Brenda Peterson’s Delightful New Kid’s Book
Catastrophe by the Sea is now out to excellent reviews. Watch this stunning book trailer of Catastrophe by the Sea, with artwork by Caldecott Award Medalist Ed Young. Enjoy!
The Black Earth Institute selects fellows based on demonstrated artistic accomplishments, commitment to engagement in their communicates, and a dedication to upholding the values of BEI. BEI sponsors fellows to work on specific projects over the course of their appointments, but is proud to have fellows which exemplify the mission of BEI throughout all their work. We are pleased to showcase the work of our fellows and scholars below.
Scholar Spotlight: DJ Lee
Congratulations to DJ Lee for submitting her book, Remote: Fifteen Years Through the Wilderness, to Oregon State University Press for print last week. DJ and her new book were chosen by the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association (PNBA) for the “7 Coming-Up Author Showcase”. The 7 Coming-Up event...
Fellow Spotlight: Claudia Savage
Claudia Savage is an Arab American poet, essayist, and performer; and is a member of the Portland-based performance duo Thick in the Throat, Honey. Her BEI project revolves around a book she is currently writing, “Metal Used for Beauty Alone,” which discusses the experiences of those affected by the Syrian refugee crisis....
Spotlight on Jaqueline Johnson
BEI Fellow Jaqueline Johnson’s work uses creatively interweaving art forms; frequently, she turns to quilts and poetry to express emotions regarding current events and social injustices. Currently, she is creating a collection and curating an exhibit which explores in depth the modern relationship of the Black community with police forces,...
Fellow Spotlight: Alexis Lathem
Congratulations to Alexis Lathem on her residency with the Marble House Project! The Marble House Project residency program focuses on the integration of conservation and earth-centeredness with artistic work, and encourages artists to forge community connections through their art. Alexis is using the residency to develop her project as a...
Fellow Spotlight: Petra Kuppers
This week we are delighted to spotlight our Fellow, Petra Kuppers! Petra has pioneered the community performance project Salamander that “uses underwater photography, dry performance workshops, creative writing, clay work, and video… to find our disabled beauty emerging from the deep…” As a disability performance scholar, Petra has led...
Faculty Spotlight: Debra Marquart
STONECOAST MFA IN CREATIVE WRITING When and how did you first start to take yourself seriously as a writer? What enabled you to make this shift, and what marked the change? I was a performing musician before I became a writer. I had always been interested in writing and studying song...