Poetry reading has moved beyond classrooms and coffee bars, thanks to the Satellite Reading Series, a new three-week session featuring graduate students’ work in Washington University’s Writing Program.

Founded by Administrative Assistant to the Writing Program David Schuman and Writer-in-Residence Melanie Fallon, the Series is held in Fort Gondo Compound for the Arts and showcases the writing of students getting their master of fine arts degrees in creative writing. This chance for writers to present their work is not always available and is one of the reasons it was started.

“As writers, you basically have two opportunities to present your work – publish it or read it,” said Schuman. “The advantage of this is that you get out there and see people’s reactions to the work.”

Fallon wanted to make sure these opportunities were worthwhile but not too overwhelming.

“I wanted to keep it light and casual and fun,” she said.

The Series kicked off Saturday with the work of Schuman and Kent Shaw, a lecturer in English at the University. The event was deemed a success, with more than 50 people attending.

“It was far better than anything I could have expected it to be,” said Fallon. “After it was over, David and I kept slapping each other on the back.”

But before the event, Fallon and others didn’t know exactly what to think.

“There was a tentative feel as people arrived,” said Fallon. “Not everyone knew each other. It felt like something different, something more low-key and experimental.”

The idea for the Series started a few years ago when third-year fellows in the Writing Program were presenting their poetry off campus. Schuman and Fallon wanted to involve anyone associated with the Program, including teachers, adjuncts and graduates. Although the series is not for undergraduates specifically, they are encouraged to attend.

“It was the kind of thing where a bunch of people just wanted to get it out,” said Schuman. “There aren’t many opportunities in St. Louis, and it’s a great exposure for writers who are reading. It’s also a more casual atmosphere.”

Schuman described Fort Gondo as having a Brooklyn feel to it, an atmosphere to which many attendees may be unaccustomed.

“It’s something a little different,” said Schuman. “A lot of the time the readings are on campus or in coffee gardens. But that’s one of the nice things about St. Louis. There are lots of places people don’t know.”

Fallon particularly likes the unfinished wood floor and the art show currently on display at Fort Gondo.

“The space itself is really beautiful,” said Fallon. “And the spirit of the event was just great. It was charming and warm and hospitable. It was celebratory, somehow. There was excitement in the air.”

The readings are broken into half-hour sections and take place from 7-8 p.m. As long as the sessions are successful, more will be scheduled.

“Rather than organize one reading with six people, we’ll space it out over several days,” Schuman said. “The venue and the attitude of readers makes for a fun experience, and we hope people will come away hearing stuff they enjoyed.”

Schuman’s and Shaw’s readings went hand in hand on Saturday, according to Fallon, who said the audience seemed really pleased.

“It was nice to have them read together,” said Fallon. “They are very good friends but very different majors. Kent is more metaphysical and David is more American surrealist. Many people never heard them before. They just know them as teachers or church members. Afterwards, they were surprised and delighted.”

The next two readings will be held the next two Saturdays, and there are already ideas for a second series in April, possibly in a larger space down the street from Fort Gondo on Cherokee Street.

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