JULY 21, 2016 // 21
Sibyl James to share poetry at KALA
ASTORIA — Poet Sibyl
James will read from her
new collection of poems,
“The Grand Piano Range,”
at 7:30 p.m. Monday, July
25 at KALA.
Doors open at 7 p.m.
Admission is $5. Com-
plimentary snacks will be
served, and there will be
book signings and sales.
KALA is located at 1027
Marine Drive.
The “range” of the
poems in “ The Grand
Piano Range” is political
and personal as well as
geographic. Many of the
poems are grounded in the
Paciic Northwest: Alaska,
Oregon, and, most often,
Washington, where James
has been a longtime resident.
James is interested in the
back roads, small towns, and
SUBMITTED PHOTO BY ANITA K. BOYLE
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Sibyl James will read from her
new collection of peoms July
25 at KALA in Astoria.
“The Grand Piano Range” by
Sibyl James.
good bars where a barmaid
“shares Wild Turkey on the
house” and a neighbor is the
guy who takes your shift the
night your baby’s born.
James is the author of 11
books — poetry, iction and
travel memoirs — including
“In China with Harpo and
Karl,” “The Adventures of
Stout Mama” and “China
Beats.”
She holds a Bachelor of
Arts in English from the
University of Illinois, an
Master of Arts in English
from the University of
Washington, and a Ph.D.
in English from the State
University of New York
at Buffalo. She has been
awarded three Fulbright
Senior Scholar Fellowships,
which lead to teaching
positions in Tunis, Tunisia,
and Cote d’Ivoire. She has
also taught at colleges in the
U.S., China and Mexico.
Her writing has received
awards from Artist Trust, the
Seattle, King County and
Washington State Arts Com-
missions, as well as several
literary journal competitions.
Unlock creativity with ocean writing workshop
ASTORIA — Oceans are the
most dynamic natural force on
the planet. They feed us, de-
termine weather, and provide
an endless source of mystery
and mysticism. Oceans also
offer many people, including
writers, inspiration for their
creative lives.
Join author and beach-
comber Matt Love for a one-
day ocean-themed writing
workshop in Astoria this
August. In this creative think-
ing, visualization and writing
workshop, Love will assist
participants to engage with
the ocean with the intent of
unlocking ways of enhancing
the personal creative process.
The workshop also calls for
a visit to the beach at Fort
Stevens State Park.
Whether you are a writer,
musician, visual artist,
photographer, woodworker,
teacher, or some other kind
of creative person, embrac-
ing the ocean as a source of
inspiration could enliven your
mind and take your creativity
in new, unforeseen directions.
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Writers, artists, teachers and environmental scientists are in-
vited to participate in an ocean writing workshop in August
taught by author Matt Love.
It also might make you feel
better.
“The ocean is a tremen-
dous part of my creative life,”
said Love, “and I discover
many of my best ideas for
writing when I walk along
the beach or watch the ocean
from afar. Thinking and
writing about the ocean is a
great way to open one’s mind.
I encourage any aspiring
writer to take the class and
write about the ocean. It’s the
easiest thing in the world to
write about and can help get
you going.”
The workshop is also ideal
for teachers of all grade levels
who want to invigorate their
noniction writing instruction
and make the study of the
ocean more exciting to stu-
dents. It might also appeal to
environmental scientists and
conservation activists who
work with the public on edu-
cation matters about the ocean
or want to think on it anew.
The workshop will be held
at the Fort George Lovell
Showroom from 10 a.m. to 4
p.m. Saturday, Aug. 27. The
cost is $90, and participants
will pay at the irst session.
Email Love at nestuccaspit-
press@gmail.com to register.
Love lives in Astoria and
is publisher of Nestucca Spit
Press. He’s the author/editor
of 14 books about Ore-
gon, including “The Great
Birthright,” his novel about
Oregon’s beaches. He writes
about the ocean for multi-
ple publications, including
Oregon Coast Today and
Oregon Coast Magazine.
He’s also taught writing
workshops at Portland State
University, University of
Oregon, Paciic University,
Clackamas Community
College and the Sitka Center
for Art and Ecology. In
2009, Love won the Oregon
Literary Arts’ Stewart H.
Holbrook Literary Legacy
Award for his contributions
to Oregon history and liter-
ature. His website is www.
nestuccaspitpress.com
Catch local guitarist at
Peninsula Arts Center
LONG BEACH, Wash. — Lo-
cal finger-style guitarist
George Coleman will per-
form at 7 p.m. Saturday,
July 23 at the Peninsula
Arts Center.
Coleman specializes in
acoustic 12-string guitar,
classical, gypsy jazz and
Latin flavor. He regularly
performs at the Shelburne
Inn Restaurant & Pub.
Tickets are $5, and all
proceeds go to the artist.
You can pay admission
at the door or call Bill at
360-901-0962.
Wine, beer, and other
refreshments will be avail-
able for purchase.
The Peninsula Arts
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Guitarist George Coleman
will perform July 23 in Long
Beach, Washington.
Center is located at 504
Pacific Ave. N.