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Artsmith
fosters writers, artists, and scholars from around the world in the creation of new works

Artsmith hosts Writers Workshops, a Poetry Contest, Artist Residency, Readings, and more!

Friday, April 11, 2008

Poetry Month
April is Poetry Month, which is appropriate for us since we recently announced the winners of the Artsmith poetry contest, plus we're getting ready to co-produce A River & Sound Review on May 31st at the Orcas Center with a performance featuring our contest winners, and judge, Marvin Bell.  Jay Bates is the founder and host of this lively literary variety show.  In honor of poetry month, and in eager anticipation of the the show, below is one of my favorite poems by Bell.



These Green-Going-to-Yellow
 
 This year,
I'm raising the emotional ante,
putting my face
in the leaves to be stepped on,
seeing myself among them, that is;
that is, likening
leaf-vein to artery, leaf to flesh,
the passage of a leaf in autumn
to the passage of autumn,
branch-tip and winter spaces
to possibilities, and possibility
to God. Even on East 61st Street
in the blowzy city of New York,
someone has planted a gingko
because it has leaves like fans like hands,
hand-leaves, and sex. Those lovely
Chinese hands on the sidewalks
so far from delicacy
or even, perhaps, another gender of gingko--
do we see them?
No one ever treated us so gently
as these green-going-to-yellow hands
fanned out where we walk.
No one ever fell down so quietly
and lay where we would look
when we were tired or embarrassed,
or so bowed down by humanity
that we had to watch out lest our shoes stumble,
and looked down not to look up
until something looked like parts of people
where we were walking. We have no
experience to make us see the gingko
or any other tree,
and, in our admiration for whatever grows tall
and outlives us,
we look away, or look at the middles of things,
which would not be our way
if we truly thought we were gods.

Marvin Bell

4:23 pm est

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Reading and Open Mic -- March 11, 2008

This week the recipients of the Artsmith Artist Residency are "in residence" at Kangaroo House Bed & Breakfast.  Tonight is an opportunity for the public to meet the artists who hail from across the country, and listen to the writers share their memoir, fiction, non-fiction, and poetry works.  The artists hope to hear some of our local writers during the open mic following the reading.

The residency began last Friday, and the artists have had a very productive week so far.  They've enjoyed the space and time to be creative, as well as exploring Orcas Island.  Excursions to the beach, Moran State Park, Darvill's Bookstore, the Office Cupboard, and many of Orcas' fine restaurants have kept the artists inspired, well supplied, and well fed.  The sun, wind, and rain have also contributed to give those artists who aren't from Orcas a taste of island weather in the spring.

One artist, who comes from Red Wing, Minnesota, was delighted to see flowers and warm temperatures after leaving ten degrees below temperatures last week.  We're grateful she didn't bring Minnesota weather with her!

3:45 pm est

2008.04.01 | 2008.03.01

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Artsmith is a non-profit organization promoting arts education through the following programs:

Residency opportunities for selected writers, artists, and scholars

Literary events for writers, teachers, students, and those who appreciate fine literature

Literary contests to showcase the work of outstanding writers

Exhibition and performance opportunities for local and visiting artists

Opportunities for publishing and/or broadcasting fine literary works

Our 2008 literary series includes a poetry contest, artist residency, plus readings and workshops with Marvin Bell, Judith Kitchen, Stan Sanvel Rubin, Holly Hughes, Tarn Wilson, and Kevin Clark.  In addition, Artsmith will host musical events, open mics, and a live performance of A River and Sound Review on Orcas Island.

Our 2007 literary series included a week-long artist residency,  plus public reading and open mic featuring Kay Mullen, Susan Firghil Park, Jennifer Knight, Tarn Wilson, and Jenelle Tabor.

The 2008 residency occurs the week of March 7-14, and features a spoken word open mic on Tuesday, March 11, at 7 pm.

Mission Statement

To foster writers, artists, and scholars in the creation of new works, and to benefit the local community by providing opportunities to engage with diverse and exemplary writers, artists, and scholars from around the world.

Please get in touch to attend an event or become a member.

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