TEEN DREAM: Shae Krispinsky, lead singer of Y Los Dos Pistoles, is among the writers reading from old journals tonight at the Local 662. Credit: Daniel Veintimilla

TEEN DREAM: Shae Krispinsky, lead singer of Y Los Dos Pistoles, is among the writers reading from old journals tonight at the Local 662. Credit: Daniel Veintimilla

Remember those emo days of adolescence? You thought you were deeper than everyone, basking in feelings of heartbreak, persecution and alienation as you regurgitated it all in your diary or journal? 

God forbid you revisit those passages.
Tonight a group of brave writers will traverse back to the heady terrain of their teenage days for the storytelling event Teenage Wasteland at the Local 662. Writers Sorella Andersen, Elizabeth Augustine, Cole Bellamy, Shae Krispinsky, Kat Lynes, Maureen McDole, Samira Obeid, Jeffrey Skatzka,Tommy Slade, Lynn Waddell, Cathy Wos and Craig Young will air their pubescent dirty laundry; unedited works that include poems, diaries and love letters, as well as original works inspired by the angst and isolation of adolescence. There will also be live music from Slade and the Wasters, Y Los Dos Pistoles, and Tom's Ragdoll. All proceeds to benefit Keep St. Pete Lit. Tonight at 7 p.m. $7. Click here for event on facebook.com.

HEAVY METTLE: Artist Pedro Reyes and his artillery-turned-musical instruments — to be played in a performance tonight at USF. Credit: COURTESY OF PEDRO REYES
In Tampa, Amendment to the Amendment/(under)stand your ground is touted as "legislative theater and musical performances," presented by USF School of Music faculty and students playing instruments crafted by artist Pedro Reyes, whose firearms — which had been confiscated and rendered useless by the Mexican army and then converted by Reyes into musical instruments — will be used in tonight's performance.

Reyes exhibit, Imagine, 2012, will be on view at USF CAM as part of CAM@25: Social Engagement Jan. 17- March 7, an exhibition celebrating University of South Florida's Contemporary Art Museum's 25th anniversary. Read more about it here.

Reyes and theater professor Dora Arreola will engage students from both the University and the Sulphur Springs-based organization Community Stepping Stones in a series of workshops to develop the two-act play exploring the interpretation of gun legislation, specifically the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution of the United States and Florida’s Stand Your Ground law.Amendment event is free but tickets are required; takes place 7 p.m. at USF Theatre 2, Tampa. Contact USF College of The Arts Box Office at 813-974-2323 to reserve your spot.

This article appears in Jan 23-29, 2014.