Talking Gourd Poetry Circle

Facilitated by Art Goodtimes

A Talking Gourds circle is a "playground" and safe place, free of stress, where anyone is invited to perform, and to listen.

A Talking Gourds circle is a "playground" and safe place, free of stress, where anyone is invited to perform, and to listen. The partnership totem of a gourd is used as an emblem of one’s turn to speak. In the circle, gourdsters look directly across at each other. There is no cross talk. Only the gourd holder speaks. Spoken word, stories, songs, rap, slam, poems (one’s own or personal favorites), scripts, or musical instruments, (not requiring set-up), particularly drums or bells or flutes, and dance even—all are appropriate. Or participants can silently pass; keep the gourd moving. To show approval applause is discouraged, but welcome is twinkling, jazz hands, drumbeats or the ringing of a bell. Talking Gourds is a practice of listening as much as performing.

Art Goodtimes is a fourth generation San Franciscan, seventh generation Californio, Art Goodtimes ran with the Union of Street Poets in the Psychedelic Sixties. Moved to Colorado after they shot Harvey Milk. Served as San Miguel County Commissioner (Green Party, 1996-2016), Western Slope Poet Laureate (2011-13), and continues as the Telluride Mushroom Festival’s Creative Director and Poet-in-residence (since 1981). His books include As If the World Really Mattered (La Alameda Press, New Mexico, 2007) and Dancing on Edge: The McRedeye Poems (Lithic Press, Colorado, 2019). He writes an op-ed column for Colorado Times Recorder and directs the Telluride Institute’s Talking Gourds poetry program.

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