Hottie Gabe Camacho, 37, can certainly turn a phrase and more than a few heads. Each Friday night, the creator of the Paducah Writers Group hosts a great evening of spoken word at Etcetera Coffeehouse, 320 North 6th St. And this Saturday, April 12, he’s combining words and visual arts for a special “It Takes a Village” exhibit at A.I.R. Studio, 621 Madison St. Artists and art fans welcome! Gabe Camacho, you are cute, cute, cute, no doubt about it!
Stop it!
I can’t! You’re darling! So what up, buttercup?I’ve just been busy with the Paducah Writers Group (PWG). We meet each Friday at Etcetera, around 7 p.m. And we have a Paducah Poetry Jam (PPJ) coming up again in July at the Market House Theatre. Oh, and we just got word that PWG will be performing at this year’s Lowertown Art and Music Festival.
Rock on! Your first poetry jam last fall was super successful.
Yes, and it’s going to be an even bigger event this time around. We’re soliciting more submissions on different topics. From politics to love and comedy…. If there's a message behind your work, we want to hear from you. We learned a lot from the first Paducah Poetry Jam. So we're taking things to the next level on this one. Good times ahead.
How do folks sign up?
They can just email me. And we have a MySpace page and Facebook page.
And you’ve got a great gig coming up this Saturday, April 12, right?Yes, for the first time we’re bringing together the spoken word and visual artists in the community for an exhibit called, “It Takes a Village.” I'll be doing a spoken word piece, songwriter Evita is singing a capella and two of the most creative visual artists around, Teri Moore and Randy Simmons, have put together amazing works that will challenge the hearts and minds of those in attendance.
As a group, we believe that art should inspire people to take action. It’s going to be a very cool and moving event. We expect to get a big turnout for that.
You totally will! And on April 25?
Author and playwright Constance Alexander from Murray is going to be our guest performer at PWG. She’s just published a new book of poetry, Letters From Down Under, so we’re excited to hear her read from it at Etcetera.
You launched the PWG last fall?Yes. And Laura Thornton started blogging about the group, which helped us spread the word. She knew about our goals from the beginning and helped connect me with the right people. I owe her a lot. Been thinking I should send her a fruit basket or something....
You should totally date her!
I believe she’s taken.
Oh, yep, she’s all loved up. She’d be so cute for you, though. Tell us more about PWG!
The group has really taken off. It started, actually, at Vinstock in Murray. Laura got me in touch with the people there. When that place closed, we needed a new home. Etcetera opened its doors for us, and it’s just been growing at an awesome rate. I have to give a shout to the other PWG committee members Alicia Medina, Niaz Khadem, Eric Mobley and Mike Capone. They each have unique gifts and talents that will help us move this group in the right direction.
How many members do you have?
We have 415 members, and growing. It’s so diverse. We’ve had performers as young as 10 and as seasoned as 75.
“Seasoned” at 75. Gabe, you do have a way with words. What’s ahead?
We want to get into publishing, and we’re creating Paducah's first poetry slam team, which will compete with other cities across the country. We have huge talent here in this small town, and those big cities won't know what hit them.
Wow, Gabe, that just rocks. So how did you come up with the idea?
I just wanted to help foster and grow our area's literary and spoken word culture. Although this art form is relatively new to Paducah, it is catching on quickly. Seems like everyone has something to say, and given a supportive audience and a microphone, even the most shy of folks get in on the action.
We’re also incorporating songwriters and short story writers. A lot of cool things are happening. It’s for anyone who has written or who wants to write – or just wants to come and listen.
Tell us about your day job.
I work in promotions at WPSD NewsChannel 6. My job is to inform our viewers throughout the day about stories in our newscasts that will impact their lives and their communities. So I get together with the news team to review important stories. Then we decide which will lead, and I write the topical announcements that you hear throughout the day as well as breaking news and weather updates.
I love my job. I’m able use my writing skills and provide a really important service for the people in our region. .
And you have a little boy!Sebastian is 7. He’s my reason. He’s amazing. Not just because he’s mine. He’s incredibly intelligent, supportive and creative. Plus, I think there may be a little writer in there. On a few occasions I have caught him rhyming words in neat little sentences. When we're not at the skate park, we're rocking out to Guitar Hero or Rock Band. He’s my little man. I love you, Sebastian.
Rock on! How long have you been a writer?
Since I was a kid. I wrote little short stories. Looking back on them, I wonder what I was thinking! But writing allowed me to release the creative person inside. I read and wrote constantly as a kid.
I saw just how words can touch people and make people think differently…the power to inspire. A lot of what I write is social-political. But I've got a healthy balance between rage and romance.
That’s because you’re such a fiery Latin!
Yes, that’s the fire, baby!
So you’re from Puerto Rico, just like Aynex Mercado (right).Yes, and she’s very cool. Very saddened to hear she's leaving us though. I was born in Puerto Rico and grew up in South Florida.
You speak Spanish?
Yes, I’m fluent in Spanish.
How about Puerto Rican cooking?
I cook some pretty damn good stuff. Rice and beans are a staple in Puerto Rican cuisine. I cook everything from chicken to fish. Latin cuisine is really cool because we incorporate stuff from everywhere. Italian, Cuban, American – it all gets thrown in the mix.
So are you just constantly having beautiful women over for dinner?
Ha! No. I’ve been so busy lately with PWG and PPJ! If the right one came along, though, I’d definitely make time. She’d have to be cool with my crazy schedule. It would have to be someone who doesn’t mind the fact that I do have goals and things I want to accomplish. She’s got to be independent, have her own mind and be supportive of what I’m doing.
There are so many cool qualities in different people. It’s hard to boil them all down into one dream girl.
Does she have to be artistic?
She doesn’t have to be, but it helps. Just someone who appreciates art. Somebody who’s honest, good and wild at heart. Oh, and a passion for music is a must.
Someone who enjoys life and who’s happy with their life. That kind of happiness can be very addictive. To have someone by your side who loves life is the most amazing thing. It’s just so cool.
So if you were having a date over for dinner….
Well, I don't have a formula or anything but maybe some good jazz music playing in the background. Not Coltrane – that would be too much. But maybe Fitzgerald. We’d have a glass of Cakebread cabernet while we cook together. I would want her to be part of the process. It’s not like dinner will be ready at a specified time. It’s, hey, hop in.
Would you write her poetry?
I’ve written a few poems for a few beautiful women in my day.
No doubt!
Life in Paducah has been really cool. It’s been a good journey, and there’s more to come. It wouldn’t be a bad thing to have someone to share that journey with. I’m loving Paducah. I think I’m going to stay awhile. So many people are creating this really amazing scene here.
Well, Gabe, you’re on the forefront of that amazing scene. In fact, you’re a pretty amazing scene yourself! Slam on, Gabe Camacho!
