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The Desert Split Open Mic local reading series, featuring feminist, queer, or otherwise radical writers, celebrates its five-year anniversary tonight (Sunday, January 21st), at Joshua Tree’s Beatnik Lounge from 6-8PM.
When Desert Split Open founder and host Susan Rukeyser moved to Joshua Tree right before her 50th birthday, she got the serenity she came for. Yet, even as its writing community embraced her, she witnessed a silence where a conversation was missing.
“I was quite freaked out about the political landscape and appalled at my own diminishing rights, and I wanted us to be talking about it. And as a writer who believes in the power of communication to solve problems, I knew I couldn’t just not talk about it, and thought there must be other people here who felt the same way and maybe didn’t know how to start. It’s so overwhelming at times. I wanted to create a safe place for people to read work that might be considered controversial or discouraged in other places.”
Rukeyser says it started with the feminist anthology she edited and published in 2018, its title even too controversial to mention here. But its response was vast, leading Rukeyser to start her Desert Split Open publishing imprint and her decision to “keep the conversation going.”
“When I went out to promote the anthology, I saw it was having more resonance with people than I expected; lasting longer and meaning more than I thought it would. So, I wasn’t ready to end the conversation. I wanted to expand it.”
“And the other part of it was just practical. I’m a writer and I’m an introvert, so I need to practice two things: writing all the time—I try to have new work ready for every Desert Split Open Mic—and two, I need to practice getting up in front of a microphone. So these are two of the biggest things I wanted to provide.”
Now five years into its run, Desert Split Open Mic has evolved considerably, covering various local venues like from Space Cowboy Books, The Station, to its current location at the Beatnik Lounge. Rukeyser has observed each of these locations having its own unique community, so attendees are always shifting.
“And Joshua Tree itself has evolved so much over these last five years, so who we see in the audience is shifting as well. There’s a lot of new writers in town, and a lot of writers who have been here a while who are starting to see there’s a community (for them).”
Desert Split Open also morphs into a showcase to feature traveling authors, like last spring’s in-conversation with Seattle’s Justine Chan and local author Annie Connole at the Firehouse, which Rukeyser cites as one highlight of the last five years.
“I was really excited about that because it felt like a further progression of the open mic, an expansion that drew even more people in to share and amplify this kind of work. It was nice for me to step back and see what was possible.”
Rukeyser recalls last fall’s Banned Book Event at Space Cowboy Books as another highlight.
“I looked around and I thought, ‘Wow, this is really what a community event is for—gathering people together.’ And there is a lot of people here who care very much about this war on books happening, which is really more of a war on LGBTQ+ people.”
When asked where she’d like to see Desert Split Open Mic go from here, Rukeyser’s said she’s determined to keep it going as long as there is interest:
“It’s sort of an ongoing need if you’re a practicing writer submitting to places. It’s very helpful to be able to read your work, to see and hear people’s responses. I do a lot of revision after I read anything at the open mic, no matter how polished I think it is.”
Rukeyser says she wants to keep her eyes on expanding Desert Split Open, especially as a place to continue hosting the traveling feminist, queer, or otherwise radical writer.
“Two years ago we featured Kim Vodicka, a writer from Memphis who was visiting through town, and I’d love to host writers from L.A., San Diego, wherever… if they plan on coming through Joshua Tree and they write this kind of stuff, I’d love for them to be in touch.”
The Desert Split Open Mic’s Five-Year Anniversary event is free and open to the public tonight from 6-8PM at Joshua Tree’s Beatnik Lounge.
