This fall, Norristown Area Education Foundation’s (NAEF) One Book One Norristown (OBON) Arts and Literacy Festival returned for its third annual celebration with an exciting theme: Full STEAM Ahead! The 2024 OBON program invited Norristown Area School District (NASD) students and community members to explore the intersection of science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) through literature, hands-on activities, and community events. This year’s festival showcased two innovative voices in contemporary poetry and digital art: featured author Warren C. Longmire and special guest Marcos de la Fuente.
OBON is an arts and literacy initiative offered through NAEF in Norristown, Pennsylvania. OBON is a community-centered initiative that encourages NASD students to engage with literacy and the arts through a shared reading experience. OBON promotes literacy and creates enthusiasm for reading by hosting prominent authors, reading their works together as a community, and engaging in a variety of events based on themes in their texts.
About Warren and Marcos
As the featured author, Warren C. Longmire, a writer, performer, and educator from Philadelphia, is celebrated for his unique ability to merge poetry, technology, and digital art. His work has been widely published in journals like The American Poetry Review and The Painted Bride Quarterly, and he was featured in Best American Poetry 2021. His latest work, Bird/Diz [an erased history of bebop], released in 2022, reflects his deep engagement with the history and rhythms of bebop. Currently an MFA candidate at the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, Longmire also hosts House Poet: A Spoken Word Dance Party and is the founder of _mixlit productions.
Joining him as a special guest was Marcos de la Fuente, a New York-based poet and leader of POETRY+AI=ART, a collective exploring the intersections of poetry and coding in thought-provoking ways. Alongside AI engineer Ismael Faro, programmer Mariel Martinez, and visual artist Vanesa Álvarez, de la Fuente investigates how art intersects with emerging technologies like the Metaverse, Blockchain, and VR, creating future paradigms for hybrid art forms.
Festival Events
This year, OBON kicked off on October 9 at Norristown Area High School (NAHS), where students participated in STEAM workshops led by community collaborators, including Swarthmore College's Medical Humanities Club, Recycle Read Repeat, Expressive Path, and Theatre Horizon. Students engaged in arts and science projects, collaborating to bridge the worlds of creativity and technology.
The next round of OBON events took place on November 7, featuring a digital poetry workshop and an open mic night. The digital poetry workshop took place at the Literacy Council of Norristown. Longmire encouraged students to think about poetry beyond the written word. The workshop challenged participants with questions such as: What is a poem? When is poetry more than words? Longmire introduced the students to digital poetics, a study that combines poetry and technology to create immersive experiences that expand beyond the page. The students explored tools and resources for digital poetry, created a collaborative digital poem, and left with new perspectives on how poetry can blend with other forms of media such as filmmaking, music, performance, and even video game design. Superintendent of Schools Christopher Dormer attended the workshop, sharing,
“We are so grateful that the OBON initiative each year provides unique and personal learning experiences for our NASD students. This year’s digital poetry workshop allowed our high school students to pursue their passion and further develop their skills and talents in very personal and impactful ways.”
Later that evening, Recycle Read Repeat hosted an open mic event where NAHS students shared original poems they had begun during the October kickoff and refined in the workshop earlier that day. Longmire closed the evening with a captivating 10-minute spoken word set, offering the audience a glimpse into his powerful poetry. Kate and Angela, Co-Executive Directors of Recycle Read Repeat, shared,
“For most students this was their first time in our bookstore and a first time on a microphone. It was so amazing to have our space, one we built with our community in mind, filled with the laughter, nerves, and talent of so many of our teens. It is how we envision the space. In the days following the event, students have reached out via their teacher to reserve the back room for future creative work and study sessions!”
On November 8, the festival culminated in a powerful main event at Theatre Horizon, where special guest Marcos de la Fuente and featured author Warren C. Longmire took the stage for an unforgettable evening of digital poetry and performance.
De la Fuente opened with a stunning presentation of poems paired with interactive, immersive digital displays that captivated the audience. His performance explored themes of human interaction with technology, blending spoken word in Spanish with synchronized English translations displayed on screen, creating a dynamic bilingual experience.
Longmire followed with an equally compelling performance, weaving together selections from his book with videos and music. He shared powerful verses alongside the sounds of Max Roach and Abbey Lincoln's Tears for Johannesburg, amplifying the emotional depth of his words with powerful visual and auditory elements.
Following their performances, Longmire and de la Fuente participated in a Q&A session, engaging with the audience and sharing insights into their creative processes. Afterwards, they held a book signing in the lobby, offering attendees a chance to connect more personally and take home signed copies of their work.
On Thursday, November 14, the festivities concluded with a Jazz Night hosted at Expressive Path. The event featured live music by special guest Sky City, creating an inspiring and vibrant atmosphere. Students had the opportunity to share some of Longmire’s poetry, further connecting his work to the rhythmic artistry of jazz. The evening blended spoken word and music, leaving attendees moved by the powerful synergy of poetry and live performance.
Acknowledgments
The OBON festival continues to bring together authors, educators, and artists, enriching NASD students’ experiences and inspiring them through storytelling and shared cultural expression.
On behalf of the Norristown Area School District, we extend our deepest gratitude to Dr. Monica D’Antonio, NAEF’s Executive Director and NASD’s Grant Manager, for her dedication to our students and community, her passion for literacy and art, and her unwavering commitment to fostering creativity and engagement through initiatives like One Book One Norristown. Her vision and hard work are invaluable in inspiring and enriching our community.
Special thanks go to NAHS faculty members Jill Rivera, Jon Eisen, and Misty Concotti, whose dedication each year makes these unique opportunities possible for students. We also appreciate the incredible support from the team at Theatre Horizon, especially Mydera Robinson, for their help in running a seamless show. Additional thanks go to Angela Smith and Kate Jaworski from Recycle Read Repeat, Jeanne Cove from the Montgomery County-Norristown Public Library, and Eliza Braumbaugh from the Literacy Council of Norristown for their contributions.