Nekkid

Nekkid: Group Figure Exhibition
Curated by Sharon Thomas
Artspace Main Gallery
Art Talk 12 O’clock | Friday, February 5 | Noon | Brown Bag Lunch with Artists
Opening Reception | Friday, February | 5:30pm

Nekkid asks artists and viewers to delve into their comfort/discomfort with symbolism, emotion or clichés in the use of the human figure in art. The invited artists and writers have been asked to explore the theme of the body by focusing on specific body parts through their media of choice. There will also be lively readings by spoken word poets throughout the evening.

Artists to date include Eliot Goss, Sue Sommers, Shannon Troxler, Suzanne Morlock, Susan Thulin, Bobbi Miller, Amy Larkin, Barbara Trentham, Mark Nowlin, Jenny Dowd and Valerie Seaberg. Writers to date include Sarah Kariko, Nicole Burdick, Marcia Casey, and Valley Peters Bradley.

Sponsored by: Berlin Architects, The Master’s Studio, the Wyoming Cultural Trust Fund & the Jackson Hole Writers Conference

 

Eventful January and February

During this next month or so Jackson Hole unleashes a packed literary line up. Pencil it in:

Moose Readings at Shades Café  |  January 20   | 7 pm 

Presenting an open mic and JH Review release party for writers of poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction on January 20, 2010.  Sign up at Shades from 6:30-7pm. Reading from 7-9. All writers and listeners welcome! Bring your own wine or beer. Munchies provided! Organized and kept alive by Mike Bressler and the food divas at Shades.

Philip Gourevitch: Crime Scenes and Aftermaths | Friday, January 22  | 7 pm  | Teton County Library

Philip Gourevitch, the award-winning author of books on the Rwandan genocide and Abu Ghraib, is an intrepid correspondent for The New Yorker and editor of The Paris Review. He will read from his books and talk about how he got the stories and what is at stake in them — politically, morally and dramatically. Gourevitch is the 2009-2010 Eminent Writer in Residence for the MFA program in Creative Writing at the University of Wyoming, a copresenter with the Jackson Hole Writers Conference, in Ordway Auditorium.

How To Start Your Novel:  A Workshop with Alyson Hagy
Saturday, January 23  | 10 am-12 pm | Teton County Library

What can we do to retain momentum when writing a novel? Join author and University of Wyoming English professor Alyson Hagy to discuss strategies for completing that important first draft. The session includes in-class brainstorming, plenty of discussion and a suggested reading list. Co-presented with the University of Wyoming MFA program and  Jackson Hole Writers Conference. To register for this free workshop contact: Oona Doherty, 733-2164 ext. 135 or odoherty at tclib.org. 

Silver Roots – A classical/world music duo | Sunday, January 31 |  3 pm | Teton County Library, Ordway Auditorium

Silver Roots will be performing an afternoon of classical, folk and original works as part of a national tour titled Branching Out, which aims to dissolve the traditional barrier between performer and listener through rich audience interaction, creative initiatives that empower local communities, and presentations in a wide range of unique and non-traditional settings. As part of the performance, Silver Roots will feature an original poem by an audience member, to be selected via a regional poetry competition and recited by the poet or the duo with musical accompaniment.   

Poetry Competition | Deadline by Wednesday, January 27 at 11:59 pm

As part of the performance, Silver Roots will feature an original poem by an audience member, to be selected by the Library and the Jackson Hole Writers Conference. The poetry competition is open to any resident of Teton County and there is no age restriction.  Find full details to enter this competition here. 

Art After Hours: Poetry: The Beasts Within Us  | Tuesday, February 2  | 7:30 pm | National Museum of Wildlife Art

Buffalo run from the maddening crowd, songbirds chirp their way into winter, elephants mourn, and even our dogs give us that look… How do they communicate, and what do they desire? A flock of local poets will take us into the hearts and minds of our dearest beasts. This lively evening of theatrical and traditional readings will find the snarl and the snicker, the joy and the jitters, as poets anthropomorphize to interpret the secret lives of animals. Generously sponsored by the Dragicevich Foundation, Bank of Jackson Hole, and Invisible Fence Brand of Wyoming.  Presented as a partnership between the Jackson Hole Writer’s Conference and the National Museum of Wildlife Art. Find more information here.

Nekkid: Group Figure Exhibition and Poetry | Opening Reception | Friday, February 5 | 5:30 pm  | Artspace Gallery

Nekkid, curated by Sharon Thomas, asks artists and viewers to delve into their comfort/discomfort with symbolism, emotion or clichés in the use of the human figure in art. The invited artists and writers have been asked to explore the theme of the body by focusing on specific body parts through their media of choice. Find more information here.

3rd Annual Scrabble Tournament in Jackson Hole  |  Friday, February 26 | 6 -9 pm | Hard Drive Café

Jackson Hole Writers play with words. The Grand Champion will receive a free scholarship to the 18th Annual Jackson Hole Writers Conference. This year with two competition levels – for the “Die Hards” and the “Try Hards”. Sign-up for the Scrabble Tournament begins on Monday, January 11 at Hard Drive. Player fees of $35 support conference programming and visiting authors for you and yours to enjoy. Seats will be filled on a first-paid, first-seated basis. More details to come or call 307-413-3332.  

Dialogue Clinic with Shawn Klomparens  | Saturday, February, 27  | 9 am  |  Center for the Arts Conference Room

Author or Jessica Z. and Two Years, No Rain will take out the scalpel and microscope to tighten our dialogue. Through intentional omission, Klomparens’ will show us a way into our fictional characters. Lecture, writing, and discussion. More details to come.

 

How to Start Your Novel

Look for this and a series of 6 more workshops coming up in 2010.

How To Start Your Novel:  A Workshop with Alyson Hagy
Saturday January 23
10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Teton County Library

Most of us have great ideas for novels. And many of us begin writing those books only to find ourselves stuck or lost in the thickets of character and plot. What can we do to retain momentum when writing a novel? Join author and University of Wyoming English professor Alyson Hagy to discuss strategies for completing that important first draft. The session includes in-class brainstorming, plenty of discussion and a suggested reading list. Co-presented with the University of Wyoming MFA program and  Jackson Hole Writers Conference. To register for this free workshop contact: Oona Doherty, 733-2164 ext. 135 or odoherty@tclib.org. For more information.

 

Writers Bring New Landscapes

This is when Jackson really starts looking exciting! Get your tickets – FREE – to meet the man named “the nation’s premiere nature writer” when the Teton County Library and Library Foundation present Page to the Podium: Barry Lopez on Thursday, December 3 at 6:30 p.m. at the Center Theater, Center for the Arts.

Then this Memoir Writing Workshop with Debra Gwartney Co-presented by the Teton County Library and Jackson Hole Writers Conference

Writing Your Memoir: Writers Workshop with Debra Gwartney

Friday December 4 – 10am-noon

Teton County Library Auditorium

To register contact: odoherty@tclib.org or 733-2164 ext. 135

This workshop will include how to get started, how to develop an organizational structure, how to work with memories to craft them into a story rather than a chronological revisitation of the past, and how to focus on the emotional depth of memories.

Debra Gwartney is the author of the memoir, Live Through This, published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt in February 2009. The book is related to the story of her relationship with her daughters broadcast on This American Life in 2002. A member of the nonfiction writing faculty at Portland State University in Oregon, Debra is co-editor, with Barry Lopez, of Home Ground: Language for an American Landscape, published in 2006 by Trinity University Press. Her short stories, personal narratives, essays, and articles have appeared in numerous magazines and journals.

 

Redneck Satire

Tune in to 89.1 KHOL for Mike Bressler and his Saddles to Sushi

3pm, Wednesday, September 30

Bressler will read from and discuss his newish book Saddles to Sushi – based on a series of articles that appeared in his column, “Redneck Perspective,” in Planet Jackson Hole under the pen name of Clyde Thornhill. A Jackson Hole valley native, Mike doesn’t hesitate to tackle the tough topics: “Bagel, the New Age Bisquit”, or “Politics, Chicken, and Black Lace”, or “Beers, Babes, and Misunderstanding”, or  the “Redneck Retirement Plan”. 

In the forward to his book Susan Marsh calls him “a unique mix…He can spin a tale of the antics of a redneck MCP [male chauvinist pig] and leave an aging bra-burner like me laughing…he gets it right on as he observes the bizarre confluence of the Old West and the New.”

In the meantime, Mike kindly submitted this writing exercise to help you spice up your characters:

Writing in first or third person, have the character in your story prepare a meal. Using only description of the ingredients and cooking technique, let the reader know if he a homicidal maniac, a saint or an executioner. Who is she cooking for, a lover perhaps, maybe someone who betrayed her and for whom she is planning revenge? Metaphor is fine but no abstract ideals like love, hate despair, hope and the like. If the character is in love or hates show it though his cooking style and choice of ingredients. Be sure to use lots of garlic and please, no sushi!

 

An Evening with Don DeLillo

Don DeLillo’s books leave you with a feeling that you know too much, you’re just not sure exactly what it is you know. He takes you inside his characters and into the fabric of the places we think we know, only to surprise us ever-so quietly with insight and absurdity. This is a rare chance to be in the presence of a masterful writer.

To get a taste of his novel White Noise, listen to a book discussion that aired on the Lonely Stool at 89.1 fm KHOL.

To save you from googling around, Kansas State University has the works on DeLillo.

All of this is just the prep for:

 

Clubbing the Classics

We are teaming up with Teton County Library to offer a lively discussion of the classics. All are invited – whether you are well-read or just want to get a taste of some great literature. Don’t be shy! The more diverse the group the more we’ll get out of the discussion! We’ll be kicking it off with a mini-lecture to help place the book historically and within the context of literature and the author’s life. These novels are sure to spark some interesting dialogue since the themes are as relevant today as when they were written.

Here’s the scoop from the library:

Clubbing the Classics: The Gothic Novel. Explore classic gothic novels with local writer and bibliophile Nicole Burdick. Clubbing the Classics will meet the second Wednesday of the month for three months, 5:30-6:45 p.m., with free books for the first 10 participants who sign up for all three sessions.

Sept. 9: Frankenstein

Oct. 14: Wuthering Heights

Nov. 11: Picture of Dorian Gray

To reserve your spot and get free books, contact Adult Humanities Coordinator Oona Doherty at 733-2164 ext. 135 or odoherty@tclib.org

I know, I know – what about Poe? Don’t worry, I’m sure we won’t miss him. Hope to see you there!

 

We’re back – after a great 09 Conference.

You said it, and we thank you for it. The conference was an overwhelming success because of all of you who participated – both featured guests and writers. Those who critiqued manuscripts had many accolades to share about your submissions, so keep us up-to-date on your publishing successes!

Just like camp, we’re sure many of you are corresponding and perhaps even sharing some of your work. Isn’t it fun!

After a few weeks of down time we at the conference are back at it. The blog will be more active in the upcoming months, so keep an eye out. Most importantly, we’re busy putting together a 2010 line up worthy of your presence. If you have ideas or connections you want to share, we are all ears. It’s looking good so far…

We are also accepting donations at this time to support our 2010 programming. As a non-profit, based in Jackson Hole, this is our most critical fundraising time. Through the Community Foundation’s Old Bill’s Fun Run, all of the money we raise is matched. If you have an extra $20 to share we appreciate every contribution. If you can do more to support the literary arts and your writing community, by all means consider the Jackson Hole Writers Conference as a valuable resource for writers, readers and ideas. We run the conference on a tight budget so that you see your support where you want it most – interactive programming, workshops, and top-notch authors gracing the conference each year.

You’re about to hear a lot about Old Bill’s because it’s a powerful and innovative philanthropy opportunity which continues to have a weighty impact on this community and beyond. By donating here, you can smile each time you hear about Old Bill’s knowing you’ve already done your part.

 

Writing Contest for Conference Attendees

JH Writers Conference Story and Poetry Contest. Winners Wear Cloudveil

 
What: Story and Poetry Contest
Who: Jackson Hole Writers Conference Participants
Where: Jackson Hole and The Internet
Deadline: June 24
Prize: Cloudveil Gear

True inspiration traverses and connects cultures.

Cloudveil is partnering with the Jackson Hole Writers Conference to sponsor an online, reader-judged story and poetry contest. The contest is for Jackson Hole Writers Conference attendees only, but it will be judged publicly by the thousands of faithful and new readers of the wonderful The Mountain Culture blog who relish the inspired life. See full details and submission guidelines here.

The theme:  Inspiration – what moves us from essence to exultation, from source to summit, from muse to masterpiece

 

Flash Fiction Winner

Katherine E. Standefer for her story, “Stealthwalkers”. See more here.

Thank you all for your fantastic entries! We are moving quickly toward the Jackson Hole Writers Conference, June 25-28. While it would have been great to award all of you a scholarship to the Conference for your quality flash fiction, we hope that each and every one of you will join us this year for another rich, inspiring, and above all, fun weekend of words, dialogues, and compelling speakers. You will meet fellow writers, editors, agents, esteemed authors and the stunning Jackson Hole. Check out the exciting features and come be our guest.