Gary Newman - Taking the Poet's Path

          Vocations often have stereotypes attached that we hope hold true; we want our nurses to be caring, our postmen to be reliable, our politicians honest (OK, I know that’s a stretch, but we do). Being a poet is more a calling than a career. But a poet’s contribution is not about worldly things in our everyday lives. A poet’s contribution is all about “worldly” things, in the truest sense of the word.
          Gary Newman is an introspective man, an observer, an explorer of words, a poet.
         
Gary Newman

I am a poet, essayist and journalist.

I have won numerous awards for my journalism including three first place awards for best sports story in the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association annual contest and a first in the best business story category as well as numerous other second and third place awards for writing and photography.

As a journalist I came to question the trajectory of my own career and I realized I originally set out to be a poet. I decided to return to that original pure impulse.

I write to define the world I love. I mean the whole earth, but especially the natural world, landscape, animals, the world of science and ideas.

But mostly I write because I love the sound, rhythm and flow of words.

1. List five words that define you.

Optimist – Outdoorsman – Inquisitive – Proactive – Determined

2. What have you done that you are most proud of?

I was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Paraguay in 1969-70. I am most proud of learning Spanish and Guarani and getting to know men and women of a different culture.

I continued that habit when I was stationed in Berlin as a soldier. I learned a fair amount of German.

3. If you could change one thing in your past, what would it be?

I’ve always been disappointed that I didn’t finish learning German. And I’m disappointed that I have let my Spanish skills get rusty. Though I work on that.

4. On a personal level, what drives you crazy? What gives you joy?

Important people, a little humility should go before the hubris.

I’ve enjoyed climbing and hiking in different mountain ranges, but especially the Cascades. I also love to ride a bicycle.

5. Given no restrictions (i.e. money/physical capabilities) – what would you most like to do?

I would go vagabonding over the earth. South America, Africa, Asia, Russia. I’d write, take photos, learn languages and show people why they should love this planet and each other.

Tired after four days hiking in the Goat Rocks Wilderness.

               Mt. Rainier and the Pacific Crest Trail in the background

Gary and your blogger celebrating Artist Trust friendships!

Link for Gary:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gary-G-Newman-Writer/673456122715855

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Karen Hanan - Passion for the Arts

        

          People bond over a variety of interests; a favorite sports team, a love of gardening, a hometown memory. Karen Hanan and I bonded over a cup of tea. Actually, many, many cups of tea – mine black, hers with a dash of milk.

          Whether talking about the arts and artists close to our hearts or international headliners, there was never a lull in conversation as we solved the problems of the world in my living room at tea time.

          A woman with a passion to get things done, that one hour every week or so, was probably one of the few times during the week, Karen (English pronunciation, accent on the first syllable/soft “r”) sat still!

          She has a great zest for life, love of music, passion for the arts, and an admitted addiction to a perfectly brewed cup of tea.   

Karen Hanan

I was appointed Executive Director of ArtsWA by Governor Jay Inslee effective March 1, 2014. ArtsWA is the Washington State Arts Commission, a state government agency. ArtsWA speaks up for the public value of the arts, builds leadership in and for the arts, strengthens arts education in our public schools, documents the impact of the arts on our communities and in peoples’ lives, and shares the findings, builds participation in the arts, and acquires and cares for artwork in the State Art Collection, sited at K-12 public schools, colleges, universities, and state agencies.

Prior to my position with ArtsWA, I served as Executive Director of Arts Northwest, the non-profit, regional performing arts service organization. Before that, I was the founder and Executive Director of the Juan de Fuca Festival of the Arts in Port Angeles, WA.

         

1. Who are you? List 5 words that define you! 

Energetic – Empathetic – Compassionate – Curious – Full-speed-ahead!

2. What have you done that you’re most proud of? 

Envisioned, birthed, and helped grow the Olympic Peninsula’s Juan de Fuca Festival of the Arts, and then handed it over to a community that values it to this day.

Also, I have a family I adore and a circle of friends I treasure. I am proud and so happy to be in their collective embrace.

3. If you could change one thing in your past, what would it be? 

Growing up is about learning to be wiser, more complete, a better person. Along that path, you must sometimes trip and fall and sometimes inflict damage on others as part of that process. It can’t be helped, but I am sorry for anyone I hurt along the way – sometimes inadvertently, sometimes as a result of the ignorance of youth.

4. On a personal level, what drives you crazy? What gives you joy? 

I am driven crazy by mean spirited people who go through life without thought for the well being of the people and creatures around them.

I get joy from the people I love and care about. I find joy in an uncomplicated walk in the woods in the company of our chocolate lab. I get endless joy from the flowers and fruits of our “English garden”.

5. Given no restrictions (i.e. money/physical capabilities) – what would you most like to do? 

I would like to spend more time in Europe, taking precious moments with family that I value and miss so much. I love where I find myself; my work, my family, my friends, my surroundings, but I miss those not nearby but still fundamental to my heart.        

Enjoying the breeze off the coast of Newfoundland.

Karen with Rory Kennedy

Favorite Pastime - Hiking with her sister, Diedre

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Linda Silvas - Collecting Memories

          The first time I heard Linda Silvas speak was in the backyard of mutual friends. I sat down just in time to hear her tell a wonderful story that captivated not only me but everyone within earshot. Several years later, my two teenage nephews from Pennsylvania came to visit and Linda was kind enough to explain Native traditions as we sat around a giant drum she had created. It was the highlight of the trip for the boys and me.

                    An author, an artist, an entrepreneur- Linda is always creating.

Linda Silvas

My culture is of the Juaneno Band of Mission Indians, Acjachemen tribe as well as Spanish and French. Born in 1948 and raised in San Diego, CA. I relocated to Sequim, WA in 1987. I have had many adventures, traveled to many places, and met great people.

I know what my purpose is… it is for the experience of living here. I am here to collect as many memories as I can….

This is a wonderful trip and if given the choice, I’d vacation here on earth again.

1. Who are you? List 5 words that define you!

 Exceedingly Happy – Creative – Inventive – Strong – Homebody

2. What have you done that you’re most proud of?

Family, Grandmother, Artist, Published Author, Weaver, Native American Tour Company. Proud of my imagination. My newest creation is a hat woven with hemp called the “Hemphed” that is going on the market this year.

3. If you could change one thing in your past, what would it be?

To know not to worry about the past.

4. On a personal level, what drives you crazy? What gives you joy?

What drives me crazy are unconscious people. A breed that takes from others. People that mistreat and have no respect for others.

What gives me joy is taking care of my 93 year ole dad and to hear my grown grandson say “I love you Mama Linda”. And to wake up each morning.

It doesn’t get any better than that… and I love to eat good food.

5. Given no restrictions (i.e. money/physical capabilities) – what would you most like to do?

I would pass a law that would require all top level, convicted sex offenders to be tattooed under their left eye with the initials “SP” Then they can easily be identified and not able to remove the ID.  Children, women, everyone will know to run. This type of predator has earned this type of ID. Yep! That’s what I would do with no restriction. OR … I’d form an elite vigilante group called W.A.S.P. -“Women Against Sex Predators” and we would take care of the predators ourselves. Yep!

               To learn more about Linda and her work go to:

               http://www.mamabearbabybear.com   

               http://www.nativeamericanfootprints.com

             “Do not look down on anyone unless you are helping them up.”

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Dennis Bensie - "The Anti-Writer's Writer"

          After sitting in a classroom every Saturday for the last month and a half, Dennis Bensie and I decided to exchange books we had written. This can be a risky business. I like Dennis. What if I hated his book? What if I couldn’t relate or got bored? Phew. Not only did none of those things happen – I love his book!

          “One Gay American” is his memoir told with candor and humor. Who knew that a book about a young boy growing up in the Midwest would read like a mystery/page-turner/novel. The only reason I put it down was to write this blog intro.

Dennis Bensie

I don’t think that I am an ordinary writer. I never had a class or been in any writing groups.

I’m not even a well-read writer and can barely name my favorite authors or books. I probably do everything “wrong” if a scholar or teacher of writing had a look at my process and style.

I sometimes think of myself as “the anti-writer’s writer” because I never learned any of the rules …and I think that is what I love about my writing. Things just fall out of me onto the page and I don’t always know where they came from.

People read what I write and they seem to respond heavily to it. Isn’t that the point? To make a reader keep reading? Even if it isn’t fancy and doesn’t stay within the rules.

​

1. Who are you? List 5 words that define you!

Artist – Paraphiliac – Homosexual – Friend – Human

2. What have you done that you’re most proud of?

My first memoir, SHORN: TOYS TO MEN was described by a reviewer as “…a confession and a gift.” I consider that a huge compliment. I had suffered my whole life in secret with undiagnosed and untreated mental illness. I am a paraphiliac and that led me down a very dark path from childhood well in to my thirties.

No one had ever written a book like SHORN. I needed to read a book like that when I was growing up but it didn’t exist. I decided to write it myself. I told my story to help others who struggle with their story.

SHORN: TOYS TO MEN was adapted by Seattle playwright Dustin Engstrom as THE CUT and produced by Open Circle Theater in 2011. In 2013, the book was adapted into a short underground film entitled NO LOVE LOST by a Chicago filmmaker.

3. If you could change one thing in your past, what would it be?

I would have gotten organized and started a writing career sooner.

4. On a personal level, what drives you crazy? What gives you joy?

Ignorant people make me nuts. Knowing I get to come home to my three sweet dogs gives me joy (and keeps me from hurting the ignorant people)

  

5. Given no restrictions (i.e. money/physical capabilities) – what would you most like to do?​

I would produce art. Not in any one discipline, just anything and everything that inspires me. It would be cool to hand pick different artists and works of art and build them up to their fullest potential.

SHORN:TOYS TO MEN was adapted by Seattle playwright Dustin Engstrom
as THE CUT and produced by Open Circle Theater in 2011.
In 2013, the book was adapted into a short underground film.

You can learn more about Dennis and his work and contact him at:

       @dennisdodie

http://dennismilambensie.com

https://www.facebook.com/DennisMilamBensieWriter?ref=hl

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Laurel Black - Balanced by Design

          Imagination, style, and humor are three words that come to mind when I hear the name Laurel Black. Whether creating branding for an international firm or letterhead for a local non-profit, she brings qualities of imagination and practicality to her work.

          Then there’s Laurel’s sense of humor. In meetings, her professional demeanor is one of attentive listening and appropriate questions, and yet, one can almost see the twinkle in her eye and know that a touch of levity is about to shared.

          Like all artists, she usually lets her work speak for her, except when Taking the Plunge!

  

Laurel Black

If I had to limit myself to one word to describe what I’m about, it would be hard because most who know me know that I seldom limit myself when it comes to words. They might choose words like verbose or smartass. But let’s pretend there’s a gun to my head: I choose –   balance. When I am in the process of evaluating/analyzing/making choices, the questions that comes up regularly for me is “Where is the balance?” This to me is at the core of meaningful communication.

I have become sensitized to false dichotomies. We are too often presented with opposed choices that aren’t really opposed, such as art vs. science, or jobs vs. the environment, or healthy food vs. delicious food. I think this contributes in part to the current dysfunction in our government. Framing choices as mutually hostile allows partisanship to turn into power tripping.

So, the other word for me is independent. I reject simplistic ideologies that boil things down to manipulative sound bites however seductive they may seem. I try to maintain an objective distance that allows for clear understanding. It’s not easy, and sometimes I’m unsuccessful, but like everyone else, I’m a work in progress.

       

1. Who are you? List 5 nouns that define you!

Definitely “curious” is number one. The rest are:

Aspirational – Compassionate – Intuitive – Creative – Intelligent  

(I’m working on them.)

2. What have you done that you’re most proud of?

    Birthed my daughter and my business. They’re my proudest efforts so far,

    and both still in development. As am I.

3. If you could change one thing in your past, what would it be?

I would have started working on fitness and health earlier. If allowed more         than one thing, I would edit some early poor relationship choices. And I would   have trained myself to be better at learning new things. Actually, I suppose I   could do that now.

4. On a personal level, what drives you crazy? What gives you joy?

Crazy: People who don’t understand that responsibility is the other side of the   rights coin. These are the ones who complain about poor government services AND their taxes. They also leave their shopping carts in the middle of the parking lot.

Joy: The opportunity to help others express their value to the world (in other words, my work). Supporting people and organizations of worth is when I feel most powerful.

5. Given no restrictions (i.e. money/physical capabilities) – what would you most like to do?

Travel widely, deeply understand what makes people tick, and learn new computer programs with total ease and zero frustration.

It would also be cool to be able to get by on four hours of sleep a night so I would have more time to do stuff.

  

To learn more about Laurel, go to:

www.laurelblack.com.

Laurel’s LinkedIn profile is here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurelblack .

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaurelBlackDesign

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Stacy Lawson - A Woman with a Different View of the World

Ever meet someone and just know either 1. you’ve met them in a past life or 2. you’re going to be good friends? One reason I enjoy not only writing but reading my blog, “Taking the Plunge”, is learning more about people – people I thought I knew and people I’d like to know even better.

Stacy Lawson and I met a few weeks ago in the Artist Trust EDGE Grant Program for Literary Artists. I rarely thrust my work upon strangers (or for that matter, friends) and yet before the end of the first weekend I handed Stacy four pages and asked her to read them.

The jury’s still out for me in regards to “past lives”, but I’m pretty certain Stacy and I are going to be good friends. 

I hope you enjoy getting to know this interesting, smart, funny woman as much I do.

Stacy Lawson

I am a writer, yoga instructor/owner of Red Square Yoga, and a public school advocate. 

My work has appeared in Under the Sun, Drash Northwest Mosaic, r.kv.r.y quarterly literary journal, Raven Chronicles, and Sunday Ink: Works by the Uptown Writers. I live in Seattle with my husband, two sons, and my ill-mannered dog, Jasper.

I write to find meaning, to question myself, to question others, to question beliefs held too firmly. I write to question fears and to unravel insecurities that can compress into rock-solid absolutes.

I write to add breath and humor to suffocating arguments. I write to organize my thoughts, to formulate credible arguments and to find the right words to express myself.

I write to have a long sustained dialogue with the Self, an uninterrupted one-on-one, a spiritual moment not dependent on any God, a synagogue, a guru, a virgin birth, or other convention.

One View

1. Who are you? List 5 nouns that define you!

Curious – Electric – Eclectic – Pragmatic – Funny

2. What have you done that you’re most proud of?

I am most proud of my relationships with my husband, kids, parents, sibs, and friends.  

First my relationship with my husband (who is really too good for me in many many ways) has been the major work in this life.  We have been together for 27 years and have had our ups and downs, but we've really negotiated the big waves.  We've had hard days, months, and years, but we've kept at it.  Through working on this relationship, I have learned a lot about all relationships and how to move more graciously in the world.  

I am proud of my relationship with my two sons.  Daniel is 15, William is 11 (names altered to protect the innocent). I've worked hard to figure out how to negotiate the role of parent. I think deeply about parenting.  What is it that I/we want for the boys? How can I prepare them for the world to come?  How much should I protect them from the world out there?  How can I help them to own their lives now and in the future, own their choices, and live with the consequences. I try to carefully consider when I need to step in and when I need to stand aside. 

Finally, I am proud of my relationships with my family and friends. The word yoga comes from the Sanskrit word yuj which means to unite, to meet, to commune, to consummate. My relationships are part of my yoga practice.

Disclaimer:  Not all of my relationships are perfect or near perfect. (Just ask around.) But, for the most part, I'm comfortable with where things stand.  I don't believe that family members are required to get along by virtue of sharing blood or legal arrangements. To some degree, we are all broken, and we look for relationships with people who don't hurt us more or challenge us in unhelpful ways.

This makes sense to me.  

 3. If you could change one thing in your past, what would it be?  

I would have given more money to Janey when she came to me after her husband died. She subsequently died shortly after. She was in need. But, I was afraid of getting tied into supporting her and I wasn't ready to negotiate that. 

4. On a personal level, what drives you crazy? What gives you joy?

Entitlement drives me crazy (my own included).

I think there are some basic misunderstandings that lead to bad behavior. There really is no such thing as innate equality except as an idea. After conception, we have a placement in the world that scripts us.

Not all people are born with the same health, looks, opportunities, resources, and access. Many poor people work very hard, and it never amounts to anything. Many wealthy people work very hard, but once you have money, it's easier to make more money. Many wealthy people and many poor people don't work hard at all. Fair doesn't really exist in the bigger universe.

So, I believe we need a safety net that guarantees all a basic level of support that comes from taxation. I'm not afraid of taxes. Let's get rid of the loopholes. I don't believe that people aim to go on welfare.  I believe that people lack opportunities, exposure, role models, money, etc. 

I find joy in music, dancing, knitting, reading, writing, sleeping, walking, chocolate, hiking, kayaking, etc...

5. Given no restrictions (i.e. money/physical capabilities) – what would you most like to do?      

Mostly I want to travel, and I do travel quite a bit. I'd love to live somewhere else for even 3 months before my kids leave home. I want to navigate the unknown together and to explore.

I want to be out of my element.  

Lots of wonderful views!

To learn even more about Stacy:

stacylawson.com

Stacy Lawson Writer on FB

And from R2: 

Thanks for reading and by all means share this site with friends. Email me if you know of someone you find fascinating that would like to be profiled! 

Elizabeth Kelly - Life is an Adventure

          Making new friends at any age is such a joy. Sitting across the room from Elizabeth Kelly in a singing group I realized we shared a birthday. We decided to celebrate over tea and toast. Since that first cup (and many subsequent cups of tea over the years), we found we shared life experiences – love of music, hospice volunteering, reading and writing, and best of all, a love of travel.

          Her calm demeanor is augmented by an inquisitive mind, a zeal for the stage, and a spirit of adventure that’s unmatched.

          We should all live as long and enjoy life as much as Elizabeth Kelly.

                   

Elizabeth Kelly

          I believe I’m in this world to learn who I am. It’s a life-long process and although I’m 80+ years into it, I still have a lot to learn.

I have been singing since I was six (maybe earlier) and love to sing, especially with others. I am also a writer and have written three books, one of which, a memoir, I self-published (sort of). The other two haven’t been published. I write poetry in my head all the time and try to write one poem a week.

My love of the movies has been with me as long as I can remember. I still go to the movies a lot, but also watch them on TV and DVD.       

My children and grandchildren are my greatest joy. I delight in them all and will champion them as long as I live.

I have traveled to all seven continents and been to 49 states (I still haven’t made it to Rhode Island).

Elizabeth Kelly

1.     Who are you? List 5 nouns that define you!

Contentment – Curiosity – Love – Wanderlust – Minimalist

2.     What have you done that you’re most proud of?

I am mother to five beautiful souls.

3.     If you could change one thing in your past, what would it be?

I wish I had used the four-year music scholarship to Portland University I received when I graduated from high school in Kelso, Washington.

4.     On a personal level, what drives you crazy? What gives you joy?

Nothing drives me crazy. I’m pretty tolerant.

I get joy from music especially classical, but I love most all music. Nature gives me joy, in all its abundance. I also love good writing, good filmmaking, good painting, good photography, architecture, and of course, good food.

I get joy from hearing others laugh and from laughing at myself.

5.     Given no restrictions (i.e. money/physical capabilities) – what would you most like to do?

My first thought is to say, “Put an end to war,” but I think it’s all a part of our evolution, and perhaps we as a people have to go through it.

My second thought was, “Get rid of all guns, here and abroad.” Of course, that’s just wishful fantasizing.

I’ve always wanted to visit Cape Town, RSA and Kruger National Park.

I really mean it when I say I’m content.

Hawaii 2014

100 Degrees in Cambodia

Cooling off with a vanilla shake in Vietnam