We’re less than one week into the Knight-funded O, Miami poetry festival and the impact is already being felt throughout the city. The countywide festival aims to give every single person in Miami-Dade County a change to encounter poetry this April. The festival got one step closer to that goal Saturday night with the launch of Abe’s Penny Live, an interactive event designed to encourage the public to write poetry inspired by work from local artists hanging at Wynwood’s ArtSeen Gallery. View work by Lee Materazzi, Francie Bishop Good, Samantha Salzinger and Robby Campbell, grab a pencil, release your inner bard and drop your completed poem in a box in front of the work of your choice. At the end of event on April 26, one poem and the work that inspired it will be printed in an issue of “micro-magazine,” Abe’s Penny.

Scott Cunningham introducing Gabby Calvocoressi at Abe's penny Live, photo courtesy of Robby Campbell of www.beachedmiami.com

The Miami New Times reported on Abe’s Penny Live this week, calling it an “interactive event that will inspire you to use your literary mind in a public space.” Click here to read the complete article.

Anna and Tess Knoebel, talented sisters and creators of Abe’s Penny Magazine and Abe's Penny Live , photo courtesy of Robby Campbell of www.beachedmiami.com

Gabrielle Calvocoressi reading from her Los Angeles Times Book Award finalist Apocalyptic Swing (2009) at Abe's Penny Live, photo courtesy of Robby Campbell of www.beachedmiami.com

Abe’s Penny Live: April 2-26, 2011; ArtSeen Gallery: 2215 NW 2 Ave, Wynwood

Enjoy O, Miami interviews, photos & recaps and an ongoing open source epic poem at o.beachedmiami.com