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TRYON—Dasan Ahanu is a Southern writer and performing artist who uses storytelling to deepen our understanding and awareness of what’s happening around us. Tryon Fine Arts Center, in partnership with the Lanier Library, will welcome Ahanu to the foothills on Friday, April 19 for a free community event – Power of the Page Poetry – at 10 a.m. at the Tryon Fine Arts Center auditorium, and then The Art of Self workshop at 2 p.m. at The Lanier Library LeDuc Room.

Ahanu is a visiting lecturer at UNC-Chapel Hill, an alumnus of Harvard University’s Nasir Jones Fellowship and the 2023 Piedmont Laureate for poetry. He notes that creative artistry is embedded in the fabric of North Carolina and he exudes an incredible commitment to his home state.

“Poetry can be emotional, inspirational, educational, and as creative and expressive as your imagination. It can also be a tool for healing and growth. Join us for a wonderful event full of dynamic poetry performance. Stories will be brought to life on stage. Truths will be told. Life will be explored. Fun will be had. This is an exploration of the power of words,” said Ahanu about the upcoming event in Tryon.

The Art of Self is a poetry workshop in the Lanier Library LeDuc Room that will give folks an opportunity to learn in a more intimate setting. The workshop gets underway at 2 p.m., and registration is limited.

“Lanier Library is excited to offer participants an opportunity to explore their own voice through poetry with Dasan Ahanu,” said Jenny Purcell, executive director of the Lanier Library. “And we’re very grateful for support from the Kirby Fund at the Polk County Community Foundation for allowing this poetry partnership with Tryon Fine Arts Center to bring something very special to our area.” 

For more information about the poetry event, visit The Lanier Library website at thelanierlibrary.org, or tryonarts.org to learn more and to register for the workshop.