our incredible sponsors for supporting our youth! Please support these local businesses: City of Gainesville’s Park, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs, Target Copy, Roly Poly, Jamaica Imports, Vasanthi Vanniasingham (acupuncture), Lacey Nagy, Akemi Meeks Borjas (acupuncture), Paradise Smoothie, The Bistro, Fresh Market, Krishna Rose, Book Lover’s Café, Five Star Pizza, Stuart Clarry, Burger King, Dunken Donuts, Pita Pit, Reggae Shack, Sweetwater Organic Coffee, Emilliano’s, Prange’s Florist, Rolls-N-Bowls, Gypsy Palace, Chop Stix, Volta, Five Pound Pixel.
Thank you amazing production team!! Kerri Ward, Andrea Valleran, Kylie Slavik, Eddie B, Johnny Rocket, John Byrne, Jimmy Fishhawk, Lyssa England, Starr Blaisedale, Natalie Cisneros, James Morgan, Mary Held, Will, and Lacey Nagy.
February 2008
We had to bring her back!! The Original Women blessed the Gainesville scene once again while touring through Florida. This dynamite women is paying her way through law school with a child on the way with her poetry as her full time job!! She, of course, blew away the crowd at Wild Iris Books with her intense story-telling poetry and political insights. You can learn more about this empress, check out www.theoriginalwoman.com.
Krystle Wit a “E” from Tampa and ThirdEyeSpoken’s Kylie and Lacey also invigorated the evening by opening up the show with their spit-fire tongues. It was the night of the feminine warrior.
Make sure you check out Gainesville’s latest FREE poetry open mic WILD WORDZ at Wild Iris Books at 809 West University Ave on the 1st and 3rd Fridays of every month from 7pm-9pm.
February 2008
The 2nd Annual Gainesville Holistic Health Fair took place in the beautiful indoors and out door settings of United Church of Gainesville on Saturday, February 2. ThirdEyeSpoken produced the music, poetry, and dancing entertainment in the lovely courtyard while hundreds of people flowed casually throughout the day. The weather couldn’t have been more Divine!
ThirdEyeSpoken hosted enchanting musicians such as Krishna Rose, Elaine Silver, Johnny Dame, ThirdEyeSpoken’s Will Maurer, Edith Richman, Perry Hornkohl, and Jimmy Carter. Over twenty indigo children also treated us from Jordan Glen School performing a spirit dance, guided by instructor Olapetun.
AND THE POETS!!! The intense, holistic, psyche-twisting, conscious-raising poetry activist-healers included Krystle Wit a “E” from Tampa, Kylie Slavik, Lacey Nagy, Prophet of What, Sami J, Paola, Ryan, Eddie B, Chris, and The Word Is Spoken!’s David Maas.
The sidewalk splashed color with Gainesville’s finest visual artists including ThirdEye’s Visual Art Director, Lyssa England, Johnny Dame, and David Dahl. Dozens of healers performed wonders inside while charming vendors and information booths of all kinds wove throughout the facility. Some of the holistic healing modalities included:
Acupuncture ~ BioMat ~ Cherokee Medicine Wheel ~ Crystals ~ Doulas ~ Energy Healing ~ EFT ~ Environmental Health ~ Eye Health ~ Family Counseling ~ Healing With Art ~ Healing With Rhythm ~ Herbs ~ High Fat Diet ~ Home Birth ~ Homeopathy ~ Hypnotherapy ~ Inspirational Breathwork ~ Intuitive Counseling ~ Laughter Yoga ~ Massage Therapy ~ Midwifery ~ Natural Pet Care ~ Nourishing Traditions Foods ~ Nutrition Information ~ Orthobionomy ~ Plants and Art ~ Plants and Medicine ~ Qigong ~ Reiki ~ Shiatsu ~ Spirit Dance ~ Swedish Massage ~ Thai Massage ~ Zero-Balancing
This year, all proceeds benefited the Alachua County Habitat for Humanity (Woman Build), the Harvest of Hope, and the Gainesville Breast Milk Fund. For more information about how to be a vendor, practitioner, entertainer, or speaker, email Maria Minno at mminno@bellsouth.net. The slots fill up quickly, so reserve your spot and join us!
We'd like to thank Target Copy for sponsoring this event!
December 2007
The Rock “N” Roll Camp for Girls Benefit was the last show of 2007 and well, rocked! Giddy-Up Helicopter from Tampa, along with Gainesville’s finest, Cassette, Kathleen Kennedy, and Redboy put on a stellar show of female rock entertainment at the Atlantic (www.atlanticnights.com). You can learn more about these talented bands on www.gainvesvillebands.com
The evening was also powerfully supported by the talents of local poets, Kylie, Lacey, Starr, Rocket, Portia, and Helena. These women spoke on topics ranging from the love of a foster child to politics to the expression of the Goddess.
Rock “N” Roll Camp for girls is a non-profit organization that teaches young girls how to become rock stars by giving them professional stage lessons, personal empowerment support, and all of the equipment they need to develop their gifts. For more information about this camp, visit www.girlsrockcamp.org.
A special thank you to the women who pulled this event together, Krissy, Kylie, Jen, and Lacey and also the production team of ThirdEyeSpoken. Welcome aboard, new ThirdEyeSpoken photographer, Natalie Cisneros (www.nataci.com).
September 2007
On Friday September 28th ThirdEyeSpoken artists and supporters gathered at Gainesville's lovely Kanapaha Botanical Gardens (www.kanapaha.org) for our Second Anniversary celebration! We were joined by brilliant and high-energy poets from around the state, the most brilliant and high-energy of whom were our featured performers, The Write Side Poets youth slam team from Ft. Lauderdale and Miami (www.writesidepoets.org). Also on the bill were Southern Fried Poetry Slam champion Cuban (www.shatteredthought.com), who along with his brother-in-wordsmithing, Knightkrawler, repped the mean streets of Jacksonville for us; Apartment Poets expatriate Sami J (recently returned to Gainesville from the wilds of Orlando and St. Pete) and a "usual suspects" list of Gainesvillains including Ryan Schaufert and David Maas of CMC PoJam and The Word Is Spoken fame, and ThirdEye team members Lacey Nagy, Johnny Rocket, Eddie B and Jimmy Nil Fishhawk.
This show was a benefit for Florida Wildlife Care (www.floridawildlifecare.org), and it was, as our title stated, truly "Wild-n-Off-the-Chain," with FWC providing hands-on interaction with some of our feathered and furry friends that they are currently rehabilitating. Another wonderful hands-on feature was the free chair massage provided by students from the Florida School of Massage (www.floridaschoolofmassage.com)--thanks to TES alumna Kylie Slavik for that hook-up!
In addition to rocking our socks off with their passionate and tightly-wound words, The Write Side Poets also brought along a sample of their ongoing "Faces" project, featuring handmade life masks of kids from public schools and detention centers who've participated in their poetry workshops, with accompanying audio samples of the young people's spoken words. This ingenious and moving project is traveling the country in a series of exhibits at museums and galleries over the course of the next year, and we are privileged to have been able to experience a "one night only" exhibition right here in Hogtown. Pile on a smorgasbord of delicious food donated by local merchants, some fabulous door prizes, and you've got a one heck of a party! Thanks to all of you who came out and helped us celebrate two years of creative community uplifted through poetry and art, and raise money to support FL Wildlife Care.
Of course, no event of this magnitude would be possible without the generous support of our sponsors, so please join us in supporting these local businesses who support the community and the arts: Beef O’Brady’s, Dragonfly Graphics, Emilliano’s, Downtown Five Star Pizza, Florida School of Massage, Maude’s Café, Roly Poly, Seraphim Center, Sweetwater Organic Coffee, Target Copy, and Working Cow. Thanks also to these individuals whose hard work and generous contributions helped make this event possible: Bijan, David Maas, James Bowen, Karina Boycheva, Kylie Slavik, Lori Hunt, Nicki Nagy, Suzanne Nagy and Vicki Vanderlaan. We would like to especially thank GHS teachers, Kerri Ward and Aimee Anderson, who were responsible for raising over $500 to make this event possible!! Kerri Ward encouraged her students and their parents to donate money to have The Write Side Poets perform inside Gainesville High School the morning of September 28th, so that students could be inspired to pick up the pen and discover their voice! THANK YOU!!
Last but far from least, we would like to take this opportunity to thank and heap praises on our one and only ThirdEyeSpoken Visual Art Director, Lyssa England, who was our featured visual artist for this 2nd Anniversary show, and who has put in incredible behind-the-scenes work for ThirdEyeSpoken, from designing logos to providing artwork for flyers and signs, and even (heaven help her!) taking the official notes at our weekly meetings. Space concerns limited the amount of visual art available at this show, but y'all can look forward to more visual elements at future TES events (hint, hint: visual artists, get in touch NOW to be a part of our next fabulous multi-faceted art event!)
July 2007
On the hot summer night of July 6th, The Word Is Spoken, Flash Silvermoon, and ThirdEyeSpoken members brought coolness to the stage at the Downtown Community Plaza in Gainesville. The evening was part of a summer line-up called "Let's Go Downtown," and there was a huge audience to enjoy the beautiful poetry radiating from the plaza. Flash Silvermoon (www.flashsillvermoon.com) began the evening at 8pm with awesome jazz and tribal beats which led into each poet doing an average of two poems, with a few providing an encore at the end. We want to thank The City of Gainesville’s Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs and especially Bill Bryson and Bill Hutchinson for arranging this event in collaboration with us. We were thankful to have the opportunity to expose more minds to this liberating, art world of spoken word poetry.
June 2007
Our June 1st event kicked off the month with style at the Thomas Center, giving 25 great Eastside kids the chance to go to Busch Gardens by performing poetry on the open mic, and duelling as the Gemini album release party for our very own Lacey Nagy and Tampa’s amazing Venus Jones. Many fabulous food sponsors made a gorgeous layout of chicken wings, wraps, and pizza possible for our guests to enjoy and we gave away more door prizes than ever before! The food was so plentiful that there were even leftovers to be donated to the St. Francis house afterward, talk about manifesting. The evening kicked off with the Gemini CD release party, but didn’t stop there. Everyone in the audience with a Gemini Birthday (May 22nd-June 22nd) was called up on stage and then we all sung “Happy Birthday.” Then Venus and Lacey rotated expressing works of spoken word and invigorated the crowd.
The second half of the evening featured a very special teen open mic which allowed the next generation to “spit” their stuff! Performers included Blake-Ashlee Monroe, Kharrie Wimberly, Michaela Bean, Andria White, Anastasia Sapp, Starr Blaisedale, Michelle Williams, J. Carr, and David Williams. Each teen touched the listeners with their originality and surprised many by how deep and intellectual their poems were! It took a lot of courage to get up on the stage and for many of these teens, it was the first time they had ever performed in front of a large crowd. Way to go! This event doubled two great happenings, helping the community by inspiring personal expression and also awarding a group of wonderful teens by sharing their voice. We all got to chow down on great food and over 25 awesome door prizes were given away that evening. Thank you Flora MacColl for being our videographer and capturing the magic! What a night!
Of course, the event was made miraculous by the love of community businesses and sponsors. Please support these business…they are supporting us!!
Aesthetic Print and Design, Alternatives Global Market, Bonnie Weiser, City of Gainesville’s Park, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs, Emillianos, Embrace, Flora MacColl, Gifts of Avaloyn, Gypsy Palace, Lylly Rodriguez, Maria Minno, Maudes Classic Café, Misa Taskh, Rolls-N-Bolls, Roly Poly, Seraphim Center, Sweetwater Coffee, Vicki Vander Laan, Wild Iris Books, and Wing Zone.
On Saturday, June 9th, ThirdEye’s host, Lacey Nagy, completed the community project MISSION POSSIBLE and took 32 Eastside teens and chaperones (Coney and Joy Pinder, Mona Lisa Carr and family, Willie Williams, and Lacey Nagy) to Busch Gardens in Tampa, Florida. These teens had a phenomenal time and some experienced a theme park and roller coaster for their very first time. Sometimes good old senseless fun is the exact ingredient our society is missing to be balanced, happy, and healthy. If you don’t agree, then check out our photos page and see for yourself!
We would like to lovingly thank (and send you prayers of abundance and good karma!) to the many community supporters who made this MISSION POSSIBLE. If we have forgotten someone, please email thirdeyespoken@yahoo.com.
Seraphim Center, Rev. Bob Estling, Eric Estling, DJ E-Lo, Wild Iris Books, Nicki Nagy, Carolina G, Mindy Underberger, Wilma Null, Romina Serrano, Michelle Martion, James Stringfellow, Janie Rollins, Victoria Vander Laan, Jennifer Pearl, Andrea Nehs, Dr. Steven Showstarke, Elenor B, Josh, Kouri, Jeanne Newcomb, Jim Mitchell, Starlina Bradbury, Barbara Esrig, Katherine Ellison, Flash Silvermoon, Marjorie Rome, Ronnie Esser, Pranarose, Bellamy Road, George Steven O’Brien, Norman (at Unity), Sherrie DeNew, Donald Patterson, Hannah Esser, Wayne Hall, Robin Frey, Paula Tyner, Tai Burgos, The Ranch Health and Fitness Center in Ocala, Bonnie Weiser, Embrace, Joan McBride, Aestheitic Print and Design (Johnathan), Jean-Dan Boardwine, Steven Henry, Dr. Deb Harroll, Connie Girad, Jennifer Wester, Dr. Kristin Shriver, JoAnne M, Pizza Hut on Busch Blvd in Tampa, Conney and Joy Pinder, Willie Williams and Mona Lisa and the Carr family.
We’re taking a small break for the summer and coming back with a bang for our 2 Year Anniversary in September. In the meantime, we love you and keep your third-eyes open!
April 2007
Our latest event had Gainesville attendees reeling on Saturday, May 5th at the Unified Training Center. ThirdEyeSpoken and Wild Iris Books joined together to sponsor a wonderful crew of poets and writers travelling to our town, and opened up with the hometown musical phenomenon, Quintina (www.myspace.com/jazzieque1).
Sister Spit, the team of eight feminist conscious woman poets from all over the country came to finish up their tour in Gainesville. They drove from as far as Canada and San Francisco, and spread originality and spicy uniqueness through book readings and an explosive concluding scene. We served coffee and snacks and the ambiance was set with soft lights, providing a laid back and spongy atmosphere.
Afterwards there was a fabulous VIP party at Wild Iris Books, with food and wine, gorilla poetry, and a souvenir shirt signing with opportunity to mingle with the eight sassy poets. We want to thank the dynamic ladies of Wild Iris Books who helped us share these wonderful women and inspire Gainesville! To learn more about Sister Spit, check out www.sisterspit.com.
March 2007
Poetry Under the Stars was a smashing success thanks to the Seraphim Center & Alliance of Divine Love Ministers, UF Senior Photographers who show cased their graduating senior exhibit, poets from Gainesville, Tampa, Brandon and Jacksonville, and of course, all y’all who show up and support time and time again!
We had an absolutely gorgeous candle lit evening under the stars, with lanterns and tiki torches, the ambiance was fantastic, and the open mic list was one of our hottest ever. Thank you so much all the poets who dedicate their time and lives to open the minds and hearts of the listeners. You keep our community ALIVE!!
We were able to donate money and establish connections for Bridges Across Borders, our beloved Jimmy Nil’s organization. Jimmy, good luck in your travels we LOVE YOU! Make sure you check them out at www.brigesacrossborders.org and support in any way you feel called to.
Thank you to all our sponsors: Flora MacColl, Suzanne Nagy, Wild Iris Books, Flashbacks, United Rent-All, Nicki Nagy, Emiliano’s, Stinky Lewis’ Soap, Deb Harrell, Carla S. Van, Misa Taskh, Barb Kerkoff, A Better Massage, Starr Blaisedale, High Springs Emporium, Kd Felisko, Cary Gardner, Pateh, and Bruce Sherman. Your dedication to the community is invaluable.
Peace.
March 2007
We HAD to bring her back!! Queen Sheba was blessing the nation again on tour and we had to show some love. Thanks to the diligent efforts of Kylie Slavik and DJ Will, Queen Sheba illuminated the stage of Common Grounds and blew the The result? Mind-scramble, higher state of consciousness, goose bumps, screams, and roaring laugher. Oh yeah, Bethsheba, when did you become so comical? It was literally a show within a show. The Queen would connect with her audience and say such off the wall personal stuff, that we were roaring with laughter! Spoken Word is truly the underground movement, and we have queens like Sheba to thank for it. To learn more about why ThirdEyeSpoken and Gainesville is so infatuated with this goddess, check out www.queensheba.org. We love you Queen Sheba!!!
January 2007
The fusion of art, poetry, politics and HEALING sparked a new direction for the ThirdEye Crew with our First Annual Holistic Health Fair. Thanks to Raven Moondance and Maria Minno for having the idea!
Besides our usual poetry, art and excitement we had local artisans and healers set up educational tables to inform the public as to what Gainesville is all about, and what types of healing options are available. Dragon Rises School of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine and the Florida School of Massage were well represented, as well as many other healers and educators. Thank you Tribal Beats and Barbara Kerkhoff (harp) for providing the melodious ambiance indoors and Nourishing Traditions for the food.
We also had manifestation workshops such as Dream Boards presented by Lacey Nagy, “Manifesting your Perfect Mate” presented by Marlena Berkow, Bruno Groening introduced by Pam Greenwald, and “The Secret” introduced by Miraa Neill. Lectures and Discussions included the Opening Ceremony led by Shenna Benarte, “Vaccine Information” by Wendy Callahan, the “Native American Medicine Wheel” led by Randall Snow, “EFT” with Leroy Gebhart, “Beyond Health Insurance” with Woody Blue, and “Self Care is Health Care” with Cate Miller. Thank you so much for helping create awareness in our community!
The outside show was fantastic, including Capoeira by the Brazilian Cultural Arts Exchange, QiGong with Johnny Dame and Neal Henegar, bellydancing with Suzanne Bell, African Dancing with Iya Olepetun and Neal Henegar, Tai Chi Chuan with Bill Smith, Fencing with Brian Harper, the Dances of Universal Peace led by Jamila, and music by Freedom and Marce. Three rounds of poetry performance were held and thank you so much to Lakey, Johnny Rocket, Eddie B, Sami J, Prophet of What, Gabriel Coleman, Starr Blaisedale, Prodigal Son, Kylie Slavik, Lacey Nagy and everyone else who made the poetry program successful.
Thank you to all vendor and artist participants who donated a door prize, the contributing artists for the silent auction, the entertaining volunteers who supported the children’s program, and our sponsors; Freedom, Michael Bobbitt and Sweetwater Coffee. We were able to donate a truck load of charitable items and also money to both the Gainesville Area AIDS Project and Peaceful Paths! It’s amazing how much fun it is to be of service in our community!! We’re already planning for the next Holistic Health Fair, taking place at the Florida School of Massage this fall. If you would like to be a holistic vendor, artist, lecture host, practitioner, entertainer or volunteer, email thirdeyespoken@yahoo.com.
November 2006
Thank you to everyone who has become a part of the ThirdEye family - November's event was phenomenal! Unity Church of Gainesville hosted our open mic featuring Venus Jones, poet extraordinnaire from Tampa, FL. Thank you Venus and Steve for all you do. The House of Flying Cards magician troupe performed incredible feats of wonder, and Nancy Aschert provided a harmonious atmosphere with her piano melodies. We had some incredible visual art decorating the walls as well as some outstanding talent on the mic from Gainesville, Tampa, Atlanta, and Tallahassee REPRESENTIN!
A huge thank you to our gallery artists: Lisa Ricci, Carol Barber, Lisa Tramner, Cary Gardner, Lyssa England, Janalee Sullivan, and Christy Nichols for sharing your spirit and talent with us as we came together to support the work of the Home Van, a grassroots organization whose workers have tirelessly given to those in need in the Gainesville community for years. The director of the Home Van said, "Thank you so much for having this event for us. I didn't know how we were going to make it through the winter. This will last us for months."
After an outstanding night of spoken word, music and art we closed out the evening with Dances of Universal Peace, a way to synthesize all the different energies coming together using rhythm, music, and sacred phrases... Thank you so much to Diana Kanoy for sharing your profound attunement with us.
We love our sponsors the best because without them, none of this would be happening. Thank you sponsors! Lyssa England, Unity of Gainesville, Michael Bobbit, Deb Harrol, Heavenly Ham, Leonardo's 706 and Sweetwater Coffee. These are the people who support the arts in Gainesville so support them if you can please. Love you love you love you!!!
September 2006...ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY!!
Thank you to everyone who participated in our One Year Anniversary Celebration! We truly expanded the boundaries of how powerful a force spoken word poetry, music, and art can be in our community. Bridges Across Borders made more than $2,200 at this event, our greatest success ever!
We kicked it off with Progressive Madness, a rockin’ band from the Seraphim Center, followed by a Hip Hop Extravaganza coordinated by Prophet of What?! The evening was filled with entertaining breakers from the UF Hip Hop Collective, live grafitti art by Slade and Namer, and three mind blowing emcees rippin’ the mic, Cardiac, Chief Blesn, and our own Prophet of What?!
Our new Visual Art Director, Lyssa England, dazzled the walls with fresh and innovative visual art produced by Nicki Nagy, Cary Gardner, Micael Garvin, Willene Johnson, Michelle Martone, Bruce Sherman, Marlena Berkow, Michael Wood, Lydia Cara, and Kd Felisko.
We were so blessed on the mics by our friends The Apartment Poet’s Kristie Soares, Katrina Ruiz, Kevin Harris, and Sami Jenkis from Gainesville and Miami, Nation of Poetry’s Pedro Jarqin and Nackai, along with Asia Elliot, and Yvette Chevallier from Tampa, and Gainesville’s Chelsea Carnes, Mike Watson, Michael Bobbitt, James the Magician, Amanda Garrigues, Christine Heddesheimer, and Marce Guthier. Also performing were ThirdEyeSpoken’s Production Crew, Kylie Slavik, Eddie B, and Lacey Nagy along with supporting production members Jimmy Nil Fishhawk, Prophet of What?!, and Johnny Rocket from the Letterbomb Collective.
Thank you so much to our loving community sponsors, Michael Bobbitt, Anahat Center, Roly Poly, Alternatives, Douglass Duren, Leonardo’s 706, 633-Ray of Beauty, Leonardo’s at Millhopper, Heavenly Ham, Affordable Dentures, Sweetwater Coffee, Bead All About It, Yvette with Martin Lithograph, Marlena with A Better Massage, Diana Blaisedale, Johne Blessed, Bill Kelley, Peter Polshek, Seraphim Center, and the Civic Media Center. We are proud to be a part of a business community dedicated to making a difference through the arts. Thank you for keeping your ThirdEyes open and giving us a thrilling, self-less serving anniversary we will never forget.
August 2006
Kyle Swann mesmorized and electrified the crowd at ThirdEyeSpoken's summer wind down. We had a sizzlin' open mic, accompanied by an incredible visual art gallery created by Leslie Peebles, Suzanne Sheridan, Marlena Berkow, Misty Johnson, Lyssa England, and Willene Johnson.
We are taking things to another level by adding an element of healing to our events: we had beautiful crystal jewelry vendors as well as free chair massages by Willam Kelley.
Much thanks to Cakes by Jenny, Gypsy Palace, Peter Polshek, The Seraphim Center, CMC, Jay Marie Clemons, Charlie Harding, and all production members for making another fantastic evening of poetry, music, art, and connection possible!!
June 2006
ThirdEyeSpoken teamed up with Gainesville's own Letterbomb Collective to kick off the beginning of summer - and it was HOT!!! The LBC features some of Gainesville's staple poets, Prophet of What, Johny Rocket, Jimmy Nil Fishhawk, and Phil Godwin. These proletariat spoken word artists represent the Civic Media Center’s Poetry Jam, Gainesville’s longest running open mic of thirteen years.
The spoken word was accompanied with several incredible art installations by local painters and photographers; Kayla, Sam Justyn, Michelle Martone, William Talenti, Flora MacColl, Marlena Berkow, Jill Lavetsky, Jorge Ibanez, and Alma Elaine Shoaf. We are broadening our original vision of bringing the worlds of spoken word and activism into a brilliant collaboration- we are now empowering local artists to get their work out there and providing them with a venue of full of expression, talent, and love.
ThirdEye's family is growing all the time, and we could never have done it without the rockin' Gville community and all the support. Thank you so much to our sponsors; Michael Bobbitt, 633-Ray of Beauty, Crystal Visions, Emiliano’s, Tropical Smoothie, and Ian Oz.
Happy Birthday Geminis!
April 2006
Our April event, in celebration of Earth Day and the Mother was a collaborative effort, pushing the Gainesville Poetry Coalition to explore unprecedented heights!!! ThirdEyeSpoken, The Letterbomb Collective, and The Apartment Poets all joined forces to explore what happens when over one-hundred artists get together and create art, music and life for the upliftment of womanhood, humanity, and the planet.
We had about twenty spoken word artists, singers, two rockin' bands- Cymatic Jam and Tribal Beats, break dancers from the UF Hip Hop Collective, The UF Photography students, local sculptors, painters, and many other forms of art... Together we raised over seven-hundred dollars to support the Chrysalis Community, an organization dedicated to helping women get off the streets, crack and prostitution. This event was a reflection of our hard work over the last seven months to create unity in the poetry community, and to have a "great time for a greater cause."
Thanks to all our amazing sponsors and production members, without you this event would have never been a success!
633-Ray of Beauty, A Better Massage, Affordable Dentures, Alternative Recovery Services, Angel Gardens, Bento Café, Carley Garrison, Civic Media Center, Coffee Culture, David’s Real Pit BBQ, Douglass, Eleanor Briseno, Emiliano’s, Gifts of Avalon, Ichiban Sushi, Katie O’Donnell, Jay Marie, Las Margaritas, Leonardo’s By the Slice, Leonardo’s Pizza in a Pan, Lihn Nguyen, Micheal Bobbitt, Peacock’s Paint Center, Peter Polshek, Raven Moondance, Rolls n’ Bowls, Roly Poly Sandwiches, Satchel’s Pizza, Target Copy, The Green Umbrella, UF Village Housing, and Ward's.
March 2006
On Saturday, March 18, ThirdEyeSpoken celebrated six months of success, love, and spoken word at Virtually Cuban! Nitche Ward, aka "The Original Woman" graced our stage with an electrifying performance while on her Florida tour for Women's History Month (www.theoriginalwoman.com).
Eddie B powerfully jumped on board ThirdEyeSpoken's production team this month. Ben Campbell showed his skills on the turntables, and local poets provided once again that Gainesville's poetry family is growing stronger all the time!
Thank you so much to our community of support: Michael Bobbitt, Eddie B, Johnny Rocket, 633-ray of beauty, Alternatives, Gifts of Avalon, Target Copy, Great Clips, Wild Iris Books, and Lacey's work crew for finally showing up. You guys are great!
February 2006
Our Valentine’s Day event featured the CD release party of Cuban and a love contest for all of Gainesville’s finest poets at Virtually Cuban. Cuban, an 18 year old poet prodigy hailing from Jacksonville, captivated our audience with his open heart, sharp mind and swift tongue.
Poets competed in an array of color on romantic love, heart break and sexy comedy. Our first place winner was Manny from Tampa, second was Katrina from Gainesville and third was Asia from Brandon. Kristie, Sami, Eddie B, Johnny Rocket, Jimmy, Raven, Douglass, and Masiel were the other powerful love poets. After the evening, we all celebrated Kristie’s birthday at her place with a living room full of friends and poets spitting free style.
ThirdEyeSpoken would like to extend our very special thanks to Nubia, who provided the winning basket for love poetry contest and to Ben who provided the music. This event sponsored Alternative Recovery Services, an organization committed to helping trauma survivors recover through all forms of the arts, spiritual practice, and clinical intervention. ThirdEyeSpoken believes in having a great time for an even greater cause. Your support is making a difference beyond the night life of our spoken word open mic.
January 2006
ThirdEyeSpoken’s January 20th event was held at the Melrose Bay Art Gallery. Feature poets Katrina Ruiz and Sami Jenkis of the Apartment Poets put on a stellar show for a packed house. Local Gainesville talent included Johny Rocket, Jimmy Fishhawk, Prodigal Son, What, Christina H., Ed Barker, Lacey, Kylie, Katie McEntyre, Douglas (from Miami), and Jack S. Representing from Jax was Cuban, and from the St. Pete poetry scene we had Wes. This event was sponsored by our friends Douglas and Nubia, and Emiliano’s Café who serves Gainesville’s finest Pan Latin cuisine.
We raised a few hundred dollars for the PACE school for girls and look forward to bringing spoken word workshops into the school with some visiting poets from D.C.
Special thanks to Victoria for helping us set the vibe.
December 2005
Friends of ThirdEyeSpoken celebrated the holiday season with a poetry potluck clothing and toy drive. We were able to donate generously to Toys for Tots and to the local homeless shelter, St. Francis House. We shared some really amazing food, art, and fun on Tuesday, December 13. Kristie from the Apartment Poets was generous enough to open her house up to the ThirdEyeSpoken crew, thanks Kristie, we love you!!! Much thanks to Ed for his poetry debut, we are creating art as well as artists here in Gainesville!!!
Our blessings are with Leo as his journey leads him to D.C. He is one of Gainesville's most powerful spoken word artists and will undoubtedly make the same lasting impression in D.C. as he has on us. We love and miss you, Leo! May our paths be fortunate to cross again.
We are looking forward to our next event in January!
November 2005
Our main event for November was a Thanksgiving food drive which benefited The Bread of the Mighty Food Bank, a local organization providing support to those in need. The event was well attended, with a beautiful outdoors setting for poetry. We would like to give Mike Bobbitt a special thank you for opening his home for this poetry pot-luck party. We were able to donate over two-hundred pounds of food to the food bank, which helped them create Thanksgiving baskets.
ThirdEyeSpoken is so grateful to all the support received to make this night possible-our vision is truly manifested when beautiful art and service work collaborate to make a difference in our community.
October 2005
Thank you to all who attended ThirdEyeSpoken's first fundraiser, the Halloween Costume Party! We had a great night, awesome attendance, costumes and of course poetry!
The winners of the costume contest were an angel, cow girl and alien. The poetry contest which had the theme "ghost," was won by Jimmy, What, and Katrina. Each winner went home with a customized basket donated by the Apartment Poets, New Words Order, CMC, and ThirdEyeSpoken's fabulous Nubia. As always, DJ Miguel had the crowd spun with his hypnotic flow.
We were able to raise close to two-hundred dollars for AmeriCares, an organization who is helping rebuild the art community in New Orleans damaged during Hurricane Katrina.
Our friends, Pedro Jarquin and Batalli from St. Pete (in association with Studio 620) traveled around Florida to help make these fundraisers possible, and are trying to get donors to match what was raised. Our night could contribute up to four-hundred dollars for AmeriCares!
Stay tuned for our next event and, as always, we love you guys!!!
September 2005...Opening Night!!!
Opening night of ThirdEyeSpoken was a wild success
with well over 100 audience members and 30 open micz
poets form all over Florida...yeah Tampa represents!!
We love you!!! Queen Sheba tore the house down with
eight pieces, mostly off her new album, "Get
Familiar." We love you, too, Queen Sheba!!
Many thanks to Coffee Culture for providing the venue for our
first event, as well as to our support crew-Nubia,
Jeff, Joel, Nicolette, DJ Miguel, Kiss 105.3, Magic 101.3,
and Tampa's 88.5.
We have since moved to Damon's Downtown in
the Sun Center, so check us out and be a part of this
powerhouse of spoken word artists, musicians, and
producers!
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