Mateo Quispe: Auburn's Poet Laureate Transforming Public Spaces with Poetry
Mateo Quispe, Auburn’s poet laureate, brings poetry to library nooks
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Mateo Quispe, Auburn's Poet Laureate and a senior at the University of Washington, is innovating poetry accessibility through the Canoe Poetry Nook Project. This initiative will create life-sized canoe-shaped poetry nooks in public spaces, promoting Indigenous literature and art in Auburn, Washington.
- 01Mateo Quispe is Auburn's fifth Poet Laureate and a senior at the University of Washington.
- 02He is the first student at UW to hold a laureateship while enrolled.
- 03Quispe's Canoe Poetry Nook Project will introduce canoe-shaped poetry nooks in various public locations.
- 04The nooks will feature a curated selection of poetry, focusing on Indigenous works.
- 05Quispe's interdisciplinary studies reflect a blend of art, science, and Indigenous epistemology.
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Mateo Quispe, a queer and trans Peruvian American poet, serves as Auburn's Poet Laureate while studying at the University of Washington. Appointed in 2024, Quispe is the first student to hold this title at UW. His passion for poetry was ignited in a creative writing class, leading to his role as the 2023-2024 Seattle Youth Poet Laureate. Quispe's innovative Canoe Poetry Nook Project aims to enhance public engagement with poetry by creating life-sized canoe-shaped nooks that will house a curated selection of poetry, particularly emphasizing Indigenous works. These nooks will be installed in various public spaces across Auburn, including the Auburn Senior Center and Green River College's Holman Library. Quispe's work reflects his belief in the interconnectedness of disciplines, viewing poetry as a medium that conveys profound meaning in a condensed form.
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The Canoe Poetry Nook Project will enhance community access to poetry and promote Indigenous literature, fostering cultural appreciation and engagement.
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