Mouth and Thistle
The Mouth and Thistle reading series was created at Boise State in 2004 by Adrian Kien and Tyler McMahon. They created Mouth and Thistle because they came from a community with a lot of public reading that involved students and community members. Adrian was a part of a reading series called the Buttered Toast Society and Tyler organized readings at a coffee shop.
When they came to Boise State University, they wanted to create a similar atmosphere in Boise. Much of the motivation to create a reading series came from an absence of this artistic expression in the area. They also found that many of the MFA students at Boise State had never given a public reading. The readings were originally held at the Kulture Klatch (a former restaurant) and then moved to Satchel's Grill in downtown Boise. The location change helped the Mouth and Thistle series grow.
Readings are roughly once a month or every six weeks. It varies depending on the reading schedule of poets that Boise State brings in. Mouth and Thistle readings are held on Saturday evenings off campus so that people outside of the Boise State community can come and enjoy them as well.
One of the other distinct things about Mouth and Thistle is the fliers posted in the Liberal Arts building to advertise when the readings are held. The fliers often incorporated different unique pictures and designs so they catch the eye of those passing by. The Mouth and Thistle series has been handed over to Steffen Brown and April Wolfe (first year MFA students).
705 W. Bannock, Downtown Boise
208-344-3752