It was a peaceful Sunday afternoon at Legacy Park—a perfect setting for the unveiling of Malibu’s first Poetry Stones. Malibu locals and artists gathered for the dedication, which included poetry readings and a special guest live performance by Karma Dealers, Shannon Navarro-Mitchell and Michael Mitchell.
Poet Laureate Ricardo Means Ybarra and Malibu student poet Mandy Mulligan were the first to have poetry stones laid on the path of Legacy Park. Both poets read their poems to the group, alongside a poem by longtime Malibu resident Ann Buxie.
“Ann Buxie is the reason we have a poet laureate program,” poet laureate committee member and Cultural Arts Commission Chair Catherine Malcolm Brickman said. “She and Ellen Cohen came before the Arts Commission to ask if the city would consider having a poet laureate.”
As the program ages, every laureate will have a stone; the stones will be placed throughout Legacy Park, marking the poets’ tenure as the city’s poet laurette.
Artwork by locals Ivo Spirov and Ako Eyong was on display to enrich the artistic experience for those gathered for the occasion. After the dedication, attendees were treated to light refreshments provided by the city.
