Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. School welcomes Turnaround Artist Jacqueline Suskin

Jacqueline Suskin is a writer, performance poet and artist based in Los Angeles. She is the author of two books, the latest entitled Go Ahead & Like It available from Ten Speed Press of Penguin Random House. Known for her ongoing work with a piece she calls “Poem Store,” Suskin composes on-demand poetry on her manual typewriter for customers who choose both a topic and a price in exchange for a unique verse. Poem Store has been her main occupation since 2009 and has taken her around the country with her typewriter in tow.

Suskin has been featured in New York Times, T Magazine, LA Times, Time Out LA, as well as other publications and has performed at events for various organizations including Art Basel, Los Angeles Contemporary, Art of Elysium and SF MOMA. Recently she collaborated with fashion brands Alice + Olivia and Nasty Gal, finding endless ways to bring poetry into the mainstream. Suskin also works as an educator, inspiring students to write poetry, keep journals, and read books. She was recently the visiting artist at La Salle High School and Ball State University, and has taught writing workshops at Wanderlust, Hollywood and Cal Lutheran.

“It’s such an honor to be a part of this program, to have the chance to stand as an example and remind students that they can shape their own reality from their wildest ideas, they can be successful poets, professional craftsmen, full-time creators, dancers and magicians — they can live an imaginative, expressive and healthy life fueled by whatever moves them most.”