Justin Spring
Justin Spring resides in Sarasota, Florida. His poems have
been published in such distinguished periodicals as American Poetry Review,
Passages North, Organica, San Jose Studies, and Bellingham Review
as well as numerous anthologies. He has published the following collections
of poetry: OTHER DANCERS, POLAROID POEMS, MIRRORS, NURSERY RAPS, and TALKIES.
He is the author of the nonfiction book, SOULSPEAK: The Outward Journey
of the Soul.
Mr. Spring is also the founder of SOULSPEAK / Sarasota Poetry
Theatre, and co-founder of MANY VOICES, a recording group working in
"SOULSPEAK" mode. . Mr. Spring is the co-originator of SOULSPEAK,
a contemporary version of ancient oral, antiphonal poetry. His oral poetry is
featured on the following MANY VOICES albums: Gatherings, Smoke, Speakings,
Nursery Raps, In Your Mind, Witnesses Log, Barbeque, and I'm Talking To You
Oprah.
Mr. Spring was educated at Columbia College where he received
a B.A. in mathematics.
Honors
- Finalist, 1987 State St. Contest
- First Prize, 1987 Published Poet, U. of Florida
- Finalist, 1989 FCCJ National Poetry Contest
- 1993 Homer Award for Spoken Poetry
- Finalist, 1994 Walt Whitman National Contest (Academy of American Poets)
- Poetica 1995 Hall of Fame Award
- Honorable Mention, 1995 Billie Murray Denny National Poetry Contest
- Finalist, 1995 Carnagie-Mellon Poetry Series
- First Prize, 1995 White Eagle Coffee Store Press Chapbook Contest
- Finalist, 1995 Akron Poetry Prize
- Finalist, 1996 Akron Poetry Prize
- Finalist, 1997 Walt Whitman National Contest (Academy of American Poets)
- Third Prize, 1997 Billie Murray Denny National Poetry Contest
- Finalist, 1997 Akron Poetry Prize
- First Prize, 1998 Chester H. Jones National Poetry Competition
- Individual Artist Fellowship, 1998, State of Florida DCA
Books
- TALKIES: Sarasota Poetry Theatre Press, 2002
- NURSERY RAPS: Sarasota Poetry Theatre Press, 2002
- MIRRORS: Sarasota Poetry Theatre Press, 2002
- SOULSPEAK: The Outward Journey of the Soul (nonfiction), Sarasota
Poetry Theatre Press, 2001
- POLAROID POEMS: Chapbook, Winner 1995 White Eagle Coffee Store Press
Contest
- OTHER DANCERS: Chapbook, March Street Press Chapbook Prize Stonecutter
Series, 1991
- ANTHOLOGIES: Signs of Life Anthology, Florida in Poetry Anthology
Recordings
- GATHERING, 1997, MANY VOICES
- SMOKE, 1998, MANY VOICES
- SPEAKINGS, 1999, MANY VOICES
- NURSERY RAPS, 1999, MANY VOICES
- IN YOUR MIND, 2000, MANY VOICES
- WITNESSES LOG, 2002, MANY VOICES
Publications
Passages North, American Poetry Review, Organica, Tampa
Bay Review, RE:AL, Bellingham Review, Earthwise, Directions, San Jose Studies,
Wascana Review, Studies in Contemporary Satire, Turnstile, Sarasota Arts Review,
Sarasota Herald-Tribune, Signs of Life Anthology, Alms House Sampler, Visions
International, Florida in Poetry Anthology, Chester H. Jones Anthology, B.M. Denny
Anthology.
Grants Received
- Grants supporting The SOULSPEAK Program, of which
JUSTIN SPRING was one of the two principal poets involved.
- Community Foundation of Sarasota
- Venice Foundation
- Sarasota County Tourist Development Council
- Bates Foundation
- Beattie Foundation
- Selby Partnership Fund
- Woman's Exchange
- Sarasota County Foundation
- Selby Foundation
- Florida Department of Juvenile Justice
- Kates Foundation
- Knight Foundation
- Bank of America Community Foundation/Sarasota
- State of FLorida Interdisciplinary
- State of Florida Arts in Education
- VSA Arts
Other
- Essays -- SOULSPEAK - Some Thoughts on Poetry
as Spoken Language, Sarasota Arts Review, Vol. 5, I 9
- SPEAKING POETRY - Sarasota Arts Review,
Vol. 4, I 10.
- Contributor -- 1988 Breadloaf Writers Conference
- Featured Poet -- Jan 4, 1990 - Jones Intercable TV: A
WALK TO THE HORIZON
- Featured Poet -- Jan 28, 1992, WQSA radio.
- April 23, 1993, WMNF Radio; ART IN YOUR EAR
- Theatre poems featured in the Florida Studio Theatre Dramatic
Presentation "Words, Loves, Lies" March 3, 1991
Founder
- SOULSPEAK/SARASOTA POETRY THEATRE - founded 1992, dedicated
to spoken and performance poetry, featuring local and nationally known poets,
actors and composer/musicians in original presentations of contemporary poetry.
Workshops
- SOULSPEAK WORKSHOPS - Continuing national workshops using
SOULSPEAK, a contemporary version of ancient, oral, antiphonal poetry. Workshops
are conducted for the general public, poets, at-risk children and adults in
therapy.
Selected Readings And Performances
- Amherst, Bard, Sarah Lawrence, Bennington, UMass, Dartmouth,
St. Peter's College, College of the Holy Cross, USF, Manatee Community College,
Ringling School of Art and Design, Longboat Key Education Center, MCC Venice Campus,
Nicholls State University (LA), Nuyorican Cafe (NYC), Fifteen Minute Club (Wash DC), SA Austin University (Texas), Prew Academy,
New College/USF, Eckerd College, Burns Court Cinema, Project Black Cinema,
Ulster Community College, Salem College.