Each month, Literary Arts staff will round up news, events, and more happening in Portland, and beyond. Let us know in the form below the blog if you have any events or news to share.
EVENTS
Slamlandia
Thursday, June 15, from 7:00–9:00 p.m. | Literary Arts, 925 SW Washington, Portland, OR
Slamlandia is a poetry open mic and slam that meets every month. This mic provides a creative, fun, and welcoming space for all literary communities in Portland. We encourage poets new and old to come share their work. We strive towards a safer space for poets to read their own poetry, witness others, and participate in community. This event takes place in-person. Proof of Covid-19 vaccine or a negative PCR test is required for admittance. Please see our Covid-19 guidelines for in-person events at Literary Arts. Hosted by Julia Gaskill.
Freadom Festival (Portland’s Second Annual Black Book Festival)
Monday, June 19, from 12:00–6:00 p.m. | Peninsula Park, 700 N Rosa Parks Way, Portland, OR
Community Book Swap – Book Drive to PDX Books to Prisoners – Multnomah County Library Card Sign ups – Children’s Reading Hour (with Jelani Memory & A Kids Book About) – Author Talks with local Black authors Kim Johnson and Kesha Ajose Fisher with Q&A and Book Signings – Zine Book Making Craft Station – Literary Information Booths- Raffles – Giveaways and MORE!
Oregon Literary Fellowship Information Session (Literary Arts)
Wednesday, June 21, from 3:00–4:00 p.m. | Online via Zoom | Register here
Questions about applying to this year’s Oregon Literary Fellowships? Join us at this information session! Drop-in anytime between 3:00-4:00 p.m. Please contact Jessica Meza-Torres (jessica@literary-arts.org) if you have any questions.
Opening Night: Poetry in Music (Chamber Music Northwest)
Saturday, June 24, at 8:00 p.m. | In person at Reed College, Kaul Auditorium, 3203 SE Woodstock Blvd, Portland, OR | Tickets
Sunday, June 25, at 8:00 p.m. | In person at Portland State University, Lincoln Performance Hall, 1620 SW Park Ave, Portland, OR | Tickets
Poetry and music, two of the most evocative art forms, are often intertwined to create an interdisciplinary experience called art song. German, English, and Persian poetry are the inspirations for songs by Johannes Brahms and a world premiere by CMNW Protégé composer Kian Ravaei. Both composers added obligato string instruments to add color to the traditional voice and piano in art songs. The program is capped by one of Brahms’s grandest and most glorious works of all, his second Piano Quartet. The opening night will also feature poet Kim Stafford.
Schubert & Fauré: Masters of Lyricism (Chamber Music Northwest)
Thursday, June 29, at 8:00 p.m. | In person at Patricia Reser Center for the Arts, 12625 SW Crescent St., Beaverton, OR | Tickets
Franz Schubert, the quintessential composer of art song, wrote more than 600 songs. The exquisite mezzo-soprano Fleur Barron and Artistic Director Gloria Chien will perform selections from Schubert’s epic final song cycle Schwanengesang (Swan Song) that expresses his desire and longing for lost love. Schubert’s Fantasy from the same final chapter of his life, is simultaneously one of the most virtuosic and sublime works for violin and piano. In his impassioned Piano Quartet, Gabriel Fauré incorporated his love of song into his dreamy instrumental melodies. This event will also feature poet Irene Cooper.
Voices of Schumann, Schubert & Brahms (Chamber Music Northwest)
Sunday, July 2, at 4:00 p.m. | In person at Portland State University, Lincoln Performance Hall, 1620 SW Park Ave, Portland, OR | Tickets
Monday, July 3, at 8:00 p.m. | In person at Reed College, Kaul Auditorium, 3203 SE Woodstock Blvd, Portland, OR | Tickets
On this program of four master composers of song, Metropolitan Opera star soprano Susanna Phillips performs works by Franz Schubert and William Bolcom that feature instrumental virtuosity as well. Bolcom’s moving song cycle, Let Evening Come, is set to poems by Maya Angelou, Emily Dickinson, and Jane Kenyon. Schubert’s The Shepherd on the Rock and Johannes Brahms’s dramatic trio, two of the greatest clarinet chamber masterpieces, are given voice by legendary CMNW Artistic Director Emeritus David Shifrin. This event also features poet Dr. S. Renee Mitchell.
FREE Young Artist Institute Final Ensemble Showcase (Chamber Music Northwest)
Friday, July 7, at 7:00 p.m. | In person at University of Portland’s Pilot House, 5000 N Willamette Blvd, Portland, OR | FREE
In 2022, the Young Artist Institute (YAI) launched, a new intensive education program for 16 talented string players from around the world, ages 14–18. Each week, we invite our community to watch and support the incredible students of the Young Artist Institute. The Portland community can enjoy the amazing virtuosity and precociousness of these musicians around the city. This final showcase will feature YAI string quartets performing new compositions in collaboration with young poets from Literary Arts, and young composers from Fear No Music.
Poetry in Music with Katie Ford, David Ludwig and Alicia Jo Rabins (Chamber Music Northwest)
Saturday, July 15, at 12:00 p.m. | In person at Reed College, Kaul Auditorium, 3203 SE Woodstock Blvd, Portland, OR | FREE
Literary Arts is thrilled to partner with Chamber Music Northwest for an entertaining and enlightening conversation with acclaimed composer David Serkin Ludwig, award-winning poet (and Oregon-native) Katie Ford, and moderated by Portland’s own dynamic writer/poet/musician/composer/filmmaker Alicia Jo Rabins. Join them on Saturday, July 15 to learn more about their long creative partnership, and how they create music that brings together David’s music and Katie’s poetry.This event will be held in Kaul Auditorium’s Gray Lounge.
RESOURCES & OPPORTUNITIES FOR ARTISTS AND WRITERS
We Need Diverse Books (WNDB) is preparing for our 2023 Summer Auction. We are looking for author and publishing professionals interested in donating items like manuscript and query critiques, AMA/phone consultations, and more. For this auction, we are focusing on adult fiction and non-fiction genres. Find more details here. Thank you so much for your support!
Creative (Writing) Drop-In Sessions (with Haldane King, MFA)
Every Wednesday, from 5:00–6:00 p.m.
In person at the Vintage Conference Room. Vida Coworking Space, 401 NE 19th Avenue Suite #200, Portland, OR and online via Google Meet
Email HaldaneKing@gmail.com to sign up
Haldane King is an author and facilitator currently working with the Why There Are Words Literary Organization. He has an MFA in Writing & Consciousness from the California Institute of Integral Studies. The Creative (Writing) Drop-in is open to everyone and all forms of creative expression, with an emphasis on the written form.
Call for Workshop Proposals (Focus on Book Arts)
June 19–23
The Focus on Book Arts (FOBA) conference is seeking instructors for the fifteenth biennial Conference. Conference dates are Wednesday through Sunday June 19-23, 2024 with a check-in day of June 18, 2024. This event will be held at Western Oregon University in Monmouth, OR (SW of Salem, OR). (Note that the FOBA conference has moved from our prior location in Forest Grove, OR).
Field Artist Fellowship (Oregon Humanities and the Oregon Community Foundation)
Applications open through June 15
Oregon Humanities and the Oregon Community Foundation are now accepting applications for the third round of the Fields Artist Fellowship program, a significant fellowship program to support Oregon-based artists who are in a pivotal moment or inflection point in their careers. Four artists will be awarded two-year fellowships to advance their artistic practice while honoring and sustaining their commitment to create social change within their community. Each fellow will receive $150,000 throughout the two-year term. Eight finalists will also receive a one-time award of $10,000. Fellows also receive robust professional development, networking, and community-building opportunities throughout the fellowship.
Pick Your Wilderness Writing Adventure (Fishtrap’s 2023 Outpost Programs)
June 19–24 and September 3–8
Give yourself the time to explore a remote, natural environment as a way to find solitude, connect to the landscape in a meaningful way, and write about your experience. Registration opens December 1, 2022. Each Outpost experience includes a week of discovery, writing instruction, meals, and camping in an inspiring and unforgettable setting.
EMERGING WRITER AWARDS (Key West Literary Seminar
Deadline to apply: June 30
“Winning was a life-changing experience for me,” Dantiel W. Moniz, 2018 (author of Milk Blood Heat)
Key West Literary Seminar offers three Emerging Writer Awards each year. The Marianne Russo Award (for a novel-in-progress), the Scotti Merrill Memorial Award (for poetry), and the Cecelia Joyce Johnson Award (for a short story) recognize and support writers who possess exceptional talent and demonstrate potential for lasting literary careers.
Winners receive full tuition support for both our Workshop Program and Seminar, January 7 – 15, 2024; round-trip airfare, lodging, a $500 honorarium, and the opportunity to read their work on stage during the Seminar. Application deadline is June 30 ($12 application fee). http://www.kwls.org/awards/emerging-writer-awards
WNDB IS SEEKING 2024 MENTORS
Are you a traditionally published author or illustrator? WNDB mentors are paid a stipend of $1,000 and work one-on-one with an unpublished writer or illustrator for the entire year (January-December 2024). Mentors must be traditionally published with three or more forthcoming/published books in their category, either: Illustration, Picture Book, Middle Grade, or Young Adult. If you are interested in serving as a mentor, please email mentor@diversebooks.org with the subject line ‘2024 WNDB Mentor,’ with your name, your publication history, and the genre you are seeking to mentor.
FOR KIDS/ TEENS
Summer Reading at Multnomah County Library
June 16–August 31
Find Your Voice at Multnomah County Library. Play the Summer Reading Game! Read for fun and prizes this summer. Babies, kids and teens can play the Summer Reading game by starting a daily reading habit. In addition, the library will have fun interactive virtual performances, storytelling, and arts and crafts for kids and families. It all kicks off June 16! Kids of all ages can play online or on paper. Summer Reading Volunteer applications will be available online and in libraries on April 15. Visit our volunteer page.
Tween Craft Club (Multnomah County Library)
Friday, June 16, from 4:00–5:30 p.m. | Belmont Meeting Room, 1038 SE César E. Chávez Boulevard, Portland, OR
Kids ages 8-12 are invited to get crafty! Come hang out with us and use your creative skills as we do a new craft project each month. All materials and supplies will be provided.
Family Storytime (Multnomah County Library)
Sunday, July 2, from 3:00–3:30 p.m. Kenton Library, 8226 N Denver Avenue, Portland, OR
Children from birth to age 6 (with a favorite adult) enjoy books, songs, rhymes and movement activities while building language and literacy skills.
Scribes Summer Camps (Hugo House)
Online options available | June 27–August 25
Scribes Summer Camps provide young writers the opportunity to participate in week-long, all-day workshops, during which you can focus on, dig deep into, and nurture your inner writer. You’ll work alongside instructors who are published writers and educators themselves, as well as guest teaching artists. Every camp offers the option to pay at 30%, 60%, 90%, or 100% of the registration amount. Just click on the pay option you prefer when you register online! If you are having trouble, please contact us at 206.322.7030 or email welcome@hugohouse.org.
IN THE NEWS
A Voice Among the Stars: Poem by US Poet Laureate Ada Limón Will Ride to Europa on NASA Spacecraft
US Poet Laureate Ada Limón is writing an original poem dedicated to NASA’s Europa Clipper mission. The poem will be engraved on the spacecraft, as a way to connect two water worlds – Earth and Europa, a moon of Jupiter believed to contain a vast ocean. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech. We’re so excited for this!
Ada Limón to Reveal Poem for NASA Europa Clipper Mission During Live at the Library in June (Library of Congress)
Tune in June 1
US Poet Laureate Ada Limón Appointed for a Historic Two-Year Second Term (Library of Congress)
We’re so excited for US Poet Laureate Ada Limón, who spoke in our 22/23 Portland Arts & Lectures series!
Highlights Foundation Names Cottage in Honor of New York Times Bestselling Author Renée Watson
A huge congratulations to Literary Arts board member Renée Watson for this honor!
RECOMMENDED READING
15 delightful books perfect for spring reading (Good Morning America)
The 17 Best LGBTQ+ Books of 2023 (Cosmopolitan)
Community News Submissions
Let us know if you have any events, news to share, or opportunities for writers for the In the Community blog and we will consider adding it to the next blog post!
