Poet and Community Leader Pam Blair to perform on The Wild Rose Moon Radio Hour
In honor of Black History Month, Wild Rose Moon Performing Arts Center is featuring the South Bend Poet, Pam Blair on its Wild Rose Moon Radio Hour on Saturday, Feb. 18, at 3 p.m. The Wild Rose Moon Radio Hour is recorded before a live audience and is broadcast on the first Monday of the month on WVPE 88.1 FM.
Pam is a noted South Bend Poet who was instrumental in developing the Poetry Den at 333 West Washington Street in Indiana University’s South Bend Civil Rights Heritage Center. Appearing on a production of Wild Rose Moon’s web-based program, “Moonlight” (recorded in 2021), she talked about her writing process and recited several poems. In a discussion with host, John Bahler, she explained that she was inspired to compose her poem, “Complexity,” upon hearing that actor and comedian, Robin Williams, had taken his own life. During a reading of the piece, she quotes two of her main writing inspirations, Langston Hughes and Mark Twain, both of whom help her subtly convey the issues of race relations and suicide in the piece. The poem concludes with these stirring words. At the end of the day, the sun will reach its hand out to the moon,
Ocean’s waves will dance to an orchestra’s tune, Seashells will come ashore, as the sandman prepares to confess,
His love wants more, until she stays, in life’s complexity.
Pam refers to art itself as a “lover” who comes to embrace us with the gift of a poem or a piece of visual art. Her personal mantra is motivated by four strong words – Inspire, Provoke, Motivate, and Create. She uses these ideas to navigate through her daily life and her work with others at the Poetry Den – acting as a champion of the ideas of inclusivity and diversity, which is fully represented by the spirit of
the creative process working itself out inside each individual.
Pam has performed her work with the South Bend Symphony Orchestra, read her work on WNIT Television, and performed at her church, in addition to Wild Rose Moon’s “Moonlight,” program. Pam works as the Academic Programs Assistant for the Kroc Institute's educational programs, including the Undergraduate Peace Studies Program, the Master of Global Affairs, the International Peace Studies Concentration, and the Doctoral Studies Program.
Also appearing with Pam on the radio show will be the original composer, JRDN Queen (Jordan Queen) who will be performing a musical composition. As mentioned previously, The Wild Rose Moon Radio Hour is performed at Wild Rose Performing Arts Center which is located at 115 North Michigan Street in Historic Downtown Plymouth, Indiana. Tickets for the performance are available at www.wildrosemoon.com. Or, you can purchase them locally at ASK for Flowers or the Culver Coffee Company. If you miss her for the radio show Pam will also perform her poems and talk about the writing process later that night at 7 p.m. in concert. Wild Rose Moon is located at 115 North Michigan Street, Historic Downtown Plymouth.