Spit Fire Poetry Slam and Open Mic Night Featuring Jamaal "Versiz" May

(SCENE) Metrospace will host a Spit Fire Poetry Slam and Open Mic Night on Wednesday, Aug. 19. Doors will open at 7:30 p.m. and the event will begin at 8 p.m. Admission is $4 general public, $3 students.

The event’s featured reader is Jamaal "Versiz" May, a poet, producer and recording artist from Detroit, Mich. May has been awarded an International Publication Prize by Atlanta Review and a Cave Canem fellowship. His work has appeared in “Verse Daily,” “The MacGuffin,” “Pedestal Magazine,” “The Drunken Boat” and “The Main Street Rag,” among other magazines and anthologies. In addition, May is a 2007 and 2009 Midwest Regional Poetry Slam Champion, two-time Detroit Slam Champion and two-time Individual World Poetry Slam finalist.

Pudding House Press published May’s first chapbook, “The God Engine,” in spring of 2009. May’s production and engineering credits include “The Last Poets,” “Dead Prez” and “The Four Tops.” He currently teaches poetry classes in Detroit Public Schools and is pursing an MFA in poetry from Warren Wilson College.

(SCENE) Metrospace is East Lansing’s City-funded contemporary art gallery and performance space. It is located at 110 Charles St. in the colorful Division Street parking structure, next door to Georgio’s Pizza. Contact Tim Lane at (517) 319-6832 or visit www.scenemetrospace.com for more information about (SCENE) Metrospace.