Grace Ruo and MK Stallings Wax Poetic on Black History at Ritenour Middle
St. Louis Youth Poet Laureate Grace Ruo and UrbArts founder UrbArts MK Stallings shared poems and talked Black history during a recent virtual presentation for Ritenour Middle School. In a 47 minute online experience, MK share discussed the role of “Blackart” as defined by Haki Madhubuti before sharing a poem and introducing Grace. Ritenour Middle…
Continue Reading
Call for Art Extended
UrbArts is extending its call for art so more artists can participate in this group show. The theme is all about healing and self-care. Your balm could be creating or experiencing art. We are asking artists to share their works that express wellness in these challenging times. To date, we have received some works to…
Continue Reading
New Video from STL Youth Poet Laureate Grace Ruo on Emmett Till
Using blank verse, Grace Ruo crafted a short poem designed for performance in poetry slams. In this gripping piece, she likens the tragic means by which Emmett Till achieved immortality with Jesus Christ. This work demonstrates the continued relevance of Mamie Till-Mobley’s decision to show the world what white racists did to her son on…
Continue Reading
Sarah and Grace to be featured on St. Louis Public Radio
Two Saint Louis Youth Poets Laureate will be featured on St. Louis On the Air, a daily live broadcast on St. Louis Public Radio at noon on Monday, January 25, 2021. Last year’s St. Louis Youth Poet Laureate, Sarah Abbas, and the current laureate, Grace Ruo, will discuss how their poems speak to the issues…
Continue Reading
Q & A with Grace Ruo
A few weeks back, we sent the new St. Louis Youth Poet Laureate a few questions to answer about her laureateship. Grace replied with the thoughtful answers below. It was so telling that I wanted to share them more broadly. What does being the 2021 Saint Louis Youth Poet Laureate mean to you? Being the…
Continue Reading
Tour Our Latest Exhibit Virtually
The Due Process Denied art show closes on MLK Day but we hope to bring back the virtual exhibit soon. If you have not seen it, it is worth checking out the powerful works of art on display. Of course, the pandemic made it necessary to close the gap between visiting the UrbArts Old North…
Continue Reading
Lyrical Therapy at UrbArts This Saturday
Join us for Lyrical Therapy Saturday night – Jan 16th – at 7:00 pm. Tickets are $15 and available here. Or you can paste this link in your browser if you prefer no to search for it. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lyrical-therapy-not-so-open-mic-tickets-133801047535?utm-medium=discovery&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&aff=escb&utm-source=cp&utm-term=listing
Continue Reading
King Me Poetry Reading this MLK Day
MLK Day marks the closing of the Due Process Denied exhibit as well as the date of our annual Dr. King event featuring the poetry of young voices. This year, newly inducted St. Louis youth poet laureate Grace Ruo will feature. Other poets to be announced. The event begins at 1:00 pm. DJ Siddall tha…
Continue Reading
UrbArts Announces the 2021 St. Louis Youth Poet Laureate
(ST. LOUIS Monday, January 11, 2021) — The 2021 St. Louis Youth Poet Laureate is Grace Ruo, a 17-year-old native Kenyan and Hazelwood West High School senior. UrbArts will host an induction ceremony online and in person on January 18th to commemorate the federal holiday and observed birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr at 1:00…
Continue Reading