Project Jericho’s 2008 Poetry Slam project took place every Monday and Wednesday in March from 4:30 to 6:30 pm at the Springfield Museum of Art, as the second year of this special collaboration with the Museum. A group of 15 youth met with artists Fred Kirchner, Beth Dixon, and Aurelia Blake to learn the basics of writing poetry – and performing it. Every session involved a free-writing activity, along with sessions in the art gallery which included a gallery tour, performance pointers, and giving constructive criticism to other participants. The participants worked in Art Museum galleries filled with a variety of paintings by Ohio artist Stewart Goldman, including a room of paintings based on the Holocaust, about which participants discussed and wrote poems. Mr. Goldman even came to a session and spoke to all participants about being an artist. Special poetic guests – local slam poets – visited the project on its first and last days to share with the teens. The final slam took place on March 26 and was attended by over 100 people! The poetry was amazing, and the performances were star quality. Everyone walked away with Fred’s words “The points are not the point – the poetry is the point,” and lots of memories of the very talented teens who live in our community. Thanks to all the participants for being brave and performing in front of such a big crowd and for the hard work put into preparing for this project!