It began in 2007 as a simple pachanga that allowed 17 students and professors from The University of Texas-Pan American to recite their works of poetry one evening.
And in just three short years, Daniel Garcia Ordaz, an MFA graduate student at UTPA, with the partnership of Brenda Nettles Rojas and Vanessa Brown, has turned the simple affair into a full-fledged international poetry festival accompanied by the publication of an annual anthology of works from artists all over the world.
“Boundless: The Rio Grande Valley International Poetry Festival Anthology,” is once again calling for submissions, for its third edition. The March 21 deadline is followed by the days-long Rio Grande Valley International Poetry Festival that commences right after publication April 22.
Poets need not be registered for the festival or be in attendance in order to submit for publication, something Garcia Ordaz says is an isolated instance among most similar festivals.
“But we let local folks know the publication is international [to encourage them] to participate,” said Garcia Ordaz, who is from WHERE. “We started this so all [interested] local poets could get published and get noticed.”
Vanessa Brown, creative director of RGVIPF, embellished that thought, saying that, “Boundless” is “one of the more open anthologies, because we don’t require our poets to attend the festival. This still gives them the excitement” and self-satisfaction to see their name in print, regardless.
This year’s participants will have the honor of being published in a bound edition complete with an ISBN [International Standard Book Number].
“It will assist in the distribution of the anthology and allow libraries and bookstores to collect them” for all to see, Garcia Ordaz said.
Although its beginnings are relatively recent, “Boundless,” sponsored by the non-profit organization Art That Heals, Inc., has already accomplished its mission of promoting cultural literacy and creating venues for talent that come from the RGV.
Since the festival and book itself are international, Garcia Ordaz and his fellow founders take pride in how the publication “gives folks from around the world the chance to read the poetry and [about] the culture of the Valley and vice-versa.”
“They influence us and we influence them,” said Garcia Ordaz, who teaches English at McAllen Memorial High School.
However unrealistic it may seem for foreigners to travel to attend the festival, their involvement in the anthology has increased over the years.
“It’s gotten bigger as far as contributions. Each year the book has grown by ten pages filled with local and foreign poets’ work,” said Brown, who is UIL Director for La Joya ISD. “We’ve had submissions from Europe (London), Mexico; this year we have one from India.”
Poets from Germany and Australia have expressed interest in the past.
Whether one is a poet seeking a publisher or just wants to recite poetry come April, the RGVIPF and “Boundless” are perfect opportunities. For more information contact Garcia Ordaz at 358-7211.
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