David Beard Posts

Art Opening in the Deeps of the Rathskeller

The Rathskeller was home to art and imagination as Kat Ford’s art was on display.

New Duluth Podcast: Sweat & Solidarity

A new Duluth podcast is available on Spotify and other platforms. It’s a limited series, not ongoing — so you can enjoy it and some closure at the end.

Sheila Packa on MPR

Sheila Packa was interviewed by Cathy Wurzer on Minnesota Public Radio. She asked her what poem made her want to become a poet.

Against Fundamentalisms

I’m enjoying reading Would You Baptize an Extraterrestrial? I’ve got more thoughts to share, if you will let me.

Nice Girls of the North

I dropped by the Nice Girls of the North Second Saturday Marketplace Craft Show Thing.

Truth Cannot Contradict Truth

As a former Catholic, educated by Jesuits for eight years, I am thinking through the intellectual tradition that I have left behind as I prep for the supercool visit from Br. Guy Consolmagno, a Vatican astronomer who is coming to Duluth.

Whiteout Conditions in Antarctica

In late-mid April, Guy Consolmagno, a Vatican astronomer, will visit Duluth. (Some call him “the Pope’s Astronomer,” but there are a dozen Vatican Astronomers, that is, astronomers employed by the Vatican at the Vatican Observatory.)

In Would You Baptize an Extraterrestrial, Br. Guy Consolmagno, SJ, and his collaborator, Paul Mueller, talk about the research Consolmagno does into meteorites in Antarctica. It looks dangerous.

Religion, Science, under the Stars

In late-mid April, a Vatican astronomer will visit Duluth. (I used to refer to him as “the Vatican Astronomer,” but I have learned that there are a dozen Vatican astronomers, that is, astronomers employed by the Vatican at the Vatican Observatory.)

Duluth Monitor on the London East Townhomes

Regularly, I am ecstatic to live in a city whose politics so smoothly reflects my values. And regularly, the Duluth Monitor reveals that, when it comes to its regulatory authority over developers utilizing the limited resources of space and property, my city lets me down, always choosing to side with people with money.

Northern Exposure was fun

I dropped by the Depot last night for about twenty minutes of the Northern Exposure festival.  Popcorn, beverages were available, and the audience appeared to have a good time.

Poetry Slam Dunk

On March 5, the Duluth Poetry Chapter, working with Caddy Shack Indoor Golf & Pub, hosted a Poetry Slam Dunk, a play on the usual open-mic format of a poetry slam. Poetry slams are typically held in bars, with the alcohol making the reading of poems less intimidating and the listening more relaxed, too.

A year of a poet laureate

I’ve been working with Bart Sutter to record the history of the poet laureate program in Duluth. Sutter was the first poet laureate, and the only author to win the Minnesota Book Award in three different categories.

Aanjitoon

Whenever I am sipping cool water under this sign, I know I am going to have a good time.

Oral Histories of Poetry in Duluth

Bart Sutter has shared with me some of his important work as poet laureate. Below is a document from his collection, a partial transcript of a panel he organized. The panel set out to construct an oral history of poetry in Duluth.

I would love more info about the panel or about the clubs and organizations listed therein.

We are here. Hear us! An invitation to participate

This event looks pretty cool, and everyone is invited to tell their story. It grows out of the Green Card Voices project.