If you walk by the Fenario Gallery on the first Saturday of the month, you will see someone gesturing passionately on a small corner stage. Colorful artwork adorns each wall and an engaged crowd sits on cast-iron chairs arranged around free-standing sculptures. The low ceilings, hardwood floors and clean lines give the gallery a swank look.
But if you press open the glass doors, you won’t hear an anecdote about painting; you will be struck with rhythmic, quick-witted poetry meant to be performed, not read.
The Fenario Gallery is playing host to the Eugene Poetry Slam this season, and Saturday marked the first show. The Slam has three components: an open mic, a featured poet and a competition.
Saturday’s featured poet was Ryler Dustin.
The 23-year-old, currently on tour along the West Coast, has represented Seattle in the Individual World Poetry Slam twice; he is ranked eighth in the world.
Dustin became involved with poetry slams because he saw a flyer, he said.
“I had no social life at the time. I was trying to meet people and so it was one of many things I did,” he said.
Dustin, who began his writing career with novels, said poetry was the only social attempt that went anywhere.
“I just feel so fortunate to be involved,” he said. “It’s the right medium for me.”
For many people in the crowd, it was their first time watching a poetry slam. Audience members Jillian Luger and Stan Brewer both said they really enjoyed Dustin’s performance.
“I didn’t know what to expect but it’s amazing so far,” Brewer said.
The competition featured eight poets battling for cash prizes.
Members of the audience volunteered to be judges.
Jorah LaFleur, the Slam’s charming host, encouraged the crowd to be vocal.
“You have to try to sway these judges. You have to hiss and boo and get loud,” she said, quickly turning to the judges. “Judges, do not be swayed by these people. Nothing outside of your scores matter. You have the power.”
Seattle poet Denise Jolly gave a memorable performance. The first words out of her mouth were “I love dick.” Her homage to the male sexual organ received plenty of laughter, cheers and a high score.
The most comical performance of the night came from a bearded, middle-aged man named Kevin. He walked up to the stage disheveled, a pen stain on his shirt pocket, and admitted to the crowd how nervous he was.
When he finally convinced himself to read, he said, “The blue heron stands poised for flight.”
As he lifted his arms and leg into a karate-kid stance, he finished the poem, “Its flight, so poised.”
The crowd erupted into laughter.
Round two of the Slam gave the top five poets of the night another chance to perform.
The three of the five received cash prizes and a chance to compete in the Eugene Poetry Slam finals in May.
Poet Dakota Belle Witt compared performing at a Slam to a first date.
“It starts out really awkward, then transitions,” she said. “The crowd gets into it and it’s like ‘Ah, we like each other.’”
“It doesn’t always happen, but it happened tonight.”
Jolly summarized the night’s events: “The point is not the point, the point is the poetry.”
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