Edge - Boston, Theatre Features

Alix Olson, 26, can best be described as a modern-day wandering minstrel, traveling the country and spreading her message along with a sprinkling of magic dust. With Women’s History Month in March and Queer Month in April, this road poet is going to be pretty busy these next couple of months touring the college circuit. But she’s not complaining.

“I love performing at colleges because students are open and have a lot of comments,” says Olson. “Students are the ones who are going to be going out and doing the work that needs to be done, so its good to see them soaking in ideas.”

Olson is an activist poet and spoken word artist, and while most activists’ stands are best described in the negative — she is against the war, gender oppression and intolerance — Olson herself is best described in the positive. Her message is one of compassion (the dictionary definition kind, not the co-opted conservative version) and communication.

“I want to facilitate a message of compassion,” says Olson. “It’s a better way to live. It’s a message of global compassion. That’s more a feeling than a statement. My main thought is that the vast majority of us have more in common than in difference. We have a lot of power if we all work together — sort of a patchwork majority.” When asked about her mission, she hesitates.

“I wouldn’t say I have a mission,” she pauses, “If I did I would say it would be to nurture — to get people to speak their minds. To share my heart and mind and to encourage people to do the same. To foster dialog and discussion.”

A native of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, she graduated from Wesleyan University in Connecticut with a degree in Political Science, cut her poetry teeth in New York City at the Nuyorican Poet Café’s poetry slams, and currently lives in Northampton, Mass. Whew! So, how did she get from Poli Sci to poetry/spoken word as a career/lifestyle choice?

“It wasn’t a choice, it kinda happened. I knew I wanted to do something both political and creative,” says Olson. Her message found an audience in college campuses and she also had friends in the folk music circuit, so the gigs started coming. Olson soon found herself touring 200 days a year. The demanding schedule caught up with her; in addition, some family health issues forced her to take some time off. The unexpected bonus was that she was able to rethink and refocus her priorities, which include spending more quality time with family and friends.

“I slowed it down. I moved to Northampton, and I enjoy being home more than before. I also started doing other projects, including some journalism,” Olson explains. But despite these changes, Olson has no plans of stopping her performing.

“I love performing,” Olson says. Even following the collective sigh that echoed through liberal circles following the recent election, her enthusiasm has not dampened. “I really believe in words and communicating, and this is a way for me to communicate. There are so many people doing good works in so many places. As long as they are doing their work, I have to keep doing mine,” says Olson, pointing out how lucky she is to be able to do what she does. “I’m aware that there are other jobs out there that are more difficult and more meaningful, so I’m aware I have a very privileged job.”

[Alix Olson will be at Club Passim in Harvard Square, Cambridge, on Saturday, March 12, “It’s my third time there. I love the space,” she says. She also has a new DVD out, “Left Lane,” that can be purchased on her website, www.AlixOlson.com, or at select feminist/queer book/music stores.]

E. Jeanne Harnois, entertainment writer for EDGE and freelance feature writer, can be reached at JHarnois@EdgeBoston.com.

On the Road with Poet Alix Olson