SIERRA COLLEGE POETRY AT THE BLUE LINE GALLERY

  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                                                                                                                                               

Media Contacts:

Beth Rohlfes   

rosecurator@surewest.net     

(916) 783-4117

SIERRA COLLEGE POETRY AT THE BLUE LINE GALLERY

Students to Read Their Favorites

ROSEVILLE, CA, April 26, 2010—A group of Sierra College poetry students will read their verse at the Blue Line Gallery on Tuesday evening, May 4, from 6:30 to 7:50 pm.

The students are from the English 20--Poetry class and English 19—Creative Writing Class taught by Michelle Johnson and Kent Fortin, Sierra College English professors and poets.  Approximately 30 students will read their original work to fulfill a class requirement.  “Reading gives students the real-world experience of sharing their work in a beautiful venue with audiences larger than Mom and Dad,” explained Professor. “Too, the opportunity is enough to turn them on to being lifetime poets.”

The public is invited and admission is free. Donations to Roseville Arts are welcome.

The reading will come on the first Downtown Tuesday Night of the 2010 season.

WHO:          Roseville Arts Blue Line Gallery

WHAT:        Sierra College students from Michelle Johnson’s poetry class; reading poetry in public as part of

                      their final grade.

WHEN:        May 4, 2010, from 6:30 to 7:50 pm

WHERE:      Blue Line Gallery, 405 Vernon Street, Suite 100, Roseville

WHY:           To provide college students a public forum for their poetry. 

COST:          Admission is free. Donations will help defray costs of poetry readings at the Blue Line Gallery.

ABOUT MICHELLE JOHNSON:

Michelle is a full-time English Professor at Sierra College, where she has been teaching for 11 years.  Michelle says, “Before I taught, I did a little of everything from waitressing, bartending, fire safety educator, Native American education liaison, front desk clerk. I am a former military brat and wife.  I have lived in Wheatland for 20 years with my daughter Chelsea, my son, Gabriel, my six cats, and four fish. Writing has been something that I always return to, when there is nothing else around. Oh yes, and I love Dave Matthews.” Michelle read her poetry at the second in the Outta the Blue Poetry Series at the Blue Line Gallery in April.

ABOUT KENT FORTIN:

Kent Fortin can be summed up by a description of his poetry:  suburban blue-collar sensibility, tends to veer into sentimentality, and lacks formal structure.  While the world of poetry is impractical and frustrating, he is grateful to his wife, kids, students and colleagues for understanding that he’s going to go ahead and live in it anyway.  Kent teaches and learns at Sierra College.

ABOUT THIS READING:

Thirty students from Michelle’s English 20 Course will read their work as part of the requirements for completing the class. Area residents are invited to come and cheer on these students who will be presenting (some for the first time) their original work.

 ABOUT ROSEVILLE ARTS BLUE LINE GALLERY

2009 VOTED #1 ART GALLERY IN THE SACRAMENTO REGION—KCRA A-LIST and ROSEVILLE, GRANITE BAY, ROCKLIN STYLE MAGAZINE

Roseville Arts’ Blue Line Gallery is a non-profit community center for the arts.  Further information may be obtained on the website:  www.rosevillearts.org or by calling (916) 783-4117. To set up an interview or to request high resolution photography, please contact Veronika Nagy at roseart@surewest.net .

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