WELCOME * BIENVENIDOS
Art That Heals, Inc. presents
The 6th Annual
Rio Grande Valley International Poetry Festival
V.I.P.F. * 2013
& THE
7th Annual Poetry Pachanga
. . . a plethora of poets * music * art . . .
April 25—28, 2013
Sneak Peak @ Our Schedule
Thursday: Anthology Release/Welcoming Reception—Edinburg
Friday Daytime: Poets in Schools—Edinburg, McAllen, Mercedes
Friday Nighttime: Poetry Slams/College Open Mic—McAllen
Saturday: Workshops, Poetry Readings, Poetry all across the Rio Grande
Valley, ending with the Poetry Pachanga in San Benito
Sunday: Visit to Gloria D. Anzaldúa gravesite—Hargill
For the latest schedule, visit www.vipf.org/sched.html.
This year‘s festival includes almost 60 poets representing Texas, Washington,
Louisiana, California, Minnesota and other parts of the U.S., El Salvador, México and
even poets from as far as England and the UK included in Boundless, the festival’s
anthology ($10) and at our festival. As far as we know, we’re the only poetry festival in
the world with concurrent readings in two countries! So we‘re truly international!
It is our intention to organize VIPF annually during the last full weekend in April, in
culmination of National Poetry Month, in as many parts of the Rio Grande Valley as
possible. Join us at www.vipf.org.
This year we are honored to welcome featured poets such as scholars and poet Dr.
Diana Dominguez (Brownsville), renown poet and playwright Tammy Gómez (Fort
Worth), poet and activist Lupe Méndez (Houston), slam champion poet Amalia
Ortiz—three-time alumna of HBO’s ―Russell Simmons presents Def Poetry (from
La Feria via San Antonio and Los Angeles), charro poet Lic. José María Parga Limón
(Mexico), writing professor Emmy Pérez (Santa Ana, Ca. and Edinburg), and the
prolific Mona D. Sizer (Harlingen), as well as the return of our special guest poet Trev
The Road Poet Wainwright (Castleford, England). Read their details biographies at
www.vipf.org/feat.html.
This festival is a grassroots community project made possible by poets, our families,
friends, educators, librarians, and the media. Our sponsors are Creative Alignment
Consulting, the McAllen Chamber of Commerce, El Zarape Press, Barrio Poet
Productions, Edinburg Arts, the City of McAllen, to whom we are exceedingly
grateful.
Please support the poets with your applause, book and merchandise purchases, and
invitations to participate at other events.
Daniel García Ordaz * Brenda Nettles Riojas * Vanessa Brown
Rio Grande Valley International Poetry Festival * VIPF * 2013
In Memoriam
Jovita González * Dr. Gloria E. Anzaldúa
Trinidad Sánchez, Jr. * raulsalinas
c/s
This celebration of poetry could not be possible without the hard
work, patience, and dedication of our organizers, coordinators, and
supporters, especially:
Ileana García-Spitz, IGS Photography
Daniel García Ordaz, El Zarape Press
Brenda Nettles Riojas, Corazón Bilingüe
McAllen Creative Incubator
Nancy Millar, McAllen Chamber of Commerce
Virginia Haynie Gause and George Gause, ArtsRGV.com
~*~
MUCHAS GRACIAS! THANK YOU!
Mark Clark * Tony Corso
Gabriel de la Garza * Gina García
Letty Leija * Joni Montover
Emmy Pérez
Thanks to all of our wonderful venues & volunteers!
~Very Special Thanks To~
Nancy Millar, McAllen Chamber of Commerce
¡GRACIAS!
Amalia Ortiz, Featured Poet
Lic. José María Parga Limón, Featured Poet
Tammy Gómez, Featured Poet
Lupe Méndez, Featured Poet
Trevor Wainwright, Special Guest Poet
Kip Austin Hinton, Featured Musician
Joe & Rosa Pérez, Featured Musicians
Susan Hoerth, Featured Artist
Tony Corso, Copy Zone
Valley Town Crier Newspaper
Gabriel de la Garza, Jitterz Coffee Bar
Mario Muñoz, KMBH/KHID FM (NPR)
Edward Vidaurre, Barrio Poet Productions
Elizabeth Hernández, Apparel Screen Printing
Narciso Martínez Cultural Arts Center Writers’ Forum
Letty Leija, Dustin Sekula Memorial Public Library (Edinburg)
~With Grateful Acknowledgement~
To Our Online Partners
ArtsRGV Calendar: www.artsrgv.com
City of McAllen, Texas: www.mcallen.net
The Academy of American Poets: www.poets.org
PlethoricEndeavors: http://plethoricendeavors.blogspot.com
VENUES
Many thanks to our venues for graciously opening their doors so that we
may have space to share our passion. We are guests in their places of
business: Be kind, be clean, and be considerate. Check www.vipf.org for
updates.
Galeria 409
409 E. 13th St., Brownsville
www.galeria409.com
(956) 455-3599
Jitterz Coffee Bar
1625 N. Conway Ave., Mission
www.jitterzcoffeebar.com
(956) 581-4147
Narciso Martínez
Cultural Arts Center
225 E. Stenger St., San Benito
(956) 361-0110
Paragraphs On Padre
5505 Padre Blvd., South Padre Island
http://paragraphsonspi.blogspot.com
joni.montover@gmail.com
(956) 433-5057
Sekula Memorial Public Library
1906 S. Closner Blvd., Edinburg
http://www.edinburg.lib.tx.us/
(956) 383-6246
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Please check www.vipf.org/sched.html for latest
schedule updates.
(Poets listed are scheduled to appear, but may not be
available as listed.)
Unless otherwise noted:
Free Admission * Open To The Public
Donations Welcome * Books & Shirts For Sale
THURSDAY, APR. 25, 2013
*Opening Reception/Anthology Release: 7 to 9 p.m.
City Auditorium, 415 W. McIntyre St., Edinburg, TX
Boundless 2013: The Official Anthology of the Rio Grande Valley International Poetry Festival
Note: Copies of Boundless 2013, the anthology of VIPF, available for $10. Perfect-bound; anthology
includes poems by poets from across the U.S., the U.K., Guatemala, and Mexico. Wine and cheese
reception and readings; merchandise available. Registered poets check-in.
FRIDAY, APR. 26, 2013
*POETS IN THE SCHOOLS: 8 a.m.—4:15 p.m.
McAllen Memorial High School , 101 E. Hackberry Ave., McAllen, TX
Shirley Rickett, Cesar De León, Corey Mangan, Trev Wainwright
Note: This is a private event.
Med High School, 700 Med High Dr., Mercedes, TX
Featured Poet Amalia Ortiz, Nina Avila, Edward Vidaurre, José Chapa
Note: This is a private event.
Robert Vela High School, 801 E. Canton Rd., Edinburg, TX
Featured Poets Dr. Diana Dominguez and Lupe Méndez; Oscar Peña, Celina Gómez
Note: 8 to 11:30 a.m. only. This is a private event.
UT-Pan American, ARHU 247, 1201 W. University Dr., Edinburg, TX
Featured Poets Dr. Diana Dominguez and Lupe Méndez. Registered poets Oscar Peña, Katie
Hoerth, and MaryAnn Escamilla
Note: Begins at 1 p.m. Open mic for UTPA students will follow these featured readers.
*INTERNATIONAL READING: 6:30—8:30 p.m.
Museo Casamata de Historia Regional: Matamoros, Tamaulipas, México
Featuring poet Lic. José María Parga Limón
Readers: Brenda Nettles-Riojas, Trev Wainwright, Julieta La Poeta, Arturo Saldaña, Alan Oak, Steve
Vera
Note: Poets will meet at the University of Texas-Brownsville Library @ 5:45 p.m.
Transportation will be offered by the U.S. Consulate (for up to six poets).
*POETRY SLAM NIGHT EVENTS: 6—10 P.M.
Schneider’s German Gasthaus & Beergarden, 5507 N. Ware Rd., McAllen, TX
M.C.: Barrio Poet Edward Vidaurre and The Poet Mariachi Daniel García Ordaz
Youth Poetry Slam Contest: 6:15—6:45 p.m.
Featured Poet Reading: Emmy Pérez 6:45—7:05 p.m.
College/University Readings: 7:10—8:20 p.m.
Adult Poetry Slam featuring HBO Def Poet Amalia Ortiz, Tammy Gómez, and Lupe Méndez, and
featured musician Kip Austin Hinton: 8:20 – 10 p.m.
Note: All participants check in at the stage when announced.
See rules at www.vipf.org/slam.htm
SATURDAY, APR. 27, 2013
*WORKSHOPS: 10 TO 11 A.M.
Jitterz Coffee Bar, 1625 N. Conway Ave., Mission, TX
Workshop by: Diana Dominguez
Topic: Including sensory elements into poetry or fiction.
For registered poets first, but open to guests—if space allows.
Dustin Sekula Memorial Library, 1906 S. Closner Blvd., Edinburg, TX
Hostess: Letty Leija, Library Director
Workshop by: Emmy Pérez
Topic: “Letter Poems: 'Risking Sentimentality'”. In his book The Triggering Town, poet Richard
Hugo quotes Bill Kittredge, "If you're not risking sentimentality, you're not close to your inner self."
In Gloria Anzaldúa's "Speaking in Tongues: Letter to Third World Women Writers," she states, "I
write... to become more intimate with myself and you." In this workshop, we will discuss and write
letter poems in an attempt to get closer to our inner selves and the world.
Note: For registered poets only, with the exception of pre-approved V.I.P.F. volunteers.
Pharr Memorial Library, 121 E. Cherokee St. Pharr, TX
Host: Adolfo García, Library Director
Workshop by: P.W. Covington
Topic: Using poetry to make sense of traumatic events: combat, natural disasters, assault, abuse, etc.
Note: Meet in the North Star Meeting Room—a free-speech space. For registered poets first, but
open to guests—if space allows.
Weslaco Museum, 500 S. Texas Blvd., Weslaco, TX
Hostess: María Arrieta, Program Coordinator
Workshop by: Katie Hoerth
Topic: The Poetic Line: Sensual Poetry (For Women Only)
Note: For registered poets only, unless pre-approved (by workshop leader). Strictly for FEMALES
only.
Narciso Martínez Cultural Arts Center, 225 E. Stenger St., San Benito, TX
Workshop by: Lupe Méndez
Topic: Ekphrastic Springboarding - Poetry based on art
Note: For registered poets first, but open to guests—if space allows.
* MORNING READINGS: 11 A.M. TO 12:15 P.M.
Jitterz Coffee Bar, 1625 Conway Ave., Mission, TX
M.C.: Corey Mangan
Readers: Diana Dominguez, Vanessa Brown, Corey Mangan, Matthew Nolan, Shirley Rickett,
Amado Balderas
Dustin Sekula Memorial Library, 1906 S. Closner Blvd., Edinburg, TX
Hostess: Letty Leija, Library Director
M.C.: Celina Gómez,
Readers: Emmy Pérez, Oscar C. Peña, María Guadalupe Perkins, Meliton Hinojosa, Cesar De León,
Celina Gómez, La Lupe, Fred Rangel
Note: Café onsite.
Pharr Memorial Library, 121 E. Cherokee St., Pharr, TX
Host: Adolfo García, Library Director
M.C.: Alan Oak
Readers: Trevor Wainwright, Alan Oak, David Barcelona, Christopher Carmona, P.W. Covington,
Hector Gómez, Peter Browne, Steve Vera
Note: Meet in the North Star Meeting Room—a free-speech space.
Weslaco Museum, 500 S. Texas Blvd., Weslaco, TX
Hostess: María Arrieta, Program Coordinator
M.C.: Linda Romero
Readers: Tammy Gómez, Mary Ann Escamilla, Katie Hoerth, Linda Romero, Rachel Udow,
Yolanda López, Clare Nerio, Nina Avila
Narciso Martínez Cultural Arts Center, 225 E. Stenger St., San Benito, TX
Host: Daniel García Ordaz, Founder, VIPF
M.C.: Edward Vidaurre
Readers: Lupe Méndez, Mona Sizer, Edward Vidaurre, José Chapa, Daniel García Ordaz, James
(Grizzy) Griswold, Julie A. Riggs
Galeria 409, 409 E. 13 St., Brownsville, TX
Host: Mark Clark
M.C.: Brenda Nettles Riojas, Founder, VIPF
Readers: Amalia Ortiz, Chip Dameron, Bryan Nichols, Gene Novogrodsky, Rudy García, Julieta La
Poeta, Arturo Saldaña, Brenda Nettles Riojas, Beto Conde
*Early Lunchtime Readings: 12:30—2 p.m.
Rio Grande Bar & Grill Restaurant, 417 W Van Buren Ave, Harlingen, TX
M.C.: Edward Vidaurre
Readers: Lupe Méndez, Mona Sizer, Mary Ann Escamilla, Katie Hoerth, Linda Romero, Rachel
Udow, Edward Vidaurre, José Chapa, Daniel García Ordaz, James (Grizzy) Griswold, Julie A. Riggs
*Later Lunchtime Reading: 12:45—2:15 p.m.
Olivier’s Bakery, 1126 Pecan Blvd., McAllen, TX
Host: Olivier Nicol
M.C.: Celina Gómez
Readers: Emmy Pérez, Tammy Gómez, Diana Dominguez, Yolanda López, Clare Nerio, María
Guadalupe Perkins, Celina Gómez, Vanessa Brown, Corey Mangan, Matthew Nolan, Shirley Rickett,
La Lupe, Nina Avila
LeeRoy’s Chicken & Burgers, 408 W Santa Rosa Ave. (Hwy. 107) Elsa, TX
Hosts: Ileana García-Spitz and Joseph Wilson
Readers: Oscar Peña, Fred Rangel, Cesar De León, David Barcelona, Christopher Carmona, P.W.
Covington, Hector Gómez, Trevor Wainwright, Alan Oak, Peter Browne, Steve Vera, Meliton
Hinojosa
Hueso de Fraile, 837 E. Elizabeth St. Suite D, Brownsville, TX
M.C.: Brenda Nettles Riojas, Founder, V.I.P.F.
Readers: Amalia Ortiz, Chip Dameron, Bryan Nichols, Gene Novogrodsky, Rudy García, Julieta La
Poeta, Arturo Saldaña, Brenda Nettles Riojas, Beto Conde
*Afternoon Workshop: 2:45 to 3:45 p.m.
Paragraphs On Padre, 5055 Padre Blvd., South Padre Island, TX
Hostess: Joni Montover
Workshop by: Katie Hoerth
Topic: Prepping your work for publication -- an editor's advice
Note: Open to the public as space allows.
Afternoon Delights (Readings)
*2:45—4 p.m.
Eagle Bean Coffee, 2236 W. Trenton Rd, Edinburg, TX
Hostess: Michelle
M.C.: Celina Gómez
Readers: Emmy Pérez, Tammy Gómez, Diana Dominguez, Yolanda López, Clare Nerio, María
Guadalupe Perkins, Celina Gómez, Vanessa Brown, Corey Mangan, Matthew Nolan, Shirley Rickett,
La Lupe, Nina Avila
*3—4:30 p.m.
Weslaco Museum, 500 S. Texas Blvd., Weslaco, TX
Hostess: María Arrieta, Program Coordinator
M.C.: Alan Oak
Readers: Oscar Peña, Fred Rangel, Cesar De León, David Barcelona, Christopher Carmona, P.W.
Covington, Hector Gómez, Trev Wainwright, Alan Oak, Peter Browne, Steve Vera, Meliton
Hinojosa
3:45—4:45 p.m.
Paragraphs On Padre, 5055 Padre Blvd., South Padre Island, TX
Hostess: Joni Montover
M.C.: Linda Romero
Readers: Lupe Méndez, Mary Ann Escamilla, Katie Hoerth, Linda Romero, Rachel Udow, Edward
Vidaurre, José Chapa, Daniel García Ordaz, James (Grizzy) Griswold, Rudy García, Bryan Nichols
7th Annual POETRY PACHANGA
*6—7 p.m. Private Dinner—Registered Poets & Guests (one of the few private events)
Narciso Martínez Cultural Arts Center, 225 E. Stenger St., San Benito, TX
($10 per guest—pre-pay with Brenda by Apr. 25)
*6:30 to 7 p.m. Music by Rumbo Al Anacua: Joe & Rosa Pérez
*7—10:30 p.m. 7th Annual Poetry Pachanga Readings—open to the public
Community Building, 210 E. Heywood St., San Benito, TX
(Doors open to the public at 6:45 p.m.)
Welcome: Brenda Nettles Riojas and Daniel García Ordaz, Founders
Featured Poets: Emmy Pérez, Amalia Ortiz, Dr. Diana Dominguez, Tammy Melody Gómez, Lupe
Méndez, Mona D. Sizer, Lic. José María Parga Limón
Featured Artist: Susan Hoerth will have her work on display and available for purchase.
Intermission: Book sales and refreshments.
Note: Registered poets will read one brief poem apiece (two minutes or less).
Registered Poets: Nina Avila * Amado Balderas * David Barcelona * Vanessa Brown * Peter
Browne * Christopher Carmona * José Chapa * Beto Conde * P.W. Covington * Chip Dameron *
César De León * MaryAnn Escamilla * Rudy García * Daniel García Ordaz * Celina A. Gómez *
Hector Gómez * James (Grizzy) Griswold * Meliton Hinojosa * Katherine Hoerth * Yolanda López
* La Lupe * Corey Mangan * Oscar Peña * María G. Perkins * Clare Nerio * Brenda Nettles Riojas *
Bryan Nichols * Matthew Nolan * Gene Novogrodsky * Alan Oak * Julieta La Poeta * Fred Rangel
* Laura Reagan-Porras * Shirley Rickett * Julie A. Riggs * Linda Romero * Arturo Saldaña * Rachel
Udow * Joanne M. Uppendahl * Joe Steve Vera * Edward Vidaurre * Trevor Wainwright
SUNDAY, APRIL 28
Dr. Gloria E. Anzaldúa Readings (Hargill)
Meet @ 10 a.m. at UT-Pan American Bookstore parking lot; depart at 10:05 a.m. to Gloria
Anzaldúa burial site at Valle de Paz cemetery in Hargill. Readings onsite. Lunch afterwards @
Luby’s on University Drive/Hwy. 107 in Edinburg.
Hostess: Lina Suárez
Note: Contact Daniel at rgvipf@hotmail.com to RSVP
Poet Biographies
And List of Sponsors Follow
Visit www.vipf.org for details about our festival!
FEATURED POET
Dr. Diana Dominguez (Brownsville, Texas)
Dr. Diana Dominguez has had a torrid love affair with books since before she learned to walk or
talk. Not a day goes by that she doesn’t read or write – it’s more than an addiction; it’s like breathing
itself. Because the writer’s life is notoriously fickle and all too often non-lucrative, she’s parlayed her
word addiction into teaching – literature, of course, where she hopes to seduce her students into the
magical world of words and story. She is an Associate Professor of English at the University of
Texas at Brownsville, where she teaches primarily ancient to medieval literature, women’s studies,
and creative writing. Her poetry springs from the same well as her women’s studies research
activities; in both cases, her aim is to tell the stories of those whom history and literature have made
silent or invisible.
She has presented and published both scholarly and creative work in various national and
international venues. Her poetry has appeared in Eclectica e-magazine, Pens on Fire online journal,
Toasted Cheese Literary Journal, the Valley International Poetry Festival Boundless anthologies,
2008-2013, in Writing to Be Heard / Escúchame: Voices From the Chicho, the 10th anniversary
anthology of the Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center Writers’ Forum (San Benito, Texas), in the
2012 issue of Interstice, an annual publication of South Texas College (McAllen, Texas), and in the
upcoming (2013) Beat Texas Anthology; three of her poems won Writer's Digest awards in 2007.
Her poetry collection, The Persephone Variations, which updates the Greek myth of the mother and
daughter pair, Demeter and Persephone, will be published in 2013 by Otras Voces Publishing.
She believes that poetry gives voice to the voiceless and makes the invisible visible.
FEATURED POET
Tammy Gómez (Fort Worth, Texas)
As a Mexican-American Texas-born writer, performance artist, and media producer, Tammy Gomez
has over 20 years of experience in producing, directing, and hosting literary performance events, and
has collaborated with over 100 artist/writers. She curated the Poetry Tent readings for the Texas
Book Festival for six consecutive years.
Tammy has also been a performing member of such collectives as the Red Salmon Poets, the Blue
Plate Poets, Dharma Broads, WOW (Women of Words), and Yoniverse (the latter which she
founded and published).
As an award-winning ("Best Poet of Austin" and "1st Runner-Up, Hispanic Playwright's Festival of
Fort Worth") poet and playwright, Tammy has performed her work in 10 U.S. states, and abroad in
Mexico and Nepal.
Currently based in North Texas, Tammy has been recently published in TERRA FIRMA (Agave
Noir Press: Austin) and BICYCLE LOVE (Breakaway Books: New York). Her work also appears in
HECHO EN TEJAS (University of New Mexico Press: Albuquerque).
Tammy is profiled in LAS TEJANAS: 300 YEARS OF HISTORY (UT Press: Austin), and is
featured in "Voices from Texas," a PBS documentary film about Tejano/a poets. She has received
grants from Humanities Texas, NALAC (National Association of Latino Arts and Culture), the Ford
Foundation, Moonifest, Puffin Foundation, and the City of Austin.
Her first full-length play, "She: Bike/Spoke/Love" premiered on World Car Free Day 2007, and
received laudatory reviews.
FEATURED POET
Lupe Méndez (Houston, Texas)
Originally from Galveston, Texas, Lupe has lived in Houston, Texas for more than a decade, where
he works with both Nuestra Palabra: Latino Writers Having Their Say , the Word Around Poetry
Tour and the Brazilian Arts Foundation to promote poetry events, advocate for literacy/literature
and organize creative writing workshops that are open to the public.
Lupe’s recent work is now part of Norton's newest anthology - Sudden Fiction Latino: Short-Short
Stories From The United States and Latin America , the 25th anniversary edition of The Bayou
Review, (University of Houston-Downtown), Flash (University of Chester, England)- the
international forum for flash fiction and Huizache , the magazine of Latino literature.
As of December, Lupe, along with the rest of the Librotraficante organizers, was also awarded the
2012 Downs Intellectual Freedom Award for the defense of Mexican American Studies and
literature across the Southwest United States. Lupe is hard at work on submissions, working on
creating more writing workshop opportunities and continues to share his poetry with performances
at local high schools, colleges and community/arts centers.
FEATURED POET
Amalia Ortiz (La Feria, Texas)
Amalia Ortiz is a CantoMundo fellow originally from La Feria, Texas. She appeared on three
seasons of Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry on HBO and the NAACP Image Awards on FOX.
She has toured countless colleges and universities as a solo artist and with the performance-poetry
troupes Diva Diction, The Chicano Messengers of Spoken Word, and the Def Poetry College Tour.
She was awarded a Hedgebrook writer’s residency and a residency at the National Hispanic Cultural
Center. Most recently, she was chosen as one of 10 winners of San Antonio’s “VIA Poetry on the
Move” contest. Her poetry will be displayed on VIA buses in San Antonio during National Poetry
Month.
FEATURED POET
Emmy Pérez (Santa Ana, California/McAllen, Texas)
Bio: Emmy Pérez, originally from Santa Ana, California, is the author of a poetry collection Solstice
(Swan Scythe Press, 2nd edition 2011). Her poetry has been published in Prairie Schooner, New
York Quarterly, North American Review, Pilgrimage Magazine, Vandal, Indiana Review, Notre
Dame Review, Crab Orchard Review, Borderlands Texas Poetry Review, Huizache, PALABRA: A
Magazine for Chicano & Latino Art, and other publications. Her work also appears in the
anthologies A Broken Thing: Poets on the Line (University of Iowa Press 2011) and The Wind
Shifts: New Latino Poetry (University of Arizona Press 2007). She has recent work forthcoming in
Mandorla, The Laurel Review, Cuadernos de ALDEEU, and NewBorder: Contemporary Voices
from the Texas/Mexico Border (Texas A&M Press 2013). Her poem “Rio Grande~Bravo” was
recently nominated for a Pushcart Prize. A member of the Macondo Writers’ Workshop founded by
Sandra Cisneros and an inaugural CantoMundo poetry fellow, in 2009 she was the recipient of the
Alfredo Cisneros Del Moral Foundation Award. Previous awards include poetry fellowships from
the New York Foundation for the Arts, the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown, and the James
D. Phelan Award (for her prose writing). She has also held writing residencies at the MacDowell
Colony, the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown, the Ucross Foundation, and the Atlantic
Center for the Arts. She has taught writing and GED preparation to women prison inmates in New
Mexico and poetry to detained youth El Paso. A graduate of Columbia University and the University
of Southern California, currently she is an associate professor at the University of Texas-Pan
American, where she teaches poetry/creative writing, Mexican American Studies courses, and has
led poetry workshops in local detention centers with her students. In 2012, she received a UT
Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Award. She has lived on the Tejas-Mexico border, from El Paso to
the RGV, for over a decade.
Mona D. Sizer (Harlingen, Texas)
Mona D. Sizer is a long-time contributor to the Rio Grande Valley International Poetry Festival. Her
poems have appeared in every issue of BOUNDLESS since 2010. She is the author of 35 books of
fiction, non-fiction, history, biography, and poetry including BEFORE THE WIND (2006). Her
first book LOVESTONE was published in 1979. Her most recent BOMBER BOYS appeared in
March 2013. She is a member of the Narciso Marquez Writers Group and a life-time member of the
Valley Byliners, for whom she edited and contributed to TALES TOLD AT MIDNIGHT ALONG
THE RIO GRANDE. In another life she taught school and college for many years in Dallas. She is
a mother to Rachel Andrea Sizer, who works for Pepsico in Dallas. Many of Ms. Sizer's books are
for sale at Barnes-Noble and Amazon.com. Many have e-book editions. She lives in Harlingen.
Special Guest Poet: Trevor Wainwright (Castleford, England)
Trevor Wainwright is from Castleford England. He started writing poetry for the fun of it 20 years
ago. Trev has written on a variety of subjects— not all of them popular. In 2011, he visited America
for the first time. In 17 days he wrote 76 poems.
Featured Artist: Susan Hoerth (McAllen)
Vintage illustrations, mixed word cuts and book forms inhabit the vivid imagination of Susan
Hoerth, an assemblage artist living in McAllen Texas. With a degree in Education and an extensive
background in travel, her interest has been stimulated by the many international and classical works
dealing with out of the ordinary stories of real or imaginary personalities. Susan's work has evolved
from one art form to another ranging from sculpture, ceramics, collage and altered books. As a lifelong collector of fabrics, vintage images, buttons and found objects, she incorporates a wide variety
of these into her work. Meticulous attention is given to the usage of unusual materials, ranging from
old watch bits, and ribbons to old buttons and hand selected vintage books. The contrasts provide a
wonderful esoteric quality to her work. Susan's captivating book constructions, and art figures
inhabit an imaginary world where anything is possible.
Susan has been featured in Juried Shows throughout Wisconsin, at The Art House in Mcallen Texas,
and at this year's FESTIBA. Her work has also been included in The Chaffey Review, Juxtapoz
Magazine, and Sunrise Artists.
Thanks to our featured poets and all our poets for joining us at VIPF 2013!! This is your festival!
Thank you for making it memorable!
Invite a poet to your next function.
Contact our poets at www.vipf.org/poets.html
or rgvipf@hotmail.com
REGISTERED POETS
Vanessa Brown, author of Twiffler, (Heredad, 2012) grew up in Peñitas. She has been writing poetry in
earnest since attended college at Texas A & M University Kingsville. She draws inspiration from being a
wife, teacher, mother and observer of the world. Her most important influence is the family of loving
and unique individuals she has been blessed to have surrounding her.
David Barcelona (McAllen, Texas)
David Barcelona is a passionate writer, a poet, and lyricist. Initially inspired by writing lyrics, he evolved
into writing short stories, dialogues, and poetry. Having completed his first published work, ―Child #5,‖
which depicts childhood isolation, and recently completing his first children‘s short story, David
continues his passion for writing, primarily now concentrating on poetry.
Christopher Carmona (Donna, Texas)
Christopher Carmona is a beat poet following in the tradition of beat poets like Jack Kerouac, Bob
Kaufman, and Raul Salinas. He was a nominee for the Alfredo Cisneros de Miral Foundation Award for
Emerging Writers in 2011. He has published a book of poetry called beat and is editing an anthology of
Beat Texas writings for UT Press.
Beto Conde (San Benito, Texas)
Beto Conde was born in San Benito, Texas. He started writing after military service in the Vietnam War
about that. As he wrote more, he started writing about growing up and living in the dual cultures of
south Texas. He feels like he‘s lived several distinct lives over the years. He‘s played a number of
different real-life roles, witnessed countless memorable, impressive, and even surreal moments that he‘s
always wanted to share. That‘s what he writes about.
Julieta Corpus, a.k.a. Julieta La Poeta (Weslaco, Texas)
Julieta La Poeta has a bilingual heart!
Charles (Chip) Dameron (Weslaco, Texas)
Chip Dameron has published five collections of poetry and more than 130 poems in literary magazines.
Most recently, his poems have appeared in the Journal of South Texas English Studies and the San Pedro
River Review. He teaches writing and literature at UT-Brownsville and finds materials for poems in his
travels, his back yard, and his imagination.
Diana Domínguez (Brownsville, Texas)
Diana Dominguez is a professor of English literature and writing at The University of TexasBrownsville/Texas Southmost College and has published both scholarly and creative work in print and
online journals and presented both scholarly and creative work at national and international conferences.
Her poetry springs from the same well as her women‘s studies research activities; in both cases her aim is
to tell the stories of those who history and literature have made silent or invisible. ―I believe poetry is
the art of giving voice and making the invisible visible.‖
Daniel García Ordaz (Mission, Texas)
Daniel García Ordaz, a.k.a. The Poet Mariachi, teaches English at McAllen Memorial High School and is
the author of You Know What I'm Sayin'? from El Zarape Press. He is a former journalist and is also a
founder of the Rio Grande Valley International Poetry Festival. He has been called ―the voice of the
Rio Grande Valley‖ by The Monitor‘s book critic. Daniel was one of five writers and the only poet selected
to participate in the Texas Latino Voices project in 2009. Ladies and gentlemen, get ready for ―the most
dangerous poet south of the chorizo plant in San Manuel!‖ The Poet Mariachi, Daniel García Ordaz.
Rudy García (Port Isabel, Texas)
Rudy García is an educator by vocation and a poet on occasion.
Hector Gomez (San Juan, Texas)
Hector Gomez writes ‗Tejanese‘ Beat poems, stories, and screenplays deriving from his experiences
growing up along the South Texas border. He is the creator of the graphic novel series, ―The Legacy
Valley of Tears,‖ and lives in San Juan, Texas with his wife and two children.
James (Grizzy) Griswold (Harlingen, Texas)
James Griswold was born in Chicago and, thus, his poetry has an urban theme.
Melitón Hinojosa (Harlingen, Texas)
Meliton Hinojosa, Jr. has a BA and an MA in education from Texas A & M-Corpus Christi. He teaches
automotive mechanics at San Benito High School. He was born in El Sauz, Texas to Meliton Hinojosa
and Guadalupe Hinojosa in 1948. He and his family migrated in the 1960's to California to pick grapes
and do other type of field work.
Katherine Hoerth (Edinburg, Texas)
Katherine Hoerth is the author The Garden of Dresses (Slough Press, 2012), her first poetry collection,
and two chapbooks titled Among the Mariposas (Mouthfeel Press, 2010) and The Garden of Dresses
(Mouthfeel Press, 2012). She teaches writing at South Texas College, serves as Assistant Poetry Editor at
Fifth Wednesday Journal, and reviews first books of poetry for BOXCAR. Her poems have been
published in journals including Borderlands: Texas Poetry Review, Front Porch, and Conte.
Yolanda López (McAllen, Texas)
Yolanda López discovered her passion for writing poetry and short story as a young girl. Her work has
begun to emerge in her recent participation at the 2011 National Novel Writing Month and South Texas
College‘s magazine Tierra Firme and Interstice, STC‘s literary journal.
Corey Mangan (Corpus Christi, Texas)
Corey Mangan is a native of the Rio Grande Valley. He uses the same pencil as everybody else.
Brenda Nettles Riojas (Harlingen, Texas)
Brenda Nettles Riojas grew up on the border of South Texas and Mexico. She is currently working on an
MFA through the University of New Orleans and is the host of Corazón Bilingüe, a weekly radio
program. Her first collection of poetry is titled ―La Primera Voz Que Oí.‖Brenda is also a founder of
the Rio Grande Valley International Poetry Festival.
Gene Novogrodsky (Brownsville, Texas)
Eugene "Gene" Novogrodsky has written more than eleven years. He is a founding member of the
Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center Writers Forum in San Benito. He is a ―slice of life‖ poet and
some of his ―slices‖ have some depth!
Alan Oak (Brownsville, Texas)
Alan Oak is a poet and essayist who has been published in "Boundless 2010" and "Boundless 2011,‖ The
Journal of South Texas English Studies, Extrapolation, Women Writers, and Writers of the Rio Grande.
He also will be included in the forthcoming collection of Texas Beatnik writing by UT Press, "The
Beatest State in the Union." He is an English instructor at the University of Texas at Brownsville, editor
for Otras Voces Publishing, and master of ceremonies for the Brownsville Pasta, Poetry and Vino. See
more of his work at twitterbard.com and alanoak.com.
Amalia Ortiz (La Feria, Texas)
Amalia Ortiz is a CantoMundo fellow originally from La Feria, Texas. She appeared on three seasons of
Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry on HBO and the NAACP Image Awards on FOX. She has toured
countless colleges and universities as a solo artist and with the performance-poetry troupes Diva Diction,
The Chicano Messengers of Spoken Word, and the Def Poetry College Tour. She was awarded a
Hedgebrook writer‘s residency and a residency at the National Hispanic Cultural Center. Most recently,
she was chosen as one of 10 winners of San Antonio‘s ―VIA Poetry on the Move‖ contest. Her poetry
will be displayed on VIA buses in San Antonio during National Poetry Month.
Oscar C. Peña (League City, Texas)
Poet, essayist, and jazz musician, Oscar C. Peña was born and raised in Kingsville, Texas. He‘s been a
juried poet at Houston Poetry Fest and his work has been published in the Austin International Poetry
Festival anthology Di-vêrse‘-city; Rio Grande Valley International Poetry Festival anthology Boundless;
Forest Fest 2008 Poetry Competition; Texas Poetry Calendar and the San Antonio Poetry Fair anthology
Voices Along the River. He is the author of a poetry chapbook ―Fire of Thorns‖.
Oscar hosts the Barnes & Noble 4th Tuesday Poetry Reading Series; Friendswood Library Presents
Poetry Night and has served as Master of Ceremonies for Houston Poetry Fest‘s Out of Bounds. He‘s
also presented his work to high school and college students and performed his poetry at venues
throughout Texas.
Laura Reagan-Porras (Edinburg, Texas)
Laura Reagan-Porras is a sociologist and the executive director of the Boys & Girls Club of McAllen,
Texas. She is a published technical writer but also enjoys writing a regular column in the ―RGV Town
Crier‖ called ―Simply Make A Difference,‖ about youth development and mentoring. Her first published
poem appeared in Boundless 2009, the anthology of the Rio Grande Valley International Poetry Festival.
Laura lives on the Texas-Mexico border in Edinburg, Texas, with her husband and two daughters. Her
first poetry collection, La Familia Entera: Borders and Beyond (The Whole Family) will be published soon.
Shirley A. Rickett (Kansas City, Missouri/Alamo, Texas)
Shirley A. Rickett has published three chapbooks and has a full-length book of poems in manuscript.
Her poems have appeared in over thirty journals and anthologies. She is originally from Kansas City,
Missouri.
Julie A. Riggs (Dallas, Texas)
Julie is an English department co-chair and instructor at Lakehill Preparatory School in Dallas, Texas,
where she has also sponsored Drama Club and written over thirty plays and skits for middle school
students. She is a happy person who loves words, children, beauty, and the Source of all good.
Linda Romero (Harlingen, Texas)
Linda Romero is from Harlingen, TX, and was published in the VIPF's Boundless 2010 and Boundless 2012
anthologies. She coordinates Vidas Cruzadas, a creative writing workshop at El Milagro Clinic in
McAllen for Life Center. Linda is currently working on her MFA in Creative Writing at UTPA.
Arturo Saldaña (Port Isabel, Texas)
Arturo Saldaña was born, from there, expecting to be accepted everywhere. A creature of creation in
transition.
Joanne M. Uppendahl (Tacoma, Washington)
Joanne Uppendahl lives in Tacoma, Wash. After the suicide of her son, Joanne began writing poetry in
earnest. Her recently published volume, She Who Gathers Stones, describes her journey of mourning,
healing, and ultimate peace found in nature‘s beauty in the Pacific Northwest and through sharing her
writing with others. Joanne‘s poetry has appeared in many publications, including Joyful!, Astropoetica,
the Hubble Heritage Arts Website, the Triggerfish Critical Review, and Fortunate Child anthologies:
Lilith, a Collection of women writers, Postcards From Eve, Tipping the Sacred Cow, and Vintage. She is
currently at work on a new volume: Delicate Ruins.
Joe Steve Vera (Austin, Texas)
Joe Steve Vera worked as a computer programmer/analyst for many years. He now applies computers to
graphic design and literature.
Edward Vidaurre (Los Angeles, California/Edinburg, Texas)
Edward Vidaurre was born in East L.A. His poems have been featured in the La Bloga, The Valley
International Poetry Festival Anthology Boundless 2011 and 2012, Interstice 2012, Writer‘s of the Rio
Grande, Harbinger Asylum‘s Spring 2012 edition, and will be published in the ―Texas Beat Anthology‖
out of UT Press in 2012. He is the host of Pasta, Poetry & Vino at Carino‘s Italian in McAllen.
Trevor Wainwright (Castleford, England)
Trevor Wainwright is from Castleford England. He started writing poetry for the fun of it 20 years ago.
Trev has written on a variety of subjects— not all of them popular. Last year he visited America for the
first time. In 17 days he wrote 76 poems.
We hope you’ve enjoyed VIPF 2012. Please consider
making a donation to our festival.
www.vipf.org
See you next year at VIPF 2013!
WANT TO BE A REGISTERED POET?
The Rio Grande Valley International Poetry Festival will
open registrations in late 2012 for the 6th Annual VIPF, to
be held Apr. 24—27, 2014.
We are an un-juried poetry festival: we do not choose the
poets; the poets choose us!
Check www.vipf.org for updates!
VIPF offers poets who register:
▪ a copy of the printed program
▪ a complimentary dinner with all poets
▪ listing online, with contact info and links
▪ a t-shirt, with the names of all registered poets
▪ a chance to read with all poets at the Poetry Pachanga
In Addition:
▪ readings in Mexico—if available
▪ multiple reading opportunities
▪ a poetry slam
▪ proximity to South Padre Island & great shopping
▪ proximity to World Birding Center sites
▪ a chance to submit to Boundless (VIPF anthology)
Boundless 2013, the official anthology of the Rio Grande Valley International Poetry Festival, will begin
accepting electronic (e-mail) submissions only from December 1, 2012 to March 10, 2013. Submit up to
three poems. 30-line limit. Any subject/style/language—with translation for non-English languages. $8
submission fee is non-refundable. For details, visit www.vipf.org and click ―Boundless.‖
Note: Unlike other poetry festival, poets do not have to register in order to submit to Boundless.
Available at the festival and soon to be available at
www.amazon.com
Thanks To Our Sponsors