Book Notes: Artist Trust sponsoring workshops
A few weeks ago, I pointed out that the 2007 Artist Trust GAP awards displayed a distinct West Side flavor.
In that spirit, it’s only right that I point out something else: Artist Trust is sponsoring a pair of workshops that should help anyone wanting to qualify for grants.
That’s the good news. The bad news is that both are being held west of the Cascades.
The first, a two-hour session on grant writing, will be Sept. 18 in Port Townsend. This should prove valuable since it will be taught by Heather Joy Helbach-Olds, Artist Trust’s director of programs.
The second, a two-hour session titled “Moving Forward: Resources for Artists,” will be Sept. 27 in Olympia. It will be taught by Michael Guillen, Artist Trust’s information service manager.
Both workshops are free but require preregistration. For further information, or if you are interested in Artist Trust presenting workshops closer to home (in Washington only), contact Helbach-Olds at (206) 467-8734, ext. 10 (toll-free at 866-218-7878, ext. 10), or e-mail heatherjoy@artisttrust.org.
Artist Trust’s Web site is www.artisttrust.org.
Christ in hell
Spokane writer/scholar Alyssa Lyra Pitstick has just seen publication of her first book, “Light in Darkness: Hans Urs von Balthasar and the Catholic Doctrine of Christ’s Descent into Hell” (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 458 pages, $36).
Pitstick’s book, which challenges the philosophy of von Balthasar – whom an Eerdmans press release describes as “one of the most influential theologians of the 20th century” – has roused debate on the Ignatius Press Weblog ( www.insightscoop.typepad.com/ 2004/2006/11/balthasar_hell_.html).
Naming names
Following up on the news about the Gonzaga University Visiting Writers Series that I reported last Sunday, I want to make sure that GU English Professor Tod Marshall gets credit.
Marshall wrote the grant request that resulted in Humanities Washington’s awarding of $7,500 for the series.
The series, which will be free and open to the public, will include such name writers as Bharati Mukherjee, former U.S. Poet Laureate Robert Hass and poet/musician Joy Harjo.
Besides Humanities Washington, the other sponsors of the series are the GU English department and the school’s offices of intercultural relations, academic vice president, and dean of the college of arts and sciences.
For further information, call Marshall at 323-6681.
“In my Aug. 12 column, I wrote about the new literary journal published out of Whitefish, Mont., called the Whitefish Review.
What I didn’t mention, but was subsequently pointed out to me, was that an artist featured in the inaugural issue – Jena Ponti – is a graduate of East Valley High School.
Linda Ponti, who informed me of the oversight, would know. As she wrote, “I’m her proud mom.”
Lost Horse poet
“Friendly Fire,” a collection of poems by Walla Walla poet Katrina Roberts, has won the Idaho Prize for Poetry, which is handed out annually by Sandpoint-based Lost Horse Press.
Roberts, who teaches at Whitman College, earned her bachelor’s degree at Harvard and her Master of Fine Arts at the Iowa Writers’ Workshop.
“Friendly Fire” will be available in 2008. This year’s contest judge was Robin Becker, poet and professor of English and women’s studies at Pennsylvania State University.
For further information, go online at www.losthorsepress.org. Or call (208) 255-4410.
Hey, mom
One of the more unusual writing contests I’ve heard of is the Letters from the Heart Contest, which gives “mothers the opportunity to communicate their most intimate thoughts and feelings to their daughters by writing letters.”
Submission must be original, written in English, and between 500 and 1,000 words. Deadline is Sept. 30. For further information, go online at www.lettersfromtheheart.com.
The contest is presented by Lisa Delman, author of “Dear Mom, I’ve Always Wanted You to Know,” and Robyn Freedman Spizman (“Getting Organized”).
The overall winner will receive $1,000, and 10 other winners will receive cash prizes and gifts.
Unless otherwise noted, all events are free and open to the public.
The reader board
“Spokane Poetry Slam: Haiku Showdown, 8 p.m. Wednesday, Empyrean Coffee House, 154 S. Madison St. Call (509) 838-9819.
“Anthony Doerr (“About Grace”), reading, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre, 508 S. Main St., Moscow, Idaho. Call (208) 882-4127.