Date: Wed, 29 Apr 1998 10:07:53 -0700
From: Eros Publishing <aubrey@wolfenet.com>
Subject: Press Release

Seattle Spoken Word Artists Torque (AKA Shane Luitjens) Releases Second 
Chapbook

	One of the Northwest's youngest, most powerful voices emerges with his
second book. Seattle spoken word artist Shane Luitjens, AKA Torque,
continues to bring his unique performances to the page with Blood For Wings,
Part One, a powerful collection of poems centering around medicine and drugs.
	"We have a particular logic in America when it comes to the chemical
alteration of our body," according to Luitjens. "From the impact of AIDS to
common caffeine, from aspirin to new narcotics on the market, how we think
of using natural and manufactured drugs is distinctly American. This is not
a 'don't do it' book. This is a 'how we understand it' book."
	Luitjens is well-known throughout the West Coast for intense, unique
readings that combine the skills of poetry with strength of performance.
"One reason why his performances are so successful may be the fact that he
is working from fabulous material," wrote Andrea Thompson, author of Fire
Belly and Vancouver Slam Champion. "He hits hard and close to the heart with
poetry the explores issues of gender, discrimination and the celebration of
basic human dignity in a style that is both innovative and well-crafted.
Shane Luitjens represents the new face of post-modern poetics, and is
helping to lead the evolution of live spoken word."  As a member of the 1997
Seattle Slam Team and producer of several regular  readings in the Seattle
area, Luitjens has been active in encouraging  people of all ages to embrace
the experimental artform of spoken word.
	Blood For Wings, Part One, follows the success of his first chapbook Every
Ineloquency, a collection of poems from 1997. The Seattle Gay news writes,
"[Every Ineloquency] is the new flavor of the Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual movement,
showing us where our future is, and what it looks like, feels like and
tastes like. One heck of a ride, not for the timid or faint of heart, but
definitely for those who want to know both the poetry of the young and the
landscape of young Queers."
 "I write on particular themes for a period of time and Every Ineloquency 
was selected piece from my first four," Luitjens said of his work. "For a 
few months, I'll focus on religion, voyeurism, hyper-masculinity, race, or, 
in the case of Blood For Wings, Part One, medicine. Right now, I am at work
on my next project on race called Cottonmouth which deals with white
supremacist discourse."
	While much of Luitjens' material does not focus on being queer, it is a
subject that does not stay in the closet. "Being queer is important to me,"
said Luitjens, "but I believe that it is one facet of my life. An important
part, mind you, but I think that straight, queer, whoever you are - you need
to be thinking reflectively about your actions, your identity, and 
your responsibilities. None of us are above criticism, history, or 
reflection."
	Luitjens' nickname even demonstrates this. Nicknamed Torque years ago in
college, Luitjens now uses the same nickname on occasion. "In physics terms,
it is the power of rotation. I prefer to call it the power of 
revolution. As a DJ and a poet, I found the figurative meaning important to 
me. Also, 'torque' comes from the Latin 'torquere', which is also  the root 
word for 'queer'. It has multiple meanings, but don't we all?"

For more information, please contact Torque Creations at (206) 907-5081 or
at torque@guiware.com.

Every Ineloquency and Blood For Wings, Part One are available at 
Raverbooks, Red & Black Books, the Globe Café, Beyond the Closet Books, Left
Bank Books in Seattle, Secondhand Prose, Port Gardner Bay Books, and Pilchuk
Books in Everett, Reading Frenzy in Portland, and A Different Light Books in
San Francisco.


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