Numb toes and the architecture of the novel

Hello Friends of Fishtrap,

Ursula Le Guin, Molly Gloss, and Tony Vogt brought three distinct but complementary voices to the 19th Winter Fishtrap Gathering this past weekend, as a record crowd of participants explored the theme "Learning from Women." We were especially pleased this year to have healthy representation by the under-30 crowd.

While Summer Fishtrap emphasizes the "good writing" part of Fishtrap’s mission, Winter Fishtrap has traditionally focused on the "clear thinking" aspect, functioning as more of a think tank than a writing workshop. Still, we continued last year’s experiment to include more writing at Winter Fishtrap, and were delighted with the especially strong open mic session on Sunday.

Thanks to all for helping to making Winter Fishtrap a success!

On the homestretch with the BIG READ

I got home from Winter Fishtrap on Sunday afternoon, went for a 30-mile bicycle ride to clear my head under sunny skies (which didn’t keep my toes from going numb), then joined Fishtrap staff and volunteers on Monday in welcoming former Billings, Montana police chief Wayne Inman, who spoke to adults and students on the "Not in Our Town" movement which arose in response to white supremacist hate crimes in Billings.

From Portland to Wallowa County, Oregon has its share too, and Wayne held about 100 middle school students’ attention as we discussed the need for communities to take responsibility for responding to hate crimes.

Join us on Thursday night, February 25, 7 pm at the Fishtrap house for a discussion led by Peace and Justice and Non-Violent Communication representatives Nick Lunde and Walter Smith, as we focus on solutions rather than problems.

Former La Grande librarian Jo Cowling will host a noon brown-bag lunch seminar at the Toma’s Conference Room in Enterprise on Friday, February 26 on the subject of "Citizen Diplomacy in Iran." This will be another example of people working together to overcome fear and stereotypes.

And we still have a few tickets to the Finale event on Sunday, February 28 at 5 pm. It’s a potluck dinner at the Hurricane Creek Grange Hall. Fishtrap will provide barbecued pork ribs, the Grange members will bake Southern desserts and their traditional pies, and we ask you all to bring a side dish, Southern if possible. Dinner will be followed by a talk by Mark Mathabane, author of the best-selling authobiography Kaffir Boy, about growing up in apartheid South Africa. Tickets are $10, available at the Bookloft, the Wallowa public library, Mt. Joseph Foods, and Fishtrap.

WHAT HOMESTRETCH?

The Big Read will soon be over, but there are plenty of Fishtrap events coming up, including one for which you don’t have to leave home. Join us Saturday evening, February 27, at the "Stay At Home and Read a Book Ball." It’s a creative fundraiser for Fishtrap – stay home, read a book, and send us a donation for the dinner and show you didn’t go to. Oh, and include the parking meter charge, too. Go to http://readabookball.blogspot.com/ to sign up and tell us all what you’re reading.

Our second Fishstock celebration of music, words, and art in The Dalles will be Saturday, May 15. How about Rosalie Sorrels, Dan Maher, Kate Power & Steve Einhorn, Heart & Hammer for music, and Robin Cody and Clem Starck with the words? And MC’ed by Jonathan Nicholas? Sounds like a fine time to me. Go to http://fishstockoregon.net/ for ticket information.

If you’re looking for a Fishtrap experience that’s a bit longer than one evening, check out one of these:

For five days guaranteed to generate lifelong memories, sign up now for our Writing on the River experience with renowned Montana writer and film producer Annick Smith. You’ll work with Annick every morning and evening, float the Snake River during the day, and enjoy fine food and company in the bargain. Fishtrap’s "Director Emeritus" Rich Wandschneider will be along, as will Hells Canyon naturalist Jan Hohmann. And we hope to rendezvous with Tracy Vallier, geologist extraordinaire. See http://www.fishtrap.org/rivertrip.shtml for details.

If you’re ready to give that novel inside you a chance to get out, we are accepting registrations NOW for the yearlong workshop "The Architecture of the Novel," with author Jane Vandenburgh. Says one of her students from the 2008-2009 class, "She’s a powerhouse, a wizard, the most generous teacher I’ve ever had." Learn more at http://www.fishtrap.org/yearlong.shtml. The deadline for manuscript submissions is May 1.

　

FISHTRAP FRIENDS

We were pleased to hear that former Fishtrap Fellow Jennifer Munro, former Fishtrap writer-in-residence Ellie Belew, and recent Fishtrap participant Ruby Murray were among 16 artists selected to participate in Artist Trust’s 2010 EDGE Professional Development Program for Writers. At the end of the program, the artists will present their work at Jack Straw Productions in Seattle, on Friday, March 26. See www.artisttrust.org for more info.

Winter Fishtrap participant Judith Johnson tells me that Sandra Steingraber, cancer survivor and author of the acclaimed book Living Downstream, will explore the environmental links to human cancers at a talk on March 4 at 7:30 pm at Chism Hall, Whitman College, Walla Walla.

That’s it for the moment. I won’t see you on Saturday night, as I’ll be home reading a book. Just finished Riding the White Horse Home, by Teresa Jordan (thanks, Molly Gloss, for that Winter Fishtrap suggestion). Think I’ll pick up Robin Cody’s new book, Another Way the River Has.

Cheers,

Rick Bombaci, Executive Director

Going viral, animal crackers, and revenge

Hello Friends of Fishtrap,

The H1N1 virus has been a no-show in Wallowa County, but the BIG READ has gone viral. We keep finding out about groups of people who are reading To Kill a Mockingbird, and discussing it – at home, at work, with friends. Let us know if you are one of those groups or individuals reading the book along with us!

Fishtrap took over the Wallowa County courtroom for a presentation by Portland lawyer Steven Goldberg on the connection between legal battles and social change. His conclusion? Social activism is often a prerequisite for judicial decisions that change the status quo.

Meanwhile, Enterprise elementary school students were reading The Well, by Mildred Taylor, about ... well, let’s let the kids tell us what it’s about:

... if someone hits you and you hit back it could go on forever ... if you make a mess, you have to clean it up ... don’t be mean just because you can ... if you think you are the best, you aren’t ... be kind and treat people equally ... racism is wrong ... you can never be too sure about anyone ... use your head instead of your fists ... sometimes good things can come out of the bad ... hitting someone will resolve in bad ways.

And my favorite: ... revenge is not always so sweet.

Coming up:

To Kill a Mockingbird, the movie, 1962, black and white, Gregory Peck. At the OK Theatre, Monday, February 15, 7 pm. Admission by donation. Need I say more?

In a presentation entitled “Speak Peace in a World of Conflict,” Catherine Matthias, Nick Lunde, Judy Wandschneider, and Chris Geyer, Wallowa County residents all, will lead a discussion of the basic principles of nonviolent communication, universal needs, and the many shades of feelings. They will also do some role modeling of productive and nonproductive communication methods. At the Fishtrap house, Thursday night, February 18, 7 pm.

SUMMER FISHTRAP

Well, I guess I misspoke last week. Summer Fishtrap info is not yet online, but should be no later than the 18th. Brochures will mail on March 12, and registration opens April 1. This year the theme is “Matter and Spirit,” and our faculty will include:

John Daniel, Brian Doyle, Karen Fisher, Charles Goodrich, Ehud Havazelet, Holly Hughes, Ursula Le Guin, Jack Loeffler, Amy Minato, Robert Michael Pyle, Kirsten Rian, Beth Russell , Cosy Sheridan, Jack Shoemaker, Gary Snyder, Jane Vandenburgh, and Elizabeth Woody.

The scholarship application process for Summer Fishtrap is open now. Applications must be in our hands by March 15. Go to www.fishtrap.org/scholarships.shtml.

FRIENDS & FUNDRAISERS

Our good and longtime Fishtrap friend Mary Schlick was featured on OPB’s Art Beat recently. As OPB reminds us, Mary “has devoted the last four decades of her life to preserving Indian basketry traditions from the Mid-Columbia region. Using plant fibers gathered from the Columbia River Gorge area, including roots, grass, and birch bark, she crafts a variety of basket styles. More than simple bags to carry food, these baskets hold a wealth of symbolism for Native Americans.” You can watch the show online at http://www.opb.org/programs/artbeat/segments/view/660

No, this isn’t one of Mary’s baskets, it’s the oldest and classiest of our Fishtrap donation baskets. The newest and least classy is a clear plastic tub, formerly home to miniature animal crackers. And speaking of donation baskets, our Development Director Kathy Sewell has been hard at work bringing back Fishstock and launching some new fundraisers.

Fishstock 2010, Fishtrap’s one-day celebration of music, words and art, will brighten your day on Saturday, May 15, in The Dalles. Last year’s inaugural event was great fun – plan to join us this year for the second go-round, with musicians Rosalie Sorrels, Dan Maher, Kate Power and Steve Einhorn, and the duo Heart and Hammer. Writer Robin Cody (Ricochet River, Voyage of a Summer Sun) and poet Clem Starck will read from their work, and that eloquent Welshman Jonathan Nicholas will MC. More details soon.

By the way, Voyage of a Summer Sun is about Cody’s 82-day canoe trip down the Columbia River, so Robin should feel right at home in The Dalles.

And now for Kathy’s idea of a night out on the town:

"Hi everyone. Welcome to the ‘Stay Home and Read a Book’ Ball. I hope all of you will take this opportunity to read an old favorite, a new intriguing literary work, or just fulfill a hidden pleasure. Some of you may read our 2010 Big Read selection, To Kill a Mockingbird, while others might enjoy the time to look at one of the new exciting graphic novels that are being published. Please choose any book, then blog on at http://readabookball.blogspot.com and tell us what you are reading. Become a follower so that you can see what other Fishtrappers are reading. AND please support Fishtrap by sending us a contribution that would equal a ‘night on the town.’ You can donate by going to www.fishtrap.org/donate.shtml. We appreciate your on-going support, and I look forward to meeting you on the blog!"

I don’t know about you, but life is so busy here in Wallowa County that the thought of doing nothing but reading a book sounds pretty darn good. So that’s what I’m going to do.

Bye,

Rick Bombaci
Executive Director

Who is YOUR Mockingbird?

Hello Fishtrap Friends,

The Big Read is about half over, and I think most folks would agree that it has been a wonderful series of events so far. Other, that is, than one misguided attempt to show the film Blood in the Face while downloading it in real time over the Internet, amply demonstrating the inadequacy of Fishtrap’s connection speed as the film re-buffered. But it also gave moviegoers a chance to discuss, every 10 minutes, each scene from the film.

I was especially pleased with our recent group discussion, led by Katie Boyd, Angie Lunde, Don Harker, and Colleen Dunne-Cascio, entitled “Who Is YOUR Mockingbird?” It was an invitation to examine our own prejudices and privilege, and the audience participation was vigorous. Thanks to all for helping to make The Big Read a two-way street.

Monday night, February 8, we’ll be showing the 2008 film Prom Night in Mississippi. It’s a true story. “It may amaze many viewers that in this day and age, an American high school would retain separate proms for black and white students,” says Dennis Harvey at variety.com. “But such is the reality of Prom Night in Mississippi, which scrutinizes a pint-sized town’s travails when the school board finally consents to ‘try out’ a first-ever colorblind fete. An upbeat portrait of youth anxious to shed their elders’ prejudices.” Show time is 7 pm at Mutiny Brewing, Fishtrap, and the Wallowa Public Library.

But come an hour early, because on the 8th we’ll also be hosting discussion groups to share thoughts and responses to the book To Kill a Mockingbird. Each discussion will be hosted by a Fishtrap representative with a few starter questions to get the ball rolling at 6 pm.

And remember that on Wednesday, February 10, at 7 pm, Portland lawyer and activist Steven Goldberg will “take the stand” at the Wallowa County Courthouse to talk about unpopular legal causes and social change. You may want to read two relevant New Yorker articles beforehand. Links are available at www.fishtrap.org/tbr.shtml.

“How the work of lawyers relates to broader social movements is a very different perspective on the law than the one presented in To Kill A Mockingbird,” notes Goldberg. “The work Atticus did reflected his moral beliefs, but was related only temporally to the broader changes wrought by the civil rights movement. Of course we’ve always valued the strong moral stands taken by individual lawyers; many of the judges in the South took unbelievable risks in issuing decisions upholding equality under the law. But the question is whether lawyers and judges who see their work as a part of broader social movements are more instrumental in creating social change.”

If you’d like to hear To Kill a Mockingbird read in an authentic Southern female voice, tune in to KPBX radio on Monday through Thursday evenings at 6:30, when Susan Creed reads on The Bookshelf program through February.

Fellowship apps closed, but SCHOLARSHIP apps OPEN

The Fellowship deadline has passed, but not before we received over 130 submissions for Summer Fishtrap. Results will be announced by March 20. Up to five winners will get a free ride to a workshop and the Gathering.

On the other hand, applications are still open for several scholarships that Fishtrap offers to Summer Fishtrap. The application deadline is March 15. The Sally Bowerman Scholarship is for working women. The Bryn Lunde and Frank Conley scholarships are for people under 30 years old. Download complete scholarship info at www.fishtrap.org/scholarships.shtml.

Info on Summer Fishtrap will be posted at our website by February 11.

FISHTRAP FRIENDS

Poet Penelope Schott will be giving a number of readings in February and March. Among them are appearances at Broadway Books with Henry Hughes on 2/16, Looking Glass Books with Peter Sears on 2/25 (both in Portland), and the Cloud and Leaf Bookstore in Manzanita on 3/13. Penelope says, “I promise not to be boring or obscure.”

A worthy promise.

Until later,

Rick Bombaci
Executive Director