Java Monkey is a small coffee shop in the City of Decatur that hosts a weekly Open Mic night every Sunday evening. Java Monkey Speaks is hosted by Kodac Harrison and is a space for all people to enjoy a night of art, self expression and freedom.
15 Years In The Making
The Poetry Brings ALL The Folks To The Yard
Wednesday, April 27, 2016
15 Years In The Making
The Poetry Brings ALL The Folks To The Yard
By KIERSTEN BRYDIE
This June marks 15 years since Kodac Harrison began hosting an Open Mic session at Java Monkey every Sunday evening.
Kodac Harrison is a musician, songwriter and painter from Jackson, Ga. Prior to becoming the "Man Behind the Magic" at Java Monkey, Harrison hosted several monthly readings in various locations throughout Atlanta.
Harrison said that The Brick Store opened Java Monkey 15 years ago this April. He was great friends with one of the owners of The Brick Store who suggested he set up a monthly reading. Two months following, the owner and Harrison made an agreement and the very first session of "Java Monkey Speaks" began.
Featuring the Best
Every Sunday, in the middle of the Open Mic session, Harrison features an outstanding poet. This poet has a time slot of 20-30 minutes to do whatever work they'd like and are compensated for their time. Harrison hand selects the feature poet each week.
"If they are from the Atlanta area, I expect to hear them and have to be impressed," said Harrison when describing the selection process for feature poets.
Java Monkey, however, prides itself in the diversity of artists it chooses to represent. Harrison has hosted poets from over 18 different countries. Australia, Ethiopia, Croatia and Honduras are just a few.
We All Learn from the Mic
As seen in "The Poetry Brings ALL The Folks To The Yard," Java Monkey Speaks is a powerful night for more than just poets. Harrison, himself, didn't begin identifying as a poet until critics continued to label him as such. He said that Sunday nights are a time for everyone to learn a little about everything they can, even if this seems difficult.
"I have tried to learn to appreciate people's perspectives, whether I agree with them or not," said Harrison. "I have broadened my perspective. I feel I have grown as a person."
Actress DeShon Green thinks that critiques of poets during Open Mic are nice for construction, but are almost pointless.
"No one knows your art better than you," said Green. "We are here as listening ears."
Frequent visitors of Java Monkey Speaks say that the atmosphere is one of learning, love and appreciation.
"Leave Your Art on the Stage"
From poets, to actors, to students and all else in between, Java Monkey has become personal tradition. This is a safe house, a coffee shop, a brewery and therapy. Here is where you come to get free.
While Harrison has plans for expanding Java Monkey Speaks, he says this night has already grown beyond his wildest dreams. He tells me, with a great smile, that it is the poets who keep him going.
Kodac Harrison, DeShon Green, and Jasmine Pearson all left these final words of advice for poets wanting to express themselves:
"You don't want to regret," said Pearson. "Take those baby steps and do it."
"Edit your work and practice your delivery," said Harrison. "Don't make excuses and be yourself."
"It doesn't matter if it is a poem scribbled on a napkin," said Green. "Leave your art on the stage."
By KIERSTEN BRYDIE
This June marks 15 years since Kodac Harrison began hosting an Open Mic session at Java Monkey every Sunday evening.
Kodac Harrison is a musician, songwriter and painter from Jackson, Ga. Prior to becoming the "Man Behind the Magic" at Java Monkey, Harrison hosted several monthly readings in various locations throughout Atlanta.
Harrison said that The Brick Store opened Java Monkey 15 years ago this April. He was great friends with one of the owners of The Brick Store who suggested he set up a monthly reading. Two months following, the owner and Harrison made an agreement and the very first session of "Java Monkey Speaks" began.
Featuring the Best
Every Sunday, in the middle of the Open Mic session, Harrison features an outstanding poet. This poet has a time slot of 20-30 minutes to do whatever work they'd like and are compensated for their time. Harrison hand selects the feature poet each week.
"If they are from the Atlanta area, I expect to hear them and have to be impressed," said Harrison when describing the selection process for feature poets.
Java Monkey, however, prides itself in the diversity of artists it chooses to represent. Harrison has hosted poets from over 18 different countries. Australia, Ethiopia, Croatia and Honduras are just a few.
 |
| Feature Poet Nadia, Photo by Kiersten Brydie |
As seen in "The Poetry Brings ALL The Folks To The Yard," Java Monkey Speaks is a powerful night for more than just poets. Harrison, himself, didn't begin identifying as a poet until critics continued to label him as such. He said that Sunday nights are a time for everyone to learn a little about everything they can, even if this seems difficult.
"I have tried to learn to appreciate people's perspectives, whether I agree with them or not," said Harrison. "I have broadened my perspective. I feel I have grown as a person."
Actress DeShon Green thinks that critiques of poets during Open Mic are nice for construction, but are almost pointless.
"No one knows your art better than you," said Green. "We are here as listening ears."
Frequent visitors of Java Monkey Speaks say that the atmosphere is one of learning, love and appreciation.
"Leave Your Art on the Stage"
From poets, to actors, to students and all else in between, Java Monkey has become personal tradition. This is a safe house, a coffee shop, a brewery and therapy. Here is where you come to get free.
While Harrison has plans for expanding Java Monkey Speaks, he says this night has already grown beyond his wildest dreams. He tells me, with a great smile, that it is the poets who keep him going.
Kodac Harrison, DeShon Green, and Jasmine Pearson all left these final words of advice for poets wanting to express themselves:
"You don't want to regret," said Pearson. "Take those baby steps and do it."
"Edit your work and practice your delivery," said Harrison. "Don't make excuses and be yourself."
"It doesn't matter if it is a poem scribbled on a napkin," said Green. "Leave your art on the stage."
Tuesday, April 26, 2016
The Poetry Brings ALL The Folks To The Yard
"Family, loving and connected," said DeShon Green as she smiled when asked to describe the atmosphere of Java Monkey's weekly Open Mic session.
Green is an actress who enjoys seeing people express themselves through art. She has visited Java Monkey many times throughout the past year and found a true home in the small coffee shop. She insists that art is meant to be shared with non-artists and regards that as the primary reason she continues to return.
"Those words are expression," said Green. "A reaction is what art is for."
The local coffee shop, Java Monkey, has been hosting an Open Mic night every Sunday for 15 years. Frequent visitors of the shop said that this night belongs to more than just poets.
Jasmine Pearson is a junior at Kennesaw State University who travels to the City of Decatur to enjoy the poetry it has to offer. She comes to hear the artist's poems, but her favorite part is watching new people overcome their fears.
"There are always people uplifting people," said Pearson. "I think this world needs more of that."
Both women gave a resounding, "No" when asked if this was a 'poet only' arena. They are proof that Java Monkey can transform the lives of many people.
"Life is a lot like poetry," said Pearson. "You can't care what other people think of you. That's just going to hinder yourself."
Green is an actress who enjoys seeing people express themselves through art. She has visited Java Monkey many times throughout the past year and found a true home in the small coffee shop. She insists that art is meant to be shared with non-artists and regards that as the primary reason she continues to return.
"Those words are expression," said Green. "A reaction is what art is for."
The local coffee shop, Java Monkey, has been hosting an Open Mic night every Sunday for 15 years. Frequent visitors of the shop said that this night belongs to more than just poets.
Jasmine Pearson is a junior at Kennesaw State University who travels to the City of Decatur to enjoy the poetry it has to offer. She comes to hear the artist's poems, but her favorite part is watching new people overcome their fears.
"There are always people uplifting people," said Pearson. "I think this world needs more of that."
Both women gave a resounding, "No" when asked if this was a 'poet only' arena. They are proof that Java Monkey can transform the lives of many people.
"Life is a lot like poetry," said Pearson. "You can't care what other people think of you. That's just going to hinder yourself."
Thursday, April 14, 2016
Headline
The sentence describing the story.
Maybe two sentences. No more than that.
I really don’t want a lot here.
- Headline for the main story turned into a link to the main story.
- Headline for the sidebar story turned into a link to the sidebar.
Headline for the main story
By YOUR NAME
DATELINE,
Ga. -- Then in a new post, do a lead that is not a repeat of the paragraph on
the homepage. Assume the reader did not read the paragraph on the homepage.
Asdf;ksdal;
f’ksasl f;sa;f sad/
Alsdkf ;’sa sl;af ks;ad lf
After three
or four graphs, put in a short subhead.
Subhead one
Then
keep going with the story. If you refer to the sidebar topic, turn the
reference into a link to your sidebar. If you refer to a company or a nonprofit
or an article that you want to make your external link, then be sure to turn
the name or the phrase into a link to the company’s website or the article
itself.
 |
| Orange Flower (photo by Poetic) |
Slakdf
;’sakf sdl;a k’sa
Asdlf k’asdl;fk as;dflksa
As;dlfk
sa’dfl; k;sal f
Adsl;fk s’adl;f ka;sdlf
As;ldfk
‘sal;df ks’dl;a
Subhead two
Asdfk
;sadfk a;sl fasd; ;fsda
Headline for sidebar one
DATELINE,
Ga. – You don’t have to give yourself a byline if the story is less than 300
words. Put the sidebar in a new post as well. Assume that your reader did not
read the main story. Reintroduce your interviewees. Tell them again the main
topic in a short sentence or two. And make sure you have a nut graph that tells
them the point of the sidebar.
Asdf
kl;’ asd fl;ka;’sldf
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