Dr. Charles Fort
professor of English, 308.865.8164
The University of Nebraska at Kearney Reynolds Writers & Readers Series presents poet Matt Mason reading his works beginning at 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 14, at the Museum of Nebraska Art (MONA).
All presentations in the series are free and open to the public.
Mason, who earned an M.A. in English from the Creative Writing Workshop at the University of California at Davis in 1994, lives in Omaha where he works to promote public poetry readings in Nebraska at www.poetrymenu.com.
He has written six poetry chapbooks including Mistranslating Neruda, published by New Michigan Press, and When the Bough Breaks, published by Lone Willow Press.
A fan of a variety of venues, Mason has read at the Nebraska Book Festival, the Western Literature Association’s annual conference, the Nebraska State Fair and Wayne State University’s Plains Writers Series. He has also helped with poetry events for bookstores, high schools, colleges and libraries.
Mason participates in poetry slam competitions. He has won several in Nebraska, Iowa, New Mexico and at the Green Mill in Chicago – the original site of poetry slam competitions.
In addition, he runs the monthly poetry slam and open mic at the Omaha Healing Arts Center and was on the 2002 Des Moines slam team, and the 2003 and 2005 Omaha teams.
Mason’s poems have been accepted for inclusion in The Logan HouseAnthology of 21st Century American Poetry, published by Logan House Press, and a number of magazines, including the Mid-American Review, Prairie Schooner,Poet Lore, Green Mountains Review, The Laurel Review, Rhino and Chiron Review.
According to Charles Fort, who holds the UNK Reynolds Chair in Poetry and directs the series, the series allows people to become better acquainted with the visual and literary arts.
Series presentations are free and open to the public. In addition to Mason, 10 poets will contribute to the series this year. Each reading begins at 8 p.m. There will be a book signing and reception afterwards. For more information, contact Charles Fort at (308) 865-8164.
