Two highly talented Woodstock  poets, Susan Hoover and T.G.Vanini, will be featured when Poetry at the Hudson meets at the Athens Cultural Center, 24 Second Street, on Saturday, August 16, 2008 at 2 p.m.  An open mike will be part of the occasion, and pianist Don Yacullo will play a few selections during the event.

Hoover, a published poet, performance artist, and teacher, has been a featured reader at The New School, The Knitting Factory, The Kitchen, and the Cornelia Street Café, in New York City.  She has performed as well at many venues in the Hudson Valley, was part of a poetry performance group with poets Nancy Rullo and Janice King, and has been published  in a  number of literary journals, including the Cold Mountain Review, the Isinglass Review, Cover Arts New York, and the University of Colorado Literary Magazine.  Her poetry performances include collaborations with cellist Sera Smolen.  Hoover teaches poetry through Teachers & Writers Collaborative in New York City.  Her published books include The Magnet and The Target (The New School Chapbook Series), Taxi Dancer (Exotic Beauties Press), and the anthology As If The World Had Not Known Sorrow (The Poets Press).

T. G. Vanini is the alter ego of Laurie Kirby, a Professor of Mathematics at Baruch College of the City University of New York, where he has been teaching since 1982. He performs his song-poetry with The Princes of Serendip, a musical group formed in 1996, when Vanini, who has played the violin since childhood, and Yacullo, a Hudson Valley resident who has played the piano since childhood as well, got together to play chamber music and digressed into Vanini originals.  Shortly afterward, Julie Parisi, a singer from Woodstock, joined the group.  In addition to teaching, Vanini’s research interests are in two areas of mathematical logic known as Models of Arithmetic and Logic of Natural Objects, which are connected with his poetic and musical work in their concern with exploring the relationship between language and reality.  Vanini started writing songs and poetry in 1984. 

Yacullo has played the piano and composed music since the age of five. He has been a classical accompanist, church organist, laborer, and special educator. He has performed and recorded music with classical and original rock and jazz ensembles (SeLah, Joe Montini, and Joe Lentine) and currently performs all over the United States with Potential Unlimited, a troupe of exceptionally talented musicians who have developmental disabilities.  As noted, Don also performs with The Princes of Serendip, a musical threesome that is based in Woodstock.

The readings will be hosted by area poet Bob Wright.  There is a suggested donation of $3.  To reach the Cultural Center, proceed on NY 385 into the village of Athens and turn west onto Second Street; it is the second building on the right.  For additional information, call 518-444-4561.