Issue 6

About Our Poet:

Jesse Parent is a poet, improviser, former mixed martial arts fighter, computer nerd, husband, father, and, above all, a human being. According to the results of the 2010 Individual World Poetry Slam, he is also the 2nd ranked slam poet in the world. Jesse entered the world of performance poetry in December 2006 after touring for a few years with the poetry/music/improv show he created called The Hook. He has been on the ’07-’10 Salt City Slam teams, was the coach of the ’07, ’08 and ’10 Salt City Slam teams, and is the current slammaster of Salt City Slam. He also sits on the executive council for Poetry Slam, Inc. In his professional life, Jesse is a software engineering manager at a company that provides products and services that help the deaf and hearing to communicate. In his personal life, he has a very tolerant wife and three adorable kids.  Click on Jesse’s photo to see a video of his performance of “Hooked Cross” at the Bowery Poetry Club.

About Our Artist:

Adrienne Petersen Taeoalii was born, raised and resides in Salt Lake County, Utah. Most of her time is given to her two children. In order to honor their needs and hers, she photographs everything that evokes some feeling within her. Then, when she has the time to paint, she has plenty of images to draw from. Often she creates around a current mood, beginning with a single flicker of an idea or feeling and lets the piece evolve unto itself until there is nothing left to be done. For the last 6 years she has almost exclusively done paintings that revolve around a stenciled image, but lately she has stepped out of her comfort zone and is exploring new mediums. She’s been constantly attracted to and inspired by all things old, weathered, rusty and decayed. Her newest body of work reflects the attraction to the aforesaid using a variety of mediums including acrylics, spray-paint, photography, latex paint, oils, glues and randomly discovered objects. To view/purchase more of Adrienne’s work go to: www.weirdchief.com or simply click on her photo to be redirected.