With Independence Day behind us, we're now truly in the thick of summer. So stay cool and try to imagine a winter ride on the bus with famous poets. Or perhaps you'd like to consider writing a cool poem yourself—one that could take a year-long ride on the bus as it inspires, delights, or provokes C-Tran riders.
ARTS brief is designed to intrigue you while sharing events and current news related to arts in our region. If you like what you see here, please forward this to your friends and encourage them to join our email list and subscribe.
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Artstra: advancing the arts |
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Poetry Moves submission deadline extended |
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Photo illustration Cam Suttles |
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Get published on the bus!
Once again it's time for a new group of poems to appear on C-Tran buses for the coming year. Poets of all ages living in the Vancouver-Portland region served by C-Tran are invited to submit up to two poems no longer than seven lines each by end of day, August 15. Nine poems will be selected by our esteemed Washington State Poet Laureate Arianne True, who will generously provide a tenth poem of her own for Season 13 of Poetry Moves. All poets selected will receive a $100 honorarium.
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Arianne True to judge poem submissions |
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Arianne True, Washington State Poet Laureate (2023–2025) |
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For Season 13 of Poetry Moves, Artstra is pleased to announce that Washington State Poet Laureate Arianne True will judge submissions for Poetry Moves' upcoming Season 13.
Arianne True is a queer poet and folk artist based in Tacoma, Washington, and from the Choctaw and Chickasaw nations. She grew up in the Seattle writing community, nurtured by YouthSpeaks and the Richard Hugo House, and as an adult, has (to her delight) gotten to return and work with young writers in both spaces. She currently teaches with Writers in the Schools, mentors with the Seattle Youth Poet Laureate program and Hugo House’s Young Writers Cohort and is a guest lecturer at the University of Washington. Arianne was a 2020 Jack Straw Writer, a 2020-21 Hugo Fellow, and is a proud alum of Hedgebrook and of the MFA program at the Institute of American Indian Arts. For Pride 2021, she was part of the Pride Poets Hotline, writing custom poems for strangers over the phone. She was the inaugural Native Artist-in-Residence at Seattle Repertory Theater (2021-22 season) and received the 2022 Vadon Foundation Fellowship for Native Artists from Artist Trust.
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Poetry Moves program manager sought
Artstra is looking for a skilled individual with a passion for poetry to manage the Poetry Moves program.
Responsibilities include all aspects of coordination and promotion of the program: press releases, calls for submissions, communication with jurors for selection of poems, coordination with C-Tran, outsourcing production of the poem cards, and planning a public event to celebrate poetry and to honor poets.
LaRae Zawodny, the director of Poetry Moves, would be delighted to work with someone throughout the process of Season 13 which begins with our call for submissions through August 15. While this is a skilled volunteer position, a modest stipend may be available for qualified individuals. It is a wonderful opportunity with many personal rewards and possibilities. Interested? Please contact LaRae Zawodny.
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Mark your calendar for Open Studios 2023! |
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Pictured above is the studio of artist Jason Litts. |
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2023 Clark County Open Studios artists chosen
The 2023 Clark County Open Studios artists are, Shirley Bishop, Jennifer Blais, Valerie Blessley, Barbara Bureker, Stephanie Burton, Ann Cavanaugh, Wendy Davis,Tamara Dinius, Kathleen Duncan, Adrienne Eliades, LesleyAnne Ezelle, Ann Fleming, Connie Ford, Anne Gilmour, Gregory Gorham, Jeff Gracz, Don Gray, Vicki Green, Mary Grout, Rosemary Herr, Larry Holt, Sarah Hunter, Pamela Sue Johnson, Jessica Joner, Jody Katopothis, Michael Kay, Julie Koch, Jenn Lamb, Annika Larman, Bill Leigh, Jason Litts, Jill Mayberg, Morgan McColum, Christopher Mooney, Sandy Moore, David Mylin, Lynn Nadal, Liz Pike, Natasha Ramras, Terri Shinners, Betsy Soifer, Ken Spurlock, Lois Steiner, Steven Stoltenberg, Zhanna Tsytsyn, Kim Wessa, Patty White, Jennifer Williams, Jackie Wood, Michelle Wright, Cathie Joy Young.
Congratulations to all participating artists! We look forward to a rich and diverse Open Studios Tour on November 4–5, 2023. This year's tour is guaranteed to be inspiring with many new artists participating.
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Uplift our kids
Artstra is partnering with Southwest Washington Center for the Arts for a one day event on July 11th, 2023 called Uplift. Creative Relief Clark County is a program funded by Artstra, providing arts supplies, project ideas, and instruction to communities with limited access to the tools of creativity. Uplift is a summer day of giving where 125 elementary children will have the chance to shop with a buddy for upcoming school needs at a local Walmart and participate in a collaborative art project with take home art kits provided by Artstra. Open Studios artist Pamela Sue Johnson along with local art therapist Sarah Rush will lead the children through a hands on art experience to create a work of art to be on display later this summer. Thanks to the support of Blick Art Materials each child will receive an art kit to continue their creative exploration at home.
You can make a difference in the lives of the children participating by signing up to be a shopping buddy. For more information click here.
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Get out this evening and support the arts |
Vancouver's downtown is home to an array of gallery spaces and art-centric businesses ready to welcome you during this month's First Friday Art Walk. Each month Vancouver's Downtown Association (VDA) and the Port of Vancouver sponsor this First Friday event.
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Open Mic Poetry Reading Featuring Clark County Authors Joann Renee Boswell and DC Klein |
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Poets Joann Renee Boswell (left) and DC Klein (right) |
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Come to an open mic poetry afternoon on July 30, 1–3, on the patio at the historic Howard House at 750 Anderson Street in Vancouver. Everyone in the community is invited to share a poem or just listen. The Historic Trust and Printed Matter Vancouver present featured readings by two Clark County poets, Joann Renee Boswell and D.C. Klein. Bring along a picnic, blanket, or folding chair.
Joann Renee Boswell is a poet, photographer, teacher, director, mystic, mother who lives in Camas, WA with her husband (a Quaker minister) and her three young children. Boswell is author of Cosmic Pockets (2020) and Meta-Verse! published in 2023. DC Klein has been published in Residual Believers and Body Fluids, among others. His first chapbook Half a Martyr, was self-published in 2021.
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Ghost Town Poetry Open Mic: Josh Gaines |
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This month's Ghost Town Open Mic is Thursday, July 13 at 7 p.m. featuring poet Josh Gaines.
Gaines ditched a promising military career to write books, run a profitless press, and build blanket forts with his daughter. His poetry and short fiction appears in numerous anthologies and journals, as well as in his own books of poetry and flash fiction: Cigarette Sonatas and little bones. His latest chapbook is Day of the New Windows. Hosted by Printed Matter Vancouver's Christopher Luna and Morgan Paige.
108 E Evergreen Blvd, Vancouver
$5 suggested donation
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Arts around the community |
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Your voice is needed
Inspire Washington is partnering with the Washington State Department of Commerce in developing a statewide strategic plan that aims to improve Washington's creative economy and grow the creative economy in rural and underserved parts of the state.
As part of the strategic planning process, a survey is being administered to creative individuals, nonprofits, and businesses across the state. This survey will inform the strategic plan and its priorities to support the creative sector of Washington by providing critical information about your work and/or your organization. If you are employed by a business or organization, this survey should be completed by a representative who can speak on behalf of the entire organization.
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Four ways to support our cause |
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1- Donate
2- Declutter
Give usable items to Nifty and Thrifty at 6607 E. Mill Plain Blvd. And when those items sell, the money is split 50/50 with participating nonprofits. Just let them know your items are donated to benefit Artstra.
3- Shop
Link your Fred Meyer Rewards Card to Artstra using our code #84120. Just by using your rewards card number, and at no cost to you, you'll help Artstra earn a quarterly donation from Fred Meyer every time you shop.
4- Volunteer
Artstra is an all-volunteer organization. We'd love to talk with you if you have specialized skills, especially in fundraising, outreach, and marketing.
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About Artstra
As an arts advocacy independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Artstra’s vision is to champion a robust arts community in southwest Washington. Artstra’s mission is to be a catalyst for building out the arts infrastructure in the region with the objective of creating a cohesive and united arts community. Learn more at artstra.org.
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