Each month, Literary Arts staff will round up news, events, and more happening in Portland, and beyond. Let us know if you have any events or news to share.
EVENTS
Discuss Good Talk (Multnomah County Library)
Wednesday, February 23, from 3:00–4:00 p.m.
Free to attend | Register here
Part of the 2022 Everybody Reads, Multnomah County Library’s annual community reading project. Join MCL for a facilitated conversation around Mira Jacob’s Good Talk: A Memoir in Conversations. The gathering will involve a short reading followed by discussion.
The Link Between Us: How Technology Can Create (and Impede) Opportunity (Oregon Humanities)
Wednesday, February 23, from 6:00–8:30 p.m.
Free to attend | Register here
Beyond a pandemic marked by ubiquitous digitization and sharpened digital divides, beyond our current demonization and idolization of technology — what will technology look like moving forward? What will be the distinction between “real life” and online? What do we lose from not being in person—and what do we gain? Participants will gain a more profound understanding of what their relationship is with technology and how they can use it to facilitate meaningful relationships. They will come away with knowledge about what technological equity means, how socioeconomic status affects technology usage, and how software accessibility intersects with power and privilege. Using this knowledge, participants will be able to identify and employ strategies for furthering equitable community change through technology.
2022 Portland Jazz Festival
Through February 26 | Buy tickets
The 2022 Biamp PDX Jazz Festival includes artists spanning the full breadth of the genre; artists who are driving the evolution of jazz figure prominently alongside GRAMMY® Award-Winning masters.
Garrett Hongo in Conversation With Luis Alberto Urrea (Powell’s Books)
Monday, February 28, at 5:00 p.m.
Free to attend | Register here
Garrett Hongo’s passion for audio dates back to the Empire 398 turntable his father paired with a Dynakit tube amplifier in their modest tract home in Los Angeles in the early 1960s. But his adult quest begins in the CD-changer era, as he seeks out speakers and amps both powerful and refined enough to honor the top notes of the greatest opera sopranos. In recounting this search, he describes a journey of identity where meaning, fulfillment, and even liberation were often most available to him through music and its astonishingly varied delivery systems. In The Perfect Sound: A Memoir in Stereo (Pantheon), Hongo writes about the sound of surf being his first music as a kid in Hawaiʻi, about doo-wop and soul reaching out to him while growing up among Black and Asian classmates in LA, about Rilke and Joni Mitchell as the twin poets of his adolescence, and about feeling the pulse of John Coltrane’s jazz and the rhythmic chords of Billy Joel’s piano from his car radio while driving the freeways as a young man trying to become a poet. Hongo will be joined in conversation by Luis Alberto Urrea, author of The House of Broken Angels and The Hummingbird’s Daughter.
In My Shoes (My Word is Bond)
Saturdays through February 29 throughout Portland
Word is Bond presents “In My Shoes,” a storytelling campaign in celebration of Black History Month that features nine walking tours in neighborhoods across Portland led by the community ambassadors of Word is Bond. The tours are designed to highlight the voices, dreams, and experiences of rising Black men as well as the neighborhoods in which they live. Community members and law enforcement officers are encouraged to come to listen, learn, and reflect on the stories of young Black men that are not often told or listened to. The walking tours are curated by Word is Bond’s community ambassadors (youth leaders who have participated in Word is Bond’s programs).
Conversation Project: Housing and Belonging (Oregon Humanities + Central Oregon Community College Visiting Scholar Program)
Tuesday, March 1, at 4:00 p.m.
Free to attend | Register here
Housing and homelessness is a visible and divisive issue in local media, in politics, and across different communities within our state. Many of us were experiencing housing instability and economic uncertainty even during the “boom” times before the current crisis. This conversation will explore common assumptions and perspectives about the experience of houselessness and seek to answer the question, How do we decide who “belongs” in our community?
Think Equity, Think Comics (Multnomah County Library)
Tuesday, March 1, from 6:00–7:30 p.m.
Free to attend | Register here
Part of the 2022 Everybody Reads, Multnomah County Library’s annual community reading project. Come participate in an exploration of comics and learn to provide representational and reflective content for our communities with confidence.
Jai Ho Dance Party—at your place! (Multnomah County Library)
Wednesday, March 2, from 6:00–7:00 p.m.
Free to attend | Register here
Part of the 2022 Everybody Reads, Multnomah County Library’s annual community reading project. Dust off your dancing shoes for this this joyful celebration of movement and dance led by the dynamic DJ Prashant. This house party will be held online. All abilities are welcome.
Conversation Project: The Meaning of Climate Change (Oregon Humanities)
Friday, March 4, at 4:00 p.m.
Free to attend | Register here
We live in a time of tremendous transformation as the reality of climate change and its effects on our communities become more apparent with every passing year. What is the meaning of this extraordinary moment in human history? The meanings we construct about climate change affect how we think about it, our feelings about it, and our willingness to take action. Portland State University instructor David Osborn leads a discussion exploring different meanings of climate change and how our understanding of meaning relates to action.
32nd Annual Cascade Festival of African Cinema (Portland Community College)
Through March 5 | Hybrid virtual/in-person festival | Free and open to the public
PCC can’t wait to celebrate their 32nd year of showing “Africa through African lenses” with a curated collection of films by African Directors from over 18 nations, live interviews with filmmakers, community conversations, and more! This year they will come back together in person while maintaining our connections over distance virtually. They will have four in-person events held at the Hollywood and Clinton Street Theaters. All films (with one exception) will also be available to watch online. The Cascade Festival of African Films shows us Africa through the eyes of Africans, rather than a vision of Africa packaged for Western viewers. The films celebrate Africa’s achievements, expose its failures, and reveal possibilities for a hopeful future. Although the films cannot represent an entire continent, we hope to encourage American viewers to become interested in and study African cultures.
Bob Odenkirk in Conversation With Cheryl Strayed (Powell’s Books)
Monday, March 7, at 7:30 p.m.
In-person at Revolution Hall, 1300 SE Stark St #203, Portland, OR
$38 ticket (comes with copy of Odenkirk’s Comedy Comedy Comedy Drama)
In his hilarious, heartfelt new memoir, Comedy Comedy Comedy Drama (Random House), Bob Odenkirk, the star of Mr. Show, Breaking Bad, and Better Call Saul opens up about the highs and lows of showbiz, his cult status as a comedy writer, and what it’s like to reinvent himself as an action film ass-kicker at 50. Odenkirk will be joined in conversation by Cheryl Strayed, bestselling author of Wild. Proof of COVID vaccination or negative COVID test required for entry.
Schoenfeldt Distinguished Writers Series: Yaa Gyasi (University of Portland)
Wednesday, March 9, at 7:00 p.m.
University of Portland Buckley Center Auditorium | 5000 N Willamette Blvd, Portland, OR
Both in-person and virtual | Advanced registration required
The Schoenfeldt Distinguished Visiting Writers Series is hosting Yaa Gyasi for a lecture on her book, Transcedent Kingdom, this year’s ReadUP selection at University of Portland. Question and answer from the live audience and book signing to follow. In-person attendees must present proof of COVID-19 vaccination at the door. In-person attendees must present proof of COVID-19 vaccination or recent negative test at the door. Masks required. You can listen to her talk at Portland Arts & Lectures from 2016 here!
Everybody Reads 2022: Mira Jacob (Multnomah County Library)
Thursday, March 10, from 7:30–9:00 p.m.
Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall | Tickets start at $18
Multnomah County Library and Literary Arts present an evening with Mira Jacob as the culminating event of the 2022 Everybody Reads, Multnomah County Library’s annual community reading project.
Consider This with David F. Walker and Douglas Wolk (Oregon Humanities)
Wednesday, March 16, at 7:00 p.m.
Alberta Rose Theatre, 3000 NE Alberta St, Portland, OR | $15 tickets
No-cost tickets available
Comic books, and especially the superhero comics of Marvel and DC, have embodied the hopes and fantasies of many Americans for nearly a century, and the myriad media arising from them have come to comprise a uniquely American mythology. David F. Walker, a comic book writer, filmmaker, journalist, and educator, speaks with Douglas Wolk, pop culture critic and author. Writer Courtenay Hameister will moderate the program.
A Ticketed Virtual Event with Jacqueline Winspear (Broadway Books)
Monday, March 28, at 5:30 p.m.
Broadway Books is thrilled to announce a virtual event with Jacqueline Winspear for her latest Maisie Dobbs book (#17), A Sunlit Weapon! The event will take place on Zoom on Monday, March 28th, at 5:30 p.m. Purchasing a copy of A Sunlit Weapon ($27.99, publishing March 22) entitles you to attend this virtual event with Jacqueline Winspear. After you’ve purchased the book from Broadway Books and provided your email address, they will automatically register you for the Zoom event and will send you an email a few days prior to the event containing a link to the event and instructions on how to access it. Your copy of the book will be available for shipping or pick-up on March 22nd, so you should have it in time for the event.
RESOURCES & OPPORTUNITIES FOR ARTISTS AND WRITERS
Artist Registry (Oregon Arts Commission)
As a tool for sharing funding opportunities, the Oregon Arts Commission partnered with The Ford Family Foundation to create the Oregon Artist Registry. Professional artists are strongly encouraged to sign up for the registry by completing a brief survey about themselves and their artistic practice.The goal is to reach and connect with as many Oregon artists as possible, including those who haven’t previously accessed funding programs. Read the full release.
Call for Guest Speakers (Salem Art Association + Bush Barn Art Center)
Reviewed on a rolling basis
In honor of their centennial year, Salem Art Association and the Bush Barn Art Center introduce a new event called “Arts in Our Lives”—a series of presentations promoting an appreciation for creativity in the visual, literary, and performing arts. “Arts in Our Lives” is accepting applications for individual or group presentations. An academic degree is not necessary and there are no age restrictions. Stipends are available. Email David Wilson, Gallery Director, at david@SalemArt.org with a letter of introduction, a one-page proposal on your topic, a resume or CV, and a list of three references.
Soapstone Winter/Spring Study Groups
Study Group on Deborah Levy’s memoir trilogy: Things I Don’t Want to Know, The Cost of Living, and Real Estate, led by Natalie Serber
Saturdays April 2–May 14, from 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. PST | via Zoom
The Poetry Box Chapbook Prize 2022 (The Poetry Box)
Deadline: February 28
The Poetry Box welcomes work from both established an emerging writers to submit to their 2022 Chapbook Prize, intended to honor a collection of original poetry.. They request the chapbooks should have some unifying thread and yet each poem should be strong enough to stand on its own merit. The first place prize is $500 honorarium upon publication plus 10 copies of the book. The winning chapbook will be sent to all entrants.
Dear Stranger: Beyond (Oregon Humanities)
Deadline: February 28
Oregon Humanities is inviting Oregonians to write about what lies beyond the here and now in the next round of Dear Stranger, their letter-exchange project. When you think of the future, what do you see? Think about yourself, your life, your surroundings, the world in general: What are your hopes, your dreams? What are your fears? Do you see parts of the past, or something completely new—or perhaps both? When you write to Dear Stranger, your letter will be swapped with one from another writer. They will get your letter; you will get theirs.
Call for Submissions: Spring Issue (3Elements Literary Review)
Deadline: February 28
3Elements Literary Review is accepting submissions for their spring issue. The three elements for the current submission period are: Thursday, Pendulum, and Quilt.
Call for Submissions: “Care” (Oregon Humanities)
Deadline: March 3
Oregon Humanities is looking for brief stories or reflections (400 words or less) on providing and receiving care: Who or what do you care for, and who cares for you? Is caring a burden, a privilege, or something in between? Contributors to Posts receive a $25 gift card to a local bookstore or store of their preference. They’re also accepting art and photos to consider for the cover of “Care.” Please familiarize yourself with the publication and follow the guidelines for submitting on their website. They are most interested in works by Oregon-based artists. Compensation is $300 for the chosen image.
Hugo Fellowship (Hugo House)
Deadline: March 31
The Hugo Fellowship program provides education, space, and resources for up to six emerging writers in the Seattle area per year to support the development of new work. Applicants are selected for the program based on the excellence of their writing and ability to complete the proposed project. Projects may include (but are not limited to) completing the first draft of a novel, developing and workshopping a solo play, or creating a manuscript of poetry.
First Pages Prize
Submission window: March 1–April 10 / 24
Open to un-agented writers worldwide, the First Pages Prize invites writers across the globe to enter their first five pages (1,250 words) of a longer work of fiction or creative nonfiction for a chance to win cash awards, a tailored edit, and an agent consultation. The prize judge this year is author Justin Torres. In four years, this prize has awarded over $25,000 in prizes to 27 writers in seven countries.
2022 Waterston Desert Writing Prize (High Desert Museum)
Deadline: May 1
The mission of the Waterston Desert Writing Prize is to strengthen and support the literary arts and humanities in the High Desert region through recognition of literary excellence in nonfiction writing about desert landscapes, through community interaction with the winning authors of the annual prize, and presentations and programs that take place in association with the Prize. They began accepting submissions for the 2022 Waterston Desert Writing Prize on Saturday, January 1, 2022. The submission deadline is Sunday, May 1, 2022.
FOR KIDS/ TEENS
Songwriting: The MC Workshop with Vursatyl (The Bodecker Foundation Winter Workshops)
Mondays and Wednesdays, February 21–March 7, from 5:00–6:30 p.m.
Optional in-person sessions Saturdays and Sundays Feb 26 & 27 and March 5 & 6, from 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m., Bodecker Foundation, 2360 NW Quimby Street
Hybrid Format | Free to attend | Register here
Led by professional artists, musicians, designers, and writers, the Bodecker Foundation’s FREE multidisciplinary workshops are designed to empower creative youth to imagine and achieve their artistic, educational, and professional dreams. The MC Workshop was created to support lyric writing, delivery, and performance for Hip Hop music enthusiasts. Students will work on wordplay exercises and techniques to elevate their lyrical style and skills, then collaborate to write and record an original track in Halfling Studio, our state-of-the-art recording facility. With first-hand insights on how to master your craft from a 40-year veteran of Hip Hop culture, this one is not be missed. Beatmakers welcome. No experience necessary.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show (Oregon Children’s Theatre)
February 26-April 24 | Tickets here
Eric Carle fans won’t want to miss this popular performance from Oregon Children’s Theatre. Colorful and kinetic, The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show captures all the charm of Carle’s original tales and illustrations, while conveying simple messages about the value of creativity, belonging, and growth.
Industrial Design with Cia Mooney (The Bodecker Foundation Winter Workshops)
Mondays and Wednesdays, February 28–March 9, from 5:00–6:30 p.m.
Optional in-person sessions Saturdays March 5 and 12, from 2:00–5:00 p.m., Bodecker Foundation, 2360 NW Quimby Street
Hybrid Format | Free to attend | Register here
Led by professional artists, musicians, designers, and writers, the Bodecker Foundation’s FREE multidisciplinary workshops are designed to empower creative youth to imagine and achieve their artistic, educational, and professional dreams. In this rapid sprint workshop, you’ll learn the fundamentals of industrial design from research to idea discovery to sketching and making a model. And you will strive to create zero waste in your design while we define the product’s regenerative lifecycle throughout the process. In the end, you will make an object that is part of the workshop’s story about a sustainable future and the kind of world we want to create.
Game Design: Creating Experiences Will Hindmarch (The Bodecker Foundation Winter Workshops)
Tuesdays and Thursdays, March 1–17, from 5:00–6:30 p.m.
Free to attend | Group size: 12 | Register here
Led by professional artists, musicians, designers, and writers, the Bodecker Foundation’s FREE multidisciplinary workshops are designed to empower creative youth to imagine and achieve their artistic, educational, and professional dreams. In this virtual workshop we’ll look at how games combine different kinds of skills and media into singular, playable experiences. By talking with working game designers, developers, and artists, we’ll learn not only how games are made today but imagine what can be created in the future. As part of this six-session workshop, students will create a design document outlining a game of any medium (board, role playing, video, etc.) by thinking through the ways their idea combines visuals, sound, content, and game systems to create a whole experience.
I Matter Poetry Contest (National Youth Foundation)
Deadline: July 23, 2022
Students in grade K–12 are invited to submit original poetry or art creation on the topic of Black Lives Matter. The contest is open to residents of the United States, as well as to international students. The winning entry will be posted on their social media pages by September 2022 (@NYFUSA).
Makerspace Minikits Available at All Multnomah County Libraries
Through Summer 2022
Makerspace minikits are STEAM-based activities in a bag, free to pick up at any Multnomah County library beginning Dec. 11. The minikits are designed for teens but are appropriate for ages 8+ with assistance. Kits will be available through Summer 2022. Makerspace programming is made possible by gifts to The Library Foundation.
IN THE NEWS
12 Highly Anticipated Book Festivals in 2022 (Book Riot)
This list includes the 2022 Portland Book Festival, called “a wonderful experience.”
SMART Reading-Children’s Book Bank merger will expand literacy services for Oregon children (The Oregonian)
Local literacy nonprofits SMART Reading and Children’s Book Bank are merging!
Oregon justice receives American Bar’s excellence award (Portland Business Journal)
Congratulations to Literary Arts Board Member Justice Adrienne Nelson for receiving the American Bar’s 2022 Spirit of Excellence Award for working to promote a more racially diverse legal profession!
WINTER READING
52 Weekly Challenges to Up Your Reading Life in 2022 (Book Riot)
Celebrating Black Voices: 28 New Works of Fiction and Nonfiction (Powell’s Books)
Catch up with these 10 picture books by Oregon authors and illustrators (The Oregonian)
