Wednesday, July 27, 2016

NEW REVIEW FOR EILEEN TABIOS

One of the greatest compliments to a poem or poetry project is when they generate new poems from an inspired reader. So in sharing this new review of Eileen Tabios' THE CONNOISSEUR OF ALLEYS we also are happy to share a new poem that it generated!

Joey Madia describes his review process: "the following is a poem formed from 27 lines taken from my 9 previous reviews of Tabios’ work (3 lines pulled from each). Using a combination of I Ching–inspired coin tossing and one of my own random generator algorithms that I use for my experimental prose projects, the lines have been reformed in what I hope will be both a testament to not only the form and substance of Tabios’ poetic tapestry as I have written about it over the years and a testament to Tabios’ ability to inspire and co-create from afar, through the power of her words and fearless pursuit of new forms to deliver them."

You can see the entire review HERE at New Mystics Reviews, BookMasons and Literary Aficionado, but here's the poem the "reviewing" process created (with its clever non-punctuated end/opening):


“dieci da nove”


I forgot the hooks are finely barbed and grab you in the deepest places. I forgot each line begins with the phrase “I forgot” which was inspired by a Tom Beckett poem that began in the same manner. I forgot the condition of the artist and one’s Identity (geographically, sexually, psychologically) are key subjects in the considerable volume of work Tabios has created. I forgot poets have been either continually revising their poems (e.g., Whitman’s Leaves of Grass) or taking found texts, etc. to create works for a long time now… 

I forgot, if poetry, like all writing, is a form of autobiography, then the path to the Truth is lined with thorns and nails and broken glass, at the end of which are myriad locks. I forgot the riches to be mined are as endless as the possibilities emerging from Tabios herself. I forgot ancient wisdom says that once you find the moon, you no longer need the finger that points to it. I forgot that we, the Readers, are the locks into which the various and sundry keys are meant to enter. 

I forgot there is always counterpoint, yin and yang, light in dark. I forgot “The Color of a Scratch in Metal” and “The Fairy Child’s Prayer” are so beautiful, one could read them in meditation over and over, losing all sense of time and place and gaining new perspectives as doors are thrown wide. I forgot scores do not necessarily reflect Math aptitude, but a slew of other deficiencies in Communication. I forgot that the age of Empire was not overcome and obliterated, but merely morphed into the age of the Multinationals. 

I forgot Tabios is not only a talented wordsmith, and visual artist of language—she truly is an innovator. 

I forgot Dostoyevsky and Freud put forth the notion that it is impossible for an autobiography to reveal the Truth because of our penchant for self-delusion and both positive and negative exaggeration. I forgot the rich wordsmithed novels of the Victorian and Edwardian age, when books were thick and wordy because they were expensive and had to last the reader a good long while. I forgot how much I enjoy creating narrative from the nigredo of cultural reference and biographical minutiae. I forgot I’ve always admired Hunter S. Thompson and Sebastian Junger… 

I forgot Oscar Wilde said that the future of fiction is to “reveal the innermost workings of [wo]man’s soul”… then the coupling of reviewer and reviewed is an essential mechanism for opening the locks. I forgot the source material is reconstituted in exquisite couplets full of enjoyable word play and just the right amount of sexual zing to bring a nearly constant smile to one’s face. I forgot it is up to the reader to find unity in disparity; to be the catalyst in an alchemical transaction (a hieros gamos) that rises beyond Reality into the etheric realms where the nigredo of our art is born(e). 

I forgot many of the poems have no end punctuation, leaving the thought, the situation, the moment unfinished, as they so often are 


Hello to Tom Beckett, another Marsh Hawk Poet! We thank Joey Madia for this wonderful review with its clever title that translates to "ten made from nine" (the 10th review from 9 prior reviews)!



Monday, July 25, 2016

2016 MARSH HAWK PRESS POETRY CONTEST WINNERS!

2016 Marsh Hawk Press Contest Judge Mark Doty  has announced the results.

Congratulations to the Winners and Finalists!

Winner of the Fourteenth Annual Marsh Hawk Press Poetry Prize
Robert Gibb
Winner of the Robert Creeley Memorial Award
Lisa Hartz
Winner of the Rochelle Ratner Memorial Award
Steven Sanchez
Finalists
Walter Holland, Susan Lewis, James Grabill, Margaret King, Ray Keifetz, Jake Young, Jessica Johnson, Cherene Sherrard, Rebeccca Kinzie Bastian, Shane Neilson, Lucy Ricciardi, Rich Murphy, Daneen Wardrop, Judith Montgomery, Ioanna Carlsen, George Kalamaras, Arthur Brown, Julie Babcock, Paul Hellweg, Jeff Walt, W. Nick Hill 


More information is available at the Marsh Hawk Press website.


Sunday, July 24, 2016

NEW PAUL PINES READING

You are invited to a poetry reading featuring Paul Pines and Patty Crane. Information is available in the following flyer--click on image to enlarge:




Friday, July 15, 2016

X-PERI REVIEW OF EILEEN TABIOS' LATEST BOOK


Daniel Y. Harris and Irene Koronas have reviewed Eileen R. Tabios' latest book, THE CONNOISSEUR OF ALLEYS, for X-PERI. You can see the entire review HERE, but here's an excerpt:
“I forgot a mirrored face only partially owns its reflection….I forgot a long-haired woman exists, but outside the frame as has been reality for centuries.” 

         In this small excerpt, Eileen R. Tabios explores the objectification of women as the historian’s intrepid clichĂ©. Who will see past the body, past the skin, past the allure modeling itself for the pleasure of others? Of course, “outside the frame” we are reminded, “a mirrored face only partially owns its reflection.” The rest is owned by the strong poesis of voice, a voice tuned to the spirit of the ellipse. It contains a multitude of how we forget to remember, and in so doing fill forgetting with absence.

Thursday, July 14, 2016

BASIL KING EXHIBITIONS 2016-2017



NEWS: Exhibitions of Basil King art in 2016 – 17

Basil King: Between Painting and Writing --September 2 to December 31
curated by Vincent Katz and Brian Butler, at the Black Mountain College Museum & Arts Center, Asheville, NC.   
            This show, will also include texts of King’s poetry and his covers for poetry books and journals, along with                  paintings using images from playing cards.
For more information: info@blackmountaincollege.org

The schedule for the opening weekend is:

     Thursday, September 1:  Film screening and poetry reading ("Basil King: MIRAGE" a 23-minute film of King in his studio and many art works), and a reading of poetry and prose-poetry by Basil)  7 to 8:30 pm. 

     Friday, September 2:  Opening reception at the exhibition, 5:30 to 8 pm. Basil will give a gallery talk about his work at 6:45.

     Sunday, September  4:  Workshop on Reading, Writing, and Editing:  Martha King and Basil King will share their experiences reading and editing each others work.  Workshop will include brief readings, critiques, and audience discussion of process.  10 am to noon. 



            
Basil King’s Birds, October 28 to November 19
curated by Tom Patterson, at St. Andrews University, Laurinburg, NC.  
            This show, focusing on King’s bird images, is part of a semester-long Black Mountain College Festival, with many exciting artists in residence for short visits.
     Opening reception for the exhibition, October 28, 2016 
            For more information and scheduled activities:  Ted Wojtasik - wojtasik@sa.edu or
            Whit Griffin - whit.griffin@protonmail.com

NOTE: These two North Carolina events overlap for the duration of the St.Andrews show.  Laurinburg and Asheville are 230 miles apart, a drive of about four hours.




 Art of Basil King, Opening February 25, 2017
John Molloy Gallery, 49 East  78th Street, 2nd floor, New York.
            This will be the first solo New York exhibition of Basil King’s work since his historic exhibition of “Green Man” paintings at Poets House in 2010.  More information to come this fall. NEWS: Exhibitions of Basil King art in 2016 – 17

Basil King: Between Painting and Writing --September 2 to December 31
curated by Vincent Katz and Brian Butler, at the Black Mountain College Museum & Arts Center, Asheville, NC.   
            This show, will also include texts of King’s poetry and his covers for poetry books and journals, along with                  paintings using images from playing cards.
For more information: info@blackmountaincollege.org

The schedule for the opening weekend is:

     Thursday, September 1:  Film screening and poetry reading ("Basil King: MIRAGE" a 23-minute film of King in his studio and many art works), and a reading of poetry and prose-poetry by Basil)  7 to 8:30 pm. 

     Friday, September 2:  Opening reception at the exhibition, 5:30 to 8 pm. Basil will give a gallery talk about his work at 6:45.

     Sunday, September  4:  Workshop on Reading, Writing, and Editing:  Martha King and Basil King will share their experiences reading and editing each others work.  Workshop will include brief readings, critiques, and audience discussion of process.  10 am to noon. 



            
Basil King’s Birds, October 28 to November 19
curated by Tom Patterson, at St. Andrews University, Laurinburg, NC.  
            This show, focusing on King’s bird images, is part of a semester-long Black Mountain College Festival, with many exciting artists in residence for short visits.
     Opening reception for the exhibition, October 28, 2016 
            For more information and scheduled activities:  Ted Wojtasik - wojtasik@sa.edu or
            Whit Griffin - whit.griffin@protonmail.com

NOTE: These two North Carolina events overlap for the duration of the St.Andrews show.  Laurinburg and Asheville are 230 miles apart, a drive of about four hours.



 Art of Basil King, Opening February 25, 2017
John Molloy Gallery, 49 East  78th Street, 2nd floor, New York.
            This will be the first solo New York exhibition of Basil King’s work since his historic exhibition of “Green Man” paintings at Poets House in 2010.  More information to come this fall. 


Wednesday, July 13, 2016

GALATEA RESURRECTS REVIEWS SANDY McINTOSH, TANA JEAN WELCH and PAUL PINES

You are invited to read Galatea Resurrects' latest poetry reviews, including on three Marsh Hawk Press books:

Neil Leadbeater reviews A Hole in the Ocean: A Hamptons’ Apprenticeship by Sandy McIntosh.  An excerpt:

The truth of the matter is that our going is not particularly missed or even noticed – such is the brevity of life and all it has to offer. McIntosh has a way of making us aware of this fact by seasoning it with intelligence, foresight and wit. Between the lines, there is something here that is at once deep, engaging and profound.



Chris Mansel reviews Latest Volcano by Tana Jean Welch. An excerpt:

Latest Volcano, the new book by Tana Jean Welch, isn’t understated or sitting quietly on a shelf somewhere. No. It’s a bold book whose cover art should tell you what you are in for. A woman’s head is blinded and appears to be lying back as you pick it up and look at it. As you turn it around you will read what a couple of people have to say about it. Then walk to the counter and buy it. How is that for a review?



Eileen Tabios presents a mini-review engagement of CHARLOTTE SONGS by Paul Pines. An excerpt:
 
With CHARLOTTE SONGS, Paul Pines has crafted a most moving and charming paean to a father-daughter relationship. Here, he offers poems celebrating his life with his daughter. I open the book at random--I know all of the pages will provide pleasure or satisfaction so why choose?