Gwendolyn Morgan, poetry & art

“¿Te llegan las palabras que te escribo?”

• Octavio Quintanilla, 2018-2020 San Antonio Poet Laureate

What a gift to have an AWP breakfast gathering with a few poet laureates from around the country convened by Kim Stafford and Claudia Castro Luna last week.    And the gift of discovering many new books of poets to read, new resources, poetas and compañeras de escritura.

Claudia Castro Luna, Washington State Poet Laureate, will be at the Vancouver Community Library, Thursday, April 11, 2019 and again for a community Taller de Poesía, Spanish Poetry Workshop, Saturday, June 29, 2019.

Community collaborations I am working on are highlighted in an interview by Jackie Genis in this month’s Arts Brief:

Gwendolyn Morgan’s vision as Clark County’s newest Poet Laureate is to continue to lift up unheard voices

Happy Spring Equinox! “and all rain is holy water, she says” is included in the Spring 2019 Issue of The Wayfarer, which was released this morning and available on line. https://thewayfarer.homeboundpublications.com/

You may order a Print Issue: https://homeboundpublications.com/product/the-wayfarer-spring-2019/

 

“Faith of olive-green wings
a small red circle on her crown,
kwee! kwee! kwee!
an insistent call and tapping
at my studio window as
she flies from the Western Red Cedar
back and forth from the tree to my window…”

from “An urgent message from Ruby-crowned Kinglet” Gwendolyn Morgan ©
Snowy Owls, Egrets & Unexpected Graces (Pawcatuck, Homebound Publications, 2016), p. 49

photo by Laure W. Nesh©

“Each day I wander through the landscape of spirit: this evening painting…”            “Window, Winter” Gwendolyn Morgan, Crow Feathers, Red Ochre, Green Tea   (Pawcatuck, Homebound Publications, 2013) p. 8

With gratitude to Erin Dengerink and Don Gray for their inspiration at Art at the CAVE Gallery, Vancouver, this month “seeking beauty and hope in a complicated world.”   Thanks to Erin for gifting us at First Friday with “art balm” and “divining cards,” (as in photo) softening the skin of creativity.     May this year bring spaciousness for painting, reading, writing poetry, creating new art work in the company of many poets and writers, painters and artists, musicians and dancers, dreamers and creatives.

https://homeboundpublications.com/

©Gwendolyn Morgan 2018 “Dreaming the Moon into the Sky” 

Que la paz y belleza de la estación brille, brille en tu corazon.

 

Image of Kindness Digital Broadside

“Our planet is in crisis. As readers, publishers, and writers, we must ask ourselves: In this pivotal moment, what is our role?

Here: Poems for the Planet answers this question through poetry and a practical guide to activism, inviting readers to get inspired—literally, take in a new breath—and then take action.”  Copper Canyon Press    https://www.coppercanyonpress.org/

“Keep Looking up,” Dazzle and Llama friends at Clark County Open Studio, Woolen Farms, Washougal

First Nations Heritage Month

Portland Book Festival highlight: New Poets of Native Nations

Literary Arts notes: “the new anthology New Poets of Native Nations, with Trevino L. Brings Plenty, Laura Da’, Layli Long Soldier, and editor Heid E. Erdrich. New Poets of Native Nations gathers poets of diverse ages, styles, languages, and tribal affiliations to present the extraordinary range and power of new Native poetry. “  Recommend reading this anthology and individual books by the poets included in this collection.

https://www.graywolfpress.org/books/new-poets-native-nations

Circle of Peace: Women in Islam, WSU, VancouverDr. Tejani-Butt, PhD,  Professor at the University of Sciences in Philadelphia.  Remembering our Muslim sisters and brothers who honor the teachings of the Q’uran in a sacred way not often noted in the mainstream.

First Nations Heritage Month, Gala with Gentle Thunder and Traveling Day Society  http://www.1gentlethunder.com/

Saturday, November 17, 2018 Ridgefield Youth Arts Month benefit at Barnes & Noble Bookstore, Vancouver. I read a few poems as the Clark County Poet Laureate after a young poet Jessie from RHS.  May we support our emerging youth artists, dancers, makers, musicians, poets & writers here and collaborative efforts in the arts, sharing our gifts together.

Wild Arts Festival, Audubon authors  http://wildartsfestival.org/authors

Interfaith Coalition of Southwest Washington Thanksgiving Eve service https://www.columbian.com/news/2018/dec/19/local-religious-leaders-host-fourth-annual-interfaith-service/

 

Dazzle & Llama Friends at Woolen Farm

Clark County 2018 Open Studio #50 with thanks to Artist Marilyn Amber Smith

Hospitality is a value of Clark County, and having artists from around the county open their studios was a gift… and there’ nothing like having Llama friends walk through open french doors to welcome us and eat out of our hands.  Dazzle the llama is poetry in motion.

 

I am grateful to be among other poets and writers as the featured reader on Tuesday, October 30, 2018 at the monthly 7pm Open Mic at Barnes & Noble Vancouver, Washington.

Clark County Arts Commissioner LaRae Zawodny will also speak. With much gratitude for all of the Clark County Arts Commission volunteer members and Printed Matter Vancouver for their support of the arts in our region.

Barnes & Noble Vancouver Open Mic Co-host Danielle’s recent interview:https://bluemoone.wordpress.com/2018/10/26/gwendolyn-morgan-clark-countys-newest-poet-laureate/

Please find the store’s event page for the October 30 evening:https://stores.barnesandnoble.com/event/9780061959050-0

Thank you to the Clark County Arts Commission!   Sunday, September 30th afternoon celebration  at the Vancouver Community Library, 901 C Street, Vancouver, Washington, as I step into a new community role this Autumn.

https://www.columbian.com/news/2018/sep/30/clark-countys-new-poet-laureate-provides-spiritual-care-at-legacy-salmon-creek/

https://www.cvtv.org/vid_link/27121

https://www.clark.wa.gov/home/arts-commission-host-celebration-new-clark-county-poet-laureate