A Little Help From Grover’s Friends/NYE blow off the motherfucking roof reading/performance who knows get there, yeah.

about a month ago, a good friend of mine, a poet/editor/publisher/organizer that i greatly admire, a person that has been instrumental to inspiring my path in the poeting world..had an ultrasound that detected a growth on his liver. since then, he’s been very ill, unable to work, and unfortunately–doctors have confirmed that Michael has cancer.

i could rage on any number of fronts right now.. over poverty, illness, our society’s lack of support for artists. and i will, no doubt, but it all just seems so futile. i am strongly in the solutions-based camp–actionable items only–but there is no solution that can happen fast enough, that will root out both the cancer and the apathy taking our very humanity to the back of the room and beating its brains out.

all that i know to do right now is bring as much of the underground literary community together as possible in a show of support both emotional and financial. sometimes we’re all we have listening, one poet to another, and that’s enough to stoke the fires until..
well fuck if i know, i’m just stoking fires.

get there if you can, spread the word otherwise… please.

We are shooting for a few months worth of basic living expenses and out-of-pocket medical expenses like medication and transportation to medical appointments etc. #alittlehelp4grover (GOFUNDME where you can donate-https://www.gofundme.com/alittlehelp4grover)

Thursday, December 31st 2-6pm EST at The Trunk, 3353 Franklin Ave., Toledo OH. A Little Help from Grover’s Friends Fundraiser/NYE blow off the motherfucking roof reading/performance who knows get there, yeah. readers/performers: Michael Grover. Julie Demoff-Larson, Craig Firsdon, Barry Graham, Leo Todd Jarrett, Michele McDannold, Stormi, Matthew Sradeja, Cherie Bullock, Gary Bond, Drew Coomer, Dan Denton, Lorraine Ciprioano and more. https://www.facebook.com/events/911183485633746/

If you don’t know Michael personally, you may know him from his work in the small press literary community.

“Even when he’s broke down and busted flat, Michael Grover has always championed the ignored underdog wordslingers of this ranky stanky greasy spoon diner we call the modern American small press.” –Tim Murray, poet and author of ‘Dinosaur Ditch’.

Michael Grover is a native Floridian. He is currently a resident of Toledo, Ohio where he spends a great deal of time working on his own poetry and giving back to the literary community in service as publisher, editor and events organizer. Michael is widely published in the small press. He is the current head poetry editor at Red Fez Publications and the founding editor/publisher of Covert Press. Michael has published several chapbooks, and in 2014, his first novel ‘Lockewood/The Wolves Of Lockewood’.

“Michael has published close to 1000 pieces of poetry on Red Fez and read at least 10 times that many. Chances are he’s read, considered or published your work, or published something you liked. He could use a little help right now.” –Leopold McGinnis, Red Fez Publications Founder/President

https://www.gofundme.com/alittlehelp4grover

maybe next time it’s you

I would like to be writing this blog post about anything else. Anything positive and affirming to the creative community. Instead, it’s this…

Artists in residence at the Collingwood Arts Center in Toledo, Ohio are being evicted–given thirty days notice–in the dead of winter. This is not just some art space. This is their home, an affordable place to live and be able to make their art.

I have been to Collingwood several times. The first, was for the Zygote in my Fez reading back in August 2011. It was the first event I ever helped put together or even go to in the small press… an amazing experience that was made possible with the help of current arts resident, poet, and dear friend Michael Grover.

Tim Murray of Valparaiso, Indiana, recites one of his poems during Zygote in My Fez at the Collingwood Arts Center. – THE BLADE/ANDY MORRISON

That event brought many people together that had worked with each other for years in independent publishing, but never actually met in person. Mix of poets converges to share works at area festival. Arts center event showcases creativity and collaboration. (Toledo Blade). It inspired some great writing, a book, and many more collaborations. Some would even call it the beginning of a goddamn “underground cultural phenomenon.” Dorsey: Zygote on the Road (Toledo Free Press)

What the fuck is wrong with our society that we can throw away money on useless bullshit and turn the other direction when something like this happens? What does this say about what we value? It’s shameful. downright disgusting.

I don’t know what, if anything can be done. I’m looking for someone to complain to, and I just hope that you will be aware, make other people aware, and do SOMETHING, anything to put a stop to this horseshit, show your support, refuse to sit by idly.

When you make the arts, creativity… your life… yeah, maybe you’re gonna suffer for it. bleed for the page and all that. Does it really have to be this miserable though? It shouldn’t.

**UPDATE**
a fund has been created to take donations to help those being displaced. please give if you can, any amount helps. or help spread the word. http://www.gofundme.com/6g2ezg

“These are poor starving artists who have been living with subsidized rent so they can do their craft. My goal is to raise funds to make their transition to a new place easier. Hopefully make their landing softer.
There are 28 residents that range all kinds of disciplines and ages.”