McNeese MFA candidate continues caffeinated canon

Mastering fine art

McNeese MFA candidate continues caffeinated canon

By Michelle Romero

Contributing Writer

A nervous underclassman makes her way down Broad Street, her phone ready with directions and a bit of trepidation in her step. She opens the door to Stellar Beans, the rich aroma of ground coffee beans and freshly-brewed tea inside greeting her.

Scattered throughout the coffee shop are people of all ages, genders, races and creeds.  This wasn’t what she expected: no one had the elite markings of intimidating graduate students working on their Masters of Fine Arts degrees. She takes a breath to steady herself and then finds a seat somewhere near the middle – not too close to the front, but not all the way in the back.

“It’s about to start,” someone says. The group quiets to a murmur for a few moments, with only the soft clinking of glass to accompany the low hum of voices. Suddenly, the lobby erupts into applause as the first reader takes their spot.

This was a typical experience for participants of last year’s free-range reading series hosted by former student (and now full Master of Fine Arts) Todd Gray.

Although Mr. Gray has since graduated, his legacy and namesake has been passed on to his colleague - third year poet, Thomas Parrie. This fall, Parrie is proud to continue what is now deemed “Dr. Gray’s Free-range Reading Series” starting 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 18. 

But how is this different from the typical MFA readings scheduled each semester? Unlike those officially sponsored by the MFA program, this series is much more informal and seeks to provide an open environment for both students and the public, according to Parrie.

The first portion of the reading will be reserved for MFA students reading both various published pieces and works in progress, whether they be fiction, poetry or theses.

“First and foremost, I would like for all the MFA students to be able to read their work and feel confident sharing it, but I also want to extend that to anyone who would like to read or even just listen. Our goal is to open up an established literary community of poets and writers here in Lake Charles,” Parrie said.

“We try to encourage each other to progress in our writing and publish as much as possible so we can take the skills we’ve learned at McNeese into our careers later,” he continued.

The relaxed environment provided at the generosity of Stellar Beans helps too. “They give us a venue, and we buy their coffee,” Parrie joked.

The last portion of each reading will essentially be open-microphone to both students – graduates and undergraduates alike – and the public.

The underclassman listens to the poems and stories told by MFA candidates and students like her.  She’s got her own writing, but she’s not quite ready to read it – not yet.  Still, as the tables are cleared of coffee cups and handwritten notes scrawled on napkins, there’s a feeling that she’ll have her chance.  Perhaps, with a bit of caffeinated courage next time, she’ll stand up at the mic and share her writing with people seeking literary mastery… or just a good story. 

Maybe she’ll be the one standing in front of nervous underclassmen, reading her own works and inspiring new writers to take the plunge themselves.

If you go

The reading series continues at 7 p.m. Thursdays, Oct. 23 and Nov. 20, at Stellar Beans (319 Broad St.).