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Christopher Luna by Alisha Jucevic for the Columbian

Christopher Luna by Alisha Jucevic for the Columbian
Christopher Luna by Alisha Jucevic for the Columbian

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Photos and audio from a special viewing party in Vancouver, WA for Tom DiCillo's new documentary about the Doors, "When You're Strange"


On Friday, July 30, 2010 members of Vancouver, WA's burgeoning poetry community gathered in the home I share with fellow poet Toni Partington to celebrate the release of Tom DiCillo's thoroughly entertaining new documentary about The Doors entitled "When You're Strange."


The screening was preceded by an open mic during which participants read Jim Morrison's poetry. I explained that while Jim Morrison had never received his due as a poet, it was his spoken word recording with The Doors, "An American Prayer," that had shown me how potent the combination of poetry and music could be. I have been drawn to Morrsion's poetry for years because he believed in the power that words have to liberate people, and took the poet's potential role as a shaman seriously.


Toni and I would like to thank Anni Becker for her marvelous photos of the event, and Rich Lindsay for recording, editing, and posting the podcast of the open mic. Finally, I would like to thank the Doors for their music, which continues to move and inspire me, and for allowing us to host this party.

Also in attendance that day: Richard and Debra Marshall (my sister and brother-in-law, residents of Syracuse, NY who were visiting the Northwest for the first time), Lori and Jake Loranger, Angelo Luna, Mokii, Bernadette, Jenney Pauer, and Kyle David Congdon.


Visit the Doors on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/thedoors

To see the full set of pictures Anni took, please visit:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kermitlover/sets/72157624620345622/

If you would like to see more of Anni's photography, or to purchase a print, visit her online store: http://annibecker.zenfolio.com/p371565088

To hear the podcast of the poetry reading, visit:
http://soundcloud.com/dj-manrich/jim-morrison-poetry-reading-when-youre-strange-viewing-party-7-30-10

OR click here:
Jim Morrison Poetry Reading, When You're Strange Viewing Party, 7/30/10 by DJ ManRich

Rich Lindsay is a local radio host whose programs often include the spoken word: http://uglyradio.wordpress.com
Here are some more of the fabulous photos that Anni Becker took of the event:

Christopher Luna

Toni Partington

Bernadette

Mokii

Lori Loranger

Kyle David Congdon

Mokii

Christopher Luna

Flowers in a vase made by Jack Loranger

Toni prepared an array of delicious snacks

Teak

Kyle with his buddies Angelo and Jake

Monday, August 2, 2010

THE WORK Poetry Newsletter August 2010

THE WORK POETRY NEWSLETTER
Compiled and Edited by Christopher Luna

Christopher reads from his copy of "Leaves of Grass"
Photo by Anni Becker

Many thanks to everyone who visited “To Be Named and Other Works of Poetic License” at Angst Gallery last month. We are also grateful to those who attended the various readings that Toni, David, and I gave in support of the new book. If you’d like to see the book covers, go to: http://www.tobenamed-artandpoetry.blogspot.com/. And of course, get in touch with us if you’d like to order one of these one-of-a-kind art books. Finally, I’d like to express my gratitude to Leah Jackson for showcasing our work, and for making Angst a place to find both poetry as well as great art.


Cover to Cover regulars: you still have until the end of this month to submit poems for Printed Matter Vancouver’s Cover to Cover Books open mic poetry anthology. See http://www.printedmattervanc.wordpress.com/ for submission guidelines.

Don’t forget to join us for this month’s reading:


Open Mic Poetry
hosted by Christopher Luna
7:00pm Thursday, August 12, 2010
& every second Thursday
Cover to Cover Books
1817 Main Street, Vancouver
McLoughlin Blvd. & Main Street
“always all ages and uncensored”
For more info call 360-514-0358
or 360-910-1066

Sheryl Clough is a poet, essayist, editor, and aspiring publisher. She lives on Whidbey Island, where she finds a rich supply of writing material in the native plants, animals and wild weather.

Sheryl received her MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Alaska Fairbanks, where she designed and taught UAF’s first writing course linked to environmental literature. Her poems, stories and essays have appeared in Spindrift, Explorations, Storyboard, Sierra, Travelers Tales, Soundings Review and others. Sheryl won the Grand Prize in the 2008 Spirit of Writing competition for her poem “Upon Hearing That the Last Native Eyak Speaker Has Died.” Sheryl’s sea kayaking adventure story “Icebergs in My Dreams” was published in the Seal Press anthology Solo: On Her Own Adventure ($15), now in its third printing.

Recent travels in Ireland have inspired the creation of Sheryl’s chapbook-in-progress, In the Hollow of the Millstone; she will read selections from this book as well as other works from her travels and meditations on nature. Sheryl will also have copies of Soundings Review for sale ($6.50 current issue; $5.00 past issues).

Kauai Flora
#1

Petals pale as moonlight floating on surf --
Lavender throats funnel your fragrance.
Under trade winds lifting palm fringes high,
Marled bark scales your winter limbs.
Essence of royals, blooms woven as leis.
Ringed round your throat, gold creeps
Inward, a circle of sun beating time
Against an ever-crashing tide.

#2
How does it happen, this
Insane riot of color, this orange
Blaze flung face forward
Into a world pale as washed sand?

So little time; such a strong story
Can only be conveyed by this:
Understanding Orange, the rebel
Statement shouted toward the sun.

- Sheryl Clough



Toni and I will be reading at the Figures of Speech Series at 100th Monkey Studio in Portland on August 18. I am honored to have been asked to participate in this great event that has quickly become one of Portland’s best. Figures of Speech MCs Steve and Constance will also be leading a workshop at Barnes and Noble Vancouver on August 10 and hosting this year’s Oregon/Washington Poets Picnic. See items 2 and 4 below for more details.

Have a great summer,
Christopher

THE WORK August 2010
TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Judith Arcana at Milepost 5 August 6 (Portland, OR)
2. Poetry workshop/submission party/open mic with Steve Williams, Constance Hall, and Shawn Sorensen August 10 (Barnes and Noble Vancouver)
3. Auburn Good Ol' Days: Poets on Parade and Other Literary Adventures August 14 and 15 (Auburn, WA)
4. Figures of Speech announcements from Steve Williams
5. Kori Sayer at Paper Tiger Coffee open mic August 19
6. Interview with Laura Winter

SUBMISSION CALLS

1.
From Judith Arcana

Hello everybody .......

As some of you know, I'm the Artist-in-Residence at Milepost5 this summer, living and writing in one of the community's loft spaces - and behaving as if this residency were farther from home than 45 blocks.

And - just as if I were in Pt Reyes, CA or Basin, MT or Taos, NM - the folks who've given me this extraordinary gift of writing time&space are having a shindig (an open house to ballyhoo their rental studio spaces - opening this fall) and they've asked me to read a bit ...... so of course I will.

You all should know about everything going on out here anyway - make this your time to find out:

August 6, 2010 ...... Milepost5 at 900 NE 81st in Portland ......

The event goes from 4 to 9; I'll read around 8pm .....

There'll be food, music, lots of art to wander around and look at, all ages are welcome ......

Here's the url from their website:
http://www.milepostfive.com/event/studios-building-open-house-and-reception

.......... allbest, ja

To be hopeful in bad times is not just foolishly romantic. It is based on the fact that human history is a history not only of cruelty but also of compassion, sacrifice, courage, kindness. --- Howard Zinn

VISIT: http://www.juditharcana.com/

2.
This is a Barnes & Noble Vancouver invitation!

Picky Consumer of Poetry,

Have we got a treat for you. Due to the friendly nature of our 2nd Tuesdays Poetry Group, due to the talent level of those who attend, due to the need for more free poetry workshops in our area...

We’re announcing a poetry workshop/submission party for our Tuesday, August 10th, 7 pm Poetry Group. The workshop will be lead by none other that the “Grand Couple of Portland Poetry”, Constance Hall and Steve Williams. The description words frequently used are “charming, energetic, encouraging and lovely,” and that’s just Constance.

After they lead a writing exercise from the book The Practice of Poetry by Robin Behn and Chase Twichell, I will lead a submission party featuring the brand spankin’ new 2011 Poet’s Market. Highlighted will be at least five literary journals and contests that are open to submissions right now and are good opportunities for publishing or winning that are neither too hard nor too easy. I will have extra information on hand about these journals and the two above-mentioned books for sale along with the title our last Poetry Group author Maxine Scates recommended - The Poet’s Companion by Kim Addonizio and Dorianne Laux.

Please consider bringing copies of any poems you feel are more or less ready to submit. The last segment of our Poetry Group will be an open mic - after reading something the group may have some good ideas for you as to which editors/publishers to send it to.

Consider bringing a friend - and yourself - to this unique, free workshop event.

Get your creative and submission juices flowing.

Very Truly Yours,
Shawn

You’re wondering about the great poets we'll host in Sept. and Oct.? Wonder no more: http://store-locator.barnesandnoble.com/store/2679

3.
Subject: Auburn Good Ol' Days!!! POETS on Parade!!!
Date: Wed, 30 Jun 2010 21:15:57 -0400
From: mcbreenpost@aol.com

Auburn Good Ol' Days
Poets on Parade and Other Literary Adventures
sponsored by Striped Water Poets
Saturday August 14 and Sunday August 15
in the Auburn Ave. Theater

FREE!!!

our book fair/small press fair table is available both days to poets and writers to share and sell their works

the set up time is 9 am both days in the theater lobby

on stage Saturday will be readings from assorted local authors

but Sunday.... IS POETRY DAY!!!!

our MC this year is Chris Jarmick

the schedule for Sunday is:

10-12 short forms workshop presented by Michael Dylan Welch

12-1 featured poets: Special Mystery Guest Poet Q, Lisa Schmidt, Marjorie Rommel

1-2 featured poets: Don Kentop, Lorraine Healy, Paul Nelson

2-3 featured poets: Michael Welch, Anita Boyle, Elizabeth Austen

3-5 open mic poetry contest! three prizes include poetic goodie baskets!

(also, it is not too late to donate poetic goodies to the baskets)

come one
come all
its FREE
so enjoy!!!!

AUBURN GOOD OL’ DAYS FEATURES August 13, 14, 15, 2010

FRIDAY

~ Goodtime All School Reunion and Community BBQ
~ Tournament of Talent – auditions open to all ages & talents
Winners will perform through out the weekend!
~ 5K Fun Run, Walk, Stroll or Roll – Register now!

SATURDAY
~ Grand Parade – ‘69 & older vehicles - Register now!
~ Honey Bucket Brigade Outhouse Building Contest - Register now!
~ Critters in Costume – a parade of pets – Register now!
~ Street Dance with “The Fabulous Murphtones”
~ Model Boat and Shipbuilders demo – near City Hall

SAT & SUN

~ Juried Adult and Youth Art Show - Register now!
~ Adventures in Literature – Authors, Book Fair & Poets on Parade – Register Now!

SUNDAY ~ Good Ol’ Show & Shine Classic Car Show (Pre-80) – Register now!

VENDORS WELCOME! - REGISTER NOW!

Food ~ Commercial ~ Non-Profit ~ Arts & Crafts ~ Young Un’s Square

Please log on to our website for applications, registration and information.

www.auburngoodoldays.com or Email: office@auburngoodoldays.com

253.939.3389 OR FAX 253.939.1568

4.
from steve williams slw1057@hotmail.com

Hello everyone

Some good stuff this month.

Our critique group, open to all is coming soon this month, August 8th at 5 p.m. over at Looking Glass bookstore. Bring yourself, and 10 copies of a poem you'd like some feedback on.

Next in line is Figures of Speech reading series August 18th at the 100th Monkey. 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. with open mic (remember 2 page max.).

Toni Partington and Christopher Luna
Photo by Anni Becker

This month is a love story extraordinaire with Christopher Luna and Toni Partington sharing everything including our stage (more like a corner with a microphone, but go with it).

or more info, you can always check out http://www.figuresofspeechpdx.wordpress.com/

Next in line is our annual Oregon/Washington poet's picnic. This year it is our turn (Oregon poets) to host so we've reserved the shelter at Overlook Park on N. Interstate at Fremont (behind Kaiser Hospital) from 2:30 to 8:30 p.m on August 29. We will have readings by all you wonderful poets plus burgers and dogs. Pls bring something to sit on, something to drink, your poems, food for you, food for the potluck table. We'll have some poetry activities. (how do you play horseshoes with poetry? And what does a poetic three-legged race look like? hmmm). The fun gets going around 3 p.m. and food around 4 p.m.--- stay as long as you like, or at least till you get tired of our silly faces :).

Constance and I went to see Vern Rutsala at Broadway books last week and it was a happening event. 70 people crowded into a space meant for 30. We also are happy to confirm Vern will be reading for figures of speech in December with Paulann Peterson. Needless to say, we would like to avoid another event with 30 chairs and 70 people for that night, so we're working on a solution. Stay tuned...

Those of you who made it to Constance reading with Penelope Scambly Schott (thank you Penelope for asking Constance to join you), may want to know that the final poem Constance read "While my Mother Rots in Memory Care at Regency Park." and features a can open and black diamonds was accepted by Rattle. In fact, the acceptance email came through the same night as the reading. Constance came home to a nice surprise in her inbox.

All for now, hope to see you all soon...

warmly
s and c

5.
From Daniel Nelson

Hey now wordsmiths,

Great gratitude to all who attended or promoted our July event. A plethora of thoughtful, thought provoking, entertaining and enlightening poetry was declaimed , led by the masterful verse of Eileen Elliott, who caused a gaggle of geese to trod my grave. Thank you Eileen.

For our next 3rd Thursday Poetry Night @ Paper Tiger, August 19 at 7pm, I am pleased to announce the appearance of Kori Sayer. Kori Sayer is a writer/poet currently working in Vancouver. Her works include participation in the "365 Days of Angst" and "The Diet of Wolves and Elephants" series',as well as her chapbook "Dreams, Umbrage, Filth" and her newest completed work "Dr. Turpentine". Dr. Turpentine focuses on the roller-coaster love stories of the people and events in her life that taught her to "let it out" in the most constructive way she could: on paper.She is also currently collaborating with other local poets and friends on a anthology of strangetimes in a close to heart place called "Little Creatures".

For those of you who haven't made it to one of our shindigs we're at Paper Tiger, 703 Grand Blvd in Vancouver, between Evergreen and Mill Plain about a mile east of I-5. Open mic before and after our feature and great coffee and other beverages to sip while you listen. Hope to see and hear you there.

Dan Nelson
360-334-1129 or
nelsondaniel59@yahoo.com

"I tell you, David,
poetry ought to be shocking,
and poets ought to be dangerous people.
In whatever country, honest feeling is always shocking and dangerous."
-Andrew Glaze, from A Letter to David Matzke

6.
From Laura Winter

Hello everyone,

Here is a link to an interview for a program called Back Page. Jody Seay interviews me about my writing and my book, Coming Here to be Alone. The program number is #199. If you have time, check out some of the other interviews as we live in a state rich with creative and intellectual talent.

Thanks so much,
Laura

http://oregonstate.edu/media/filter/?tags=Back


Laura Winter
winterlaura@earthlink.net

SUBMISSION CALLS

Date: Wed, 14 Jul 2010 16:44:24 +0000
From: allenbraden@comcast.net
Subject: poetry contest: Sycamore Review

2010 WABASH PRIZE FOR POETRY

Final Judge: JANE HIRSHFIELD

http://www.sycamorereview.com/contest/

First Prize: $1000 and winning entry published in Winter/Spring 2011 issue

GUIDELINES FOR SUBMISSIONS

Deadline: October 1, 2010

1. For each submission, send up to three poems.

2. A $15 reading fee (check or money order) payable to Sycamore Review must accompany each submission. The reading fee includes a copy of the prize issue.

3. Additional poems (beyond the initial three) may be included. Increase the reading fee $5 for each additional poem.

4. Simultaneous submissions are acceptable only if Sycamore Review is notified immediately upon acceptance elsewhere.

5. All entries must be typed and must include a cover letter with the author's name and contact information (mailing address, telephone number, and email address) as well as the titles of all poems submitted. Information that identifies the author should NOT appear on the manuscript itself.

6. Manuscript pages should be numbered and should include the title of the piece.

7. Please include a self-addressed, stamped postcard if you wish to be notified upon receipt of your manuscript.

8. Manuscripts will not be returned. Winners will be announced by Dec. 30, 2010. For information on winners and runners-up, please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope with entry.

9. All contest submissions will be considered for regular inclusion in Sycamore Review.

10. All poems must be previously unpublished.

11. Questions may be directed to (replace (at) with @)

Send 2010 Wabash Prize for Poetry submissions and reading fee to:

2010 Wabash Prize for Poetry
Sycamore Review
Department of English
500 Oval Drive
Purdue University
West Lafayette , IN 47907