How are you celebrating National Poetry Month? We hope part of your plans include our FREE Synergies/Still North event, “Land Beyond Landscape: Honoring Alaskan Poetry” tomorrow night (Saturday, April 16) at 7 pm at the MTS Gallery, 3142 Mountain View Drive. Poets John Morgan and Kelsea Habecker are featured, and there will be a first-ever Anchorage screening of a John Haines documentary in progress. Many thanks to our sponsors, the Alaska Poetry League and Fireside Books; Fireside will have Alaska poetry books available for purchase.
Among the most fun parts of our totally fun Write-a-thon last week was that several young writers, encouraged by our own Jen Walker, attended and wrote for 4.9 hours. Now we’ve got something special for young writers, ages 10-14. Accomplished writers Hannah Moderow, Lee Post, and Stefanie Tatalias will be teaching in our “kids-only” Raven Words Summer Youth Writing Workshops beginning July 18. Registration is now open and space is limited, with early bird discounts until May 15.
We did a little shifting of times for our “Memoir Weekend with Kim Rich” of June 24-27 so that no one has to take time off from work to attend. Remember, too, that for everyone who wants to write funny, visiting author Bruce Hale will be teaching a short workshop on June 16 just for you.
Authors, have you signed up for the Anchorage School District author database yet? There’s a link to the form in our sidebar. This is a great way to encourage young writers by acquainting them with what authors do.
Tonight, Friday April 15th, at 8pm, Snow Goose Theater presents Acoustic North: Live and Local Words and Music, featuring a showcase of Anchorage talent. Performers include Mike Burwell, Marian Call, Spiff Chambers, Corinna Delgado, Kima Hamilton, Emily Kurn, Amy Lou, Liz Malys, Melissa Mitchell, and Jared Wood. Tickets: $15 general admission; $10 student/senior/military/starving artist. Tickets available at mariancall.com
Also tonight, Friday, April 15th, there will be a special exhibit and benefit for the Wrangell Mountains Center at MTS Gallery titled “Wrangellia: The Art of Breakup,” and featuring a new series of artwork by photographer Sarah Davies and work from many of Alaska’s outstanding visual and craft artists. Admission is free and kids welcome. For information, info@wrangells.org or call 907 244 7717.
Also tonight, April 15th, at 7pm, the UAF Visiting Writers series presents Dawn Raffel; Schaible Auditorium, UAF, Fairbanks. Dawn Raffel‘s most recent book is Further Adventures in the Restless Universe
.
.And Friday April 15th is also the deadline for the 29th Annual Statewide Anchorage Daily News Creative Writing Contest. Only electronic submissions will be accepted, no later than 5.30pm. Entry forms are here and questions can be sent to creativewritingcontest@adn.com
At 6pm on Friday April 15th, there will be a Poetry Slam and Open Mic at The Canvas, 223 Seward St, Juneau. Stage winner takes home $15; $5 suggested donation. All ages and abilities welcome.
…And Friday April 15th, 7pm, is also the deadline for Fireside Books‘ Art and Literature Contest for St George’s Day. It’s open to all ages: all forms of writing, and two- and three-dimensional visual artwork, are welcome. Prizes announced April 23rd.
Saturday, April 16th, is Kids Day. From 1-4pm, the Chugiak-Eagle River Branch Library presents a Game Gala for families, friends and individuals: a fantastic assortment of new games, old favorites, unusual games and more. For all ages: younger children to be accompanied by a responsible adult.
The Anchorage Public Library will have a booth from 10-4pm, at the Dena’ina Center as part of Kids Day, also Saturday April 16th. Help create a library banner and find out more about the Summer Reading Celebration, “One World, Many Stories.”
On Monday, April 18th, from 5-7pm, the UAA Campus Bookstore presents Col. David Fitz-Enz to discuss “The Mere Matter of Marching: Thomas Jefferson, the War of 1812 and the Taking of Canada.”
On Tuesday April 19th, from 5-7pm, the UAA Campus Bookstore presents Indigenous Elder Teachings on Science, Technology and Other Issues for the 21st Century with Larry Merculieff, founder of Seven Generations Consulting.
On Wednesday, April 20th, at 1pm, Joe Selmont and the UAA Student Union present a series of poetry recitations at the Student Union Cafeteria. Students, Staff and Faculty are all invited to participate.
Also on Wednesday, April 20th, at 5pm, the UAA Campus Bookstore presents a special program on The Influence of Theodore Roethke: “I Teach out of Love.” The presentation will include readings of poems written by Roethke’s students; a segment of a play, “First Class,” by David Wagoner that shows Roethke in action; and the short film “To the Moon: A Tribute to Theodore Roethke” by MFA candidate Sandra Kleven.
And at 7pm on Wednesday April 20th, it’s time for Poetry Parley at Out North, 3800 Debarr Rd, Anchorage, featuring the works of a famous poet and of a local poet.
On Thursday April 21st, at 4pm, Alaska Junior Theater and the Tall Stories Theatre Company present a reading of Room on the Broom
by Julia Donaldson. Further information: akjt.org
by Julia Donaldson. Further information: akjt.orgOn Thursday April 21st, from 5-7pm, the UAA Campus Bookstore presents Michihiro Ama on “Immigrants to the Pure Land: The Modernization, Acculturation and Globalization of Shin Buddhism, 1898-1941.
Also on Thursday, April 21st, at 7pm, there will be a Writer’s Seminar with instructor Larry Kaniut at the YWCA on 324 East 5th Ave, Anchorage. Presented by the Alaska Writers Guild, this is a two hour course on the writing process, from getting started to getting published. $45, $60 on the door.
What happened to the tradition of the Russian literary greats in the past 30 years, and what can contemporary Russian literature teach us about writing? In the fall semester, UAA will be offering a new class, “Survey of Contemporary Russian Literature.” The course will focus on the edgy and intense prose, poetry and drama that took shape after the collapse of the Soviet Union, in the absence of the unitary, dogmatic worldview promoted by the state. Using a small-group format and a discussion-based approach, students will explore contemporary Russian authors’ search for national, ethnic and gender identity through literature. Olga Livshin, a poet and UAA professor of Russian, teaches the class. Registration is now open.
The deadline for F Magazine‘s first Statewide Writing Competition is approaching, on April 24th. You may submit Poetry (up to three pages), or Prose (Short Fiction, Essays, Creative Non-Fiction) (1,000-5,000 words). Send entries to fwritingcomp@gmail.com or to
F Magazine
3142 Mountain View Drive
Anchorage, AK 99501
There is a $5 reading fee: pay on the website fhideout.org under “donation,” or enclose a check payable to F Magazine.
Hi,
Just a heads-up: There are still some openings for my class "Forms of Feeling: Getting Started Writing Poems" tomorrow afternoon, the 16th, 1-4, at the 49 Writers Writing Center.
John Morgan