Press Release
Emeline , a boutique luxury hotel experience, will debut its second installment of the Artist in Residency Program this month with Poet Laureate Marcus Amaker. Amaker ' s residency will take place January 20-21, 2023, with special experiences scheduled throughout the weekend for guests and locals alike to enjoy.
This residency will kick off with a poetry reading and book signing in Clerks Coffee Co. from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, January 20 and include a special poetry workshop and meet and greet from 4:00 to 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, January 21 in the Archives. Poetry excerpts from Amaker ' s body of work will also be placed throughout the property as a special surprise and delight element for guests. Amaker served as Charleston ' s first Poet Laureate from 2016 to 2022, was recognized with a Governor ' s Arts award in South Carolina and became an Academy of Americans Poets fellow in 2021.
“ We are excited to continue our Artist in Residency Program with Marcus Amaker this month and bring a new, interactive and personal experience to our guests,” said Shannon Hartman, Emeline ' s director of sales and marketing. “ Marcus ' artistry embodies the beauty of Charleston, filled with history, culture and love, and we feel that his works tie perfectly into Emeline ' s passion for curated experiences and inspirations. We look forward to bringing this valuable touch to our visitors and locals alike.”
Proceeds from Friday ' s poetry reading and book signing event will benefit We are Family, a local Charleston organization that supports LGBTQ+ youth, with $1 from all items sold during the event donated to the charity. The evening will include live music, poetry readings, special guest poet Zania Cummings, the full Clerks Off the Clock menu and the opportunity for guests and the public to interact with the poets.
On Saturday, Amaker will lead attendees in a self-portrait writing exercise during the poetry workshop in the Archives. Participants will learn the powerful impact of the written word and explore how personal experiences matter in creating art. Amaker will also lead a writing exercise about “home,” and what that word means to each guest. Attendees will compose two self-portrait poems and one “ home” poem using guided prompts and will have the opportunity to share their work at the conclusion of the workshop. Saturday ' s event will include complimentary champagne, passed hors d ' oeuvres and the chance for a meet and greet with Amaker following the session.
Marcus Amaker lives in North Charleston, South Carolina with his wife, their daughter and their cat. His work has been widely recognized by The Washington Post, American Poets Magazine, NPR and many more. He is currently writing an opera with Gillian Rae Perry as part of Chicago Opera Theater’s Vanguard Initiative. His tenth book, “ Hold What Makes You Whole,” will be released on April 4, 2023.
The residency weekend will begin on Friday, January 20, 2023, with a poetry reading reception from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and be open to the public. The program will also include a poetry workshop on January 21, 2023 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. These events are free to the public and do not require tickets or reservations. For more information on the programming visit: www.hotelemeline.com/event/
