Scenes from Bards & Brews Poetry Tribute to Voice Porter

Bards & Brews Host Al Elliott, center, poses with Duane Porter, right, father of the late Voice Porter, and love of his life, Deidre Clark, during Friday's poetry tribute to Voice held at Greenhouse in Ensley.  

                         

Birmingham, Ala. - The impact the late Brian "Voice Porter" Hawkins , longtime host of the Birmingham Public Library's Bards & Brews poetry event, filled the air last Friday night as more than a dozen spoken word artists paid tribute to him at the Greenhouse on 19th Street Ensley.

One of the participants, Bettina Byrd Giles of Ensley Alive, said it was fitting that the tribute took place in downtown Ensley as Voice dedicated much of his life to uplifting Ensley. The Greenhouse, 602 9th Street Ensley, is a new venue for the arts co-owned by Jahman Hill and Eric Marable, founders of Flourish Alabama, a non-profit dedicated to helping young poets bloom.

 Porter died unexpectedly at age 42 in August 2021. Friday's June 2, 2023, event took place a day after what would have been Voice Porter's 44th birthday. 

Among attendees was Voice's father, Duane Porter, and the longtime love of his life, Deidre Clark. Duane Porter even stepped on stage and read a poem in tribute to his son.

Retired BPL Librarian Haruyo Miyagawa, who came up with the idea for Bards & Brews over a decade ago and recruited Voice Porter to serve as host, also attended.

 Below are scenes from Friday night's powerful tribute to Voice Porter.