Issue date: 10/12/07 Section: News

Media Credit: Antonio Macasieb Performer Cris Cheek makes poetic noises as he interprets a visual poem at the celebration of visual and sound poet Bob Cobbing at the Kelly Writer's House yesterday evening. The reading was made possible by an award given to College senior Matthew Abess. [Click to enlarge]

Imagine what would happen if all the rules of the library - no speaking, shouting or running - were broken, and the books began reading themselves aloud.

Just that happened last night in the Kelly Writers House's Art Cafe during "Suddenly Everyone Began Reading Aloud," a project by College senior Matthew Abess.

Abess's project - a tribute to the late visual-and-sound poet Bob Cobbing - included readings from friends of Cobbing, sound-poetry performances and a panel discussion that Abess said "shattered the shell of silence" that exists in a library.

Abess was awarded the 2007-2008 Writers House's Kerry Sherin Wright Prize, which goes to a project that captures the essence of Kerry's work as the Writers House's first director.

The evening included a visit from Maggie O'Sullivan, a British poet, performer and visual artist whose work is influenced by Cobbing. O'Sullivan read from small-press books she published with Cobbing.

College senior Steve McLaughlin said O'Sullivan's visit was "historically significant" because she has only visited the United States once before and may not return.

Cris Cheek, an interdisciplinary performer who incorporates different media and technology into his work, performed different pieces that he said gave glimpses into Cobbing's work.

He performed a selection from Cobbing's "ABC in Sound," inviting the audience to join him in pronouncing the sound poetry.

"It was a little weirder than I was expecting, but I enjoyed Cheek's performance," McLaughlin said.

Abess thought the audience participation was "extraordinary."

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