African American poet and musician will kick off the new season of the Stone Canoe Writer’s Series

African American poet and musician Duriel E. Harris will begin the current season of the Stone Canoe Writer’s Series on Saturday, Oct. 6, from 2-3:30 at the Delavan Art Gallery, 501 W. Fayette St. Harris will read her poetry and discuss experimental projects that integrate poetry with dance, music and painting. Harris’ reading is co-sponsored by the Community Folk Art Center.

Harris is the co-founder of the Black Took Collective and poetry editor for Obsidian III. Her first book, “Drag” (Elixir Press, 2003), was hailed by Black Issues Book Review as one of the best poetry volumes of 2003. Her current work-in-progress, “Amnesiac,” combines written poetry with sound recordings, a DVD and a website. Harris is a Cave Camen Fellow, a MacDowell Fellow and a member of the free jazz ensemble Douglas Ewart and Inventions. Born in Chicago, she holds degrees from Yale University, New York University and the University of Illinois. She currently teaches at St. Lawrence University.

The Stone Canoe Writer’s Series at the Delavan Art Gallery features public readings from authors included in the inaugural issue of Stone Canoe, A Journal of Arts and Ideas from Upstate New York, published by Syracuse University. For a complete schedule of the series, as well as other Stone Canoe events, visit http://www.stonecanoejournal.org.

Stone Canoe Number 1, featuring 71 artists and writers, is available at Barnes and Noble, Borders, Follett’s and the Syracuse University Bookstore. Stone Canoe Number 2 will be available in January 2008.