Spotlight on the Spoken Word | Gustavo Adolfo Aybar

We’re taking a moment to recognize Kansas City’s wordsmiths.

Taken from KCPT’s “Arts Upload,” which has amassed an impressive collection of local poets reading their own works, “Spotlight” gives Flatland a chance to catch up with the artists. We find out what they’re up to and get their take on what to watch in the local and national art scene.

This week:

Gustavo Adolfo Aybar | “Baseball’s Travelin’ Men”

Where do you live now?

I still live in Kansas.

Any current projects?

Several: I recently completed and submitted my first poetry collection.
Other Latino Writers Collective members and I have been selected to have a chapbook published by Prospero’s Books Spartan Press and their 12 poets in 12 months Pop Poetry Series, focusing on local talent.

I am also seeking and submitting to different presses to publish my English language translation of Glafira Rocha’s first short story collection (“Such Tales”) and looking to produce or coproduce one or both of the Rocha plays I have also translated from Spanish.

What’s your best moment from this week?

Waking up early in the morning and reading Carlo Collodi’s “The Adventures of Pinocchio” to my son. It has been good to really slow down and enjoy some peaceful time together before we start our day and get him ready for kindergarten.

Who are you listening to/reading/watching that we need to know about?

Listening: Ibeyi, James Bay, Gavin James, and Vakero

Reading: Natasha Ria El-Scari, “Screaming Times”; Glenn North, “City of Song”; José Faus, “This Town Like That”