Folklore & Literacy is the website of Leslie Reese, who is a writer, poet, and interdisciplinary arts educator. Born and raised in Detroit, Leslie is a 2nd-generation Broadside Press poet and author of the poetry collections, Upside Down Tapestry Mosaic History (Broadside Press) and Urban Junkstar (Past Tents Press). Leslie holds a BA in English from Alabama A & M University and a MA in Interdisciplinary Arts from Columbia College Chicago.
Leslie likes to use “third things” – poems, books, movies, dance, visual art, and music – as gateways to explore, excavate, and celebrate our relationship with self, family, community, and the natural world. She created folklore & literacy as a net to hold this work of using literature and the arts as gateways to literacy, discovery, and self-expression.
Personal Statement: “I am an interdisciplinary artist and educator with experience working in schools, libraries, and museums, with an interest in developing dynamic community relationships through storytelling.
I appreciate being able to work with a broad cross section of people in terms of walks of life, ethnicity, culture, and generations. I especially like work that gets people communicating with each other and learning from each other. By curating interdisciplinary literacy, poetry and writing experiences, I help to dispel confusion, fear, and anxiety; facilitating clarity and understanding.”
Available for Residencies and Collaborations; Performances, and Readings; Facilitating Workshops; Research, and Writing.