More than 100 poets, writers, and musicians gathered on New Year’s Day at the Reformed Church of Saugerties for “Aurora,” a six-hour, spoken-word extravaganza and free event that opened with a nearly five-minute communal howl.
Now in its 32nd year, the annual gathering was founded in 1995 by Saugerties-based art historian, poet, and curator Bruce Weber. The event began as “The Alternative New Year’s Day Spoken Word Extravaganza” and was held for many years at New York City venues including the Bowery Poetry Club and the Nuyorican Poetry Cafe before relocating to the Hudson Valley seven years ago, shortly after Weber and his wife, retired textile designer and art teacher Joanne Pagano Weber, moved to Saugerties full time.
The event is always free and open to the public. Performers are given three minutes, a rule strictly enforced by rotating emcees, a crew of local written word event organizers hand-picked by Weber. While many participants are invited by the hosts, others sign up on site for open-mic slots.
“It’s pure intention,” Weber, 74, said, describing the event’s ethos. “Charitable giving and taking care of our community are always core components for us.”
This year’s event included a collection of nonperishable food items for the Saugerties Food Pantry and book donations for individuals incarcerated at Greene Correctional Facility. Planning begins months in advance, with an all-volunteer organizing team meeting monthly starting each September.
Phillip X Levine, 69, a West Saugerties-based actor, poet, and editor, has participated in the event for more than two decades. He hosted both the opening and closing hours of this year’s program and said the fast-paced format appeals to a wide audience.
“It’s perfect for people with a short attention span,” Levine said. “If you don’t like how something sounds, in less than three minutes, you get to hear something else.”
Another defining feature of the event is its set design, created each year by Pagano Weber. This year’s installation emphasized community and joy, with visual references to Saugerties landmarks and traditions, including the garlic festival, the auto show, and the area’s arts and music scene.
“Set is a signature component. People come for that too,” she said. “It’s a form of celebration and every year it’s different.”
Pagano Weber, 71, who was the closing performer at the very first extravaganza in New York City—before she and Weber began dating—said the event has taken on a distinct character since moving upstate.
“In general, it’s a very different feeling up here than in NYC, but in both places, not everyone knows each other,” she said. “You have your blood relatives and you have your art family. We’re a real motley crew and when we collide on New Year’s Day, it always feels like a family reunion. It’s pure joy!”
Since relocating to the Hudson Valley, the event has been held in a now-closed restaurant in Kingston, at White Feather Farm, Newbury Artisans Market, and at The Local. Weber said he hopes the Reformed Church of Saugerties will become its permanent home.
“We want a permanent home for it here in Saugerties, and hope the church will be that place,” he said.
Weber said the event was originally conceived as a one-time showcase of local writers, created in response to high-profile New York City poetry events featuring artists such as Patti Smith and Yoko Ono.
“It was never my plan for it to be an annual occurrence,” Weber said. “People appreciated it so much and we felt like we had no choice but to do it again and again in NYC—and now we feel the same way here.”
Chana Widawski is a contributing reporter for The Overlook. Send correspondence to reporting@theoverlooknews.com.