For those of you who made it down to Mount Vernon this weekend, you were probably confused by the multitude of books and pamphlets. The ubiquitous signs, after all, read "DSW Shoe: The shoes of the moment, the deals of a lifetime." No, sadly this was not the site of the 2004 Shoe and Sock Expo, but it was home to one of our beloved Bawlmer's other marquee events: The Baltimore Book Festival.
The written word was the focus of this weekend's festival, sponsored indeed by DSW and other more relevant companies. Displays ranged from local publishing companies, such as our very own JHU Press, to small tents where readings of poetry and prose took place throughout the event.
Last year the festival was cancelled due to the weather; this year the strong winds threatened the same, nearly knocking over the tents and stands. But that didn't dampen the moods of our local arts aficionados, who showed up in the thousands to schmooze and peruse. The Baltimore Blues Society provided some music for the crowds, sponsoring performances by such cool cats as Rude Dog Network and Mama Jama.
One of the more popular stands, as usual, was the Book Thing of Baltimore. For those of you unfamiliar with the local phenom, the Book Thing is a free book exchange located on 27th Street, which not only allows taking unlimited amounts of books, but encourages it, doling out large plastic bags to eager visitors. Festival-goers stuffed their bags and backpacks full of books on everything from traditional Vietnamese prose to moped maintenance.
Alongside the more established publishing companies, a host of smaller, independent publishers were sprawled across the festival, which stretched in a cross-shape from Cathedral Avenue to St. Paul Street and from Mount Vernon to West Mount Vernon Place. Among these were AK Press, the ultra-leftist publishing company, hawking various wackjob manifestos and Chomsky manuscripts fit for those who wear "Vivan Los Zapatistas" and "I'm Pro-Choice and I shoot back" t-shirts (both sold at their stand).
Other publishers, such as iUniverse, encouraged upstart writers to get their own work out there. For a mere $699, I was offered a package deal on my ferret-owning guide, including editorial review, a marketing workbook and a choice of royalty rates.
The reading tents hosted an impressive lineup of authors, including a few Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award winners. Michael Collier, the former Maryland Poet Laureate and current director of the creative writing program at University of Maryland, College Park, spoke about the importance of poetry to an enthusiastic crowd: "Poets keep us in touch with our inklings of our beginnings...in enigmatic moments of recognition."
Books weren't the only art form celebrated at this year's festival. Local theaters and music venues took the opportunity to promote their own ventures, giving out information about upcoming shows. The Baltimore Theatre Alliance had a tent set up for readings of short plays such as those from the Baltimore Playwrights Festival, and held discussion sessions. Those who brought their children along to the educational event were not disappointed, as several stands were set up at the "book crafts" corridor allowing kiddos to create their own book covers. My Robinson Crusoe cover made entirely of dried penne pasta and macaroons was not allowed entry in the competition.
Events like the Baltimore Book Festival give credence to the sentiment that the state of the arts in our fair city is indeed improving. We've even got a few hippies to boot, who made their presence known by painting and decorating several cars stationed around the festival, with slogans like "art is freedom." Groovy, man.
