Vanessa German performs one of her poems. German concluded the MLK series. German is a Pittsburgh native and has won awards for her work in art and culture.

The final presentation of the 2008-2009 Martin Luther King Jr. Series took place Monday, March 23 in Hart Chapel.

After many different speakers, the last one showcased the art of poetry.

It featured Vanessa German, a spoken word poet from Pittsburgh, who performed a number of her poems for the large audience who attended the event.

German received training at the Los Angeles Conservatory of the Performing Arts, Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies, South West College, University of Cincinnati, and the Los Angeles Theater Academy, according to information posted on Clarion University’s Web site.

German has won many awards for her work including the 2008 Hip Hop Award for Best Spoken Word Poet, an award in 2004 for Best Play in the Black and White Theater Festival, as well as numerous other national and international awards.

At the beginning of her presentation, German discussed her love of what she does and her passion for performing it by saying, “I love what sound does to the physical self.” She went on to say, “I believe that there is infinite power in sound.”

Her poems discussed topics ranging from helping others and freedom to her political views and experiences in her life.

The first poem she recited had a theme of freedom and discussed her feelings of war. This was followed by another poem titled; “Hey Man, I like your Shoes,” which had some political undertones and discussed child labor in other countries.

The next poem was more fun and optimistic than the last. “Love Poem to Whitney Huston,” involved German expressing her admiration for her favorite singer, and how it remains the same from her childhood to the present day.

During the presentation, a question was asked regarding how she became interested in performing poetry. She stated that while growing up in Los Angeles she used to dance, sing and recite poetry and stories with her friends when she was younger, but how she grew tired of telling other people’s stories. “I wanted to tell my own stories,” German said.

Another audience member asked German why she preferred performing her poetry to simply writing it. German responded that although she loves the process of writing and words, performing can communicate the poem differently.

She said that being able to convey her message through sound can be more emotional and can help the audience to really understand what she’s trying to say.

German finished the presentation with two poems. German seemed to be speaking from experience as she recited the first of the two poems.

The poem was about breaking up and included lines such as, “When I had love for you, you had somewhere else to be,” and “I love you like you never forgot to return my phone calls.” After this, she closed the show with a poem called, “If my Hands were Anything Other Than Hands.”

One student in attendance was freshman elementary education major, Amanda Miller.

“He made me come with him,” Miller said referring to a friend she came with. “But I really enjoyed it.”

Another student in attendance was junior finance and real estate major Caleb Rice.

“A friend wanted me to come with them. Normally I am not really interested in things like this,” Rice stated. “It was a little controversial and I didn’t agree with everything she said,” Rice said in regard to her political views, but overall, he seemed to enjoy the presentation. “It was very entertaining, I’m glad that I came.”

Her other performance credits include: “Seven Guitars,” “The Piano Lesson,” “The Vagina Monologues,” “Mahaila Jackson, Standing on Holy Ground,” “The Billy Holiday Story,” “Harriet Tubman Loved Somebody,” “Pure, Nine Stories of the Oklahoma City Bombing,” “For Colored Girls Who Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Was Enuf,” and “Steal Away.”

German is also an award-winning mixed media sculptor and photographer according to Clarion University’s Web site. Her recent exhibitions include, “Gilt Trip” at Gallerie Chiz, and “Celebration of Visual Tradition” with the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts.

Because of her many achievements, German won the 2007 Duquesne Light Leadership Award for her contributions to arts and culture.

The program was sponsored by Clarion University’s Martin Luther King Jr. Committee.