S. Bryan Medina

Spoken Word Artist

Madera, CA
California US

Author's Bio

S. Bryan Medina and his poetry has graced stages in Fresno Ca, the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and Kansas City. Bryan founded the Inner Ear Open Mic, The Beat Down Slam, and Poetry and Pints Free Writer’s Workshop as a way to free poetry from the confines of academic institutions making it accessible to all. Medina, a long-time art activist, has been awarded two City of Fresno Commendations, including the 2014 Fresno Arts Council Horizon Award, for contributions to the rich artistic and cultural heritage in Fresno. He is the author of More than Soil, Less than Sand (2017 HBE Publishing) and his work has appeared in journals such as Flies, Cockroaches, and Poets, In the Grove, The San Joaquin Review, Jubliee, and Invisible Memoirs among others. In  2017, Medina was named Fresno County's third Poet Laureate serving a distinguished 2-year term reaching out to the community featuring readings, school and university visits, writing workshops, and meetings with business and political leaders throughout the state of California. 
Bryan is a Desert Shield, Desert Storm/Gulf War veteran and a graduate of Fresno Pacific University.

Publications & Prizes

Performances:
Art Under the Stars, Fresno Art Musem - Fresno, CA (2008)
,
Black Light Poetry, Palomino’s Restaurant - Fresno, CA (2008)
,
Inner Ear Poetry Jam, Full Circle Brewing Co. - Fresno, CA (2008)
,
Not in my Name, Fresno State University - Fresno, CA (2008)
,
Beat Down Poetry Slam, The Starline - Fresno, CA (2007)
,
Fresno Art Musem - Fresno, CA (2007)
,
FFILMM Festival, Tower Theater - Fresno, CA (2006)
,
Intersection for the Arts - San Francisco, CA (2002)

Personal Favorites

Favorite authors: 
Etheridge Knight, Saul Williams, Gil Scott-Heron, James Baldwin, Maya Angelou, Sonia Sanchez, Nikki Giovanni, Ai, Suheir Hammad, Taylor Mali, Beau Sia, Amiri Baraka, Jessica Care-Moore, and Sekou Sundiata.
What I'm reading now: 
Olio by Tyehimba Jess

More Information

Gives readings: 
Yes
Travels for readings: 
Yes
Identifies as: 
Mixed-Race
Prefers to work with: 
Any
Fluent in: 
English
Born in: 
Denver, CO
Colorado
Raised in: 
Fresno , CA
California
Please note: All information in the Directory is provided by the listed writers or their representatives.
Last update: Sep 06, 2023