English Writing Program
Northwest Poets' Concord
May 7-9, 2010
Hallmark Inn and Resort, Newport, OR
Dr. Sandra Ellston |
Penelope Scambly Schott |
David Hargreaves and Henry Hughes |
What do you call a gathering of sixty-five working poets? A gaggle? A pod?
How about a “concord,” a word that means “meeting” but also “with heart” and “hearts together.”
On May 7-9, sixty poets along with students from Eastern Oregon University and Newport High School will gather at the Hallmark Inn and Resort in Newport for the second annual Northwest Poets’ Concord, sponsored by EOU and the Lane Literary Guild. From 3 p.m. on Friday, May 7 until noon on Sunday, May 9, three sessions will run simultaneously each hour. The Concord culminates in a Book Fair on Sunday morning from 9 to noon where participating poets will be available to sign their books.
Sessions on Friday begin at 3 p.m. and are free and open to the public. These include presentations on myth, on beginning to write poetry late in life, on poetry and the Oregon wilderness, and on what poetry is “about.” At 5 p.m. Henry Hughes and David Hargreaves from Western Oregon University will give the keynote presentation on “Pale Imitations and Stolen Gold: What Poetry Takes from Itself” to be followed by Wine Tasting with the Nehalem Winery.
The public may also attend presentations all day Saturday for a $10 admission fee, payable at the door. This includes admission to a selection of twenty-one presentations and a reading by the Newport High School students. Saturday presenters include renowned Oregon poets Ellen Waterston, Eleanor Berry, Clements Starck, Peter Sears, Bill Siverly, Barbara Drake, Robert Davies, and Penelope Scambly Schott, Oregon’s Senior Poet Laureate. These sessions begin at 8:20 a.m. and run until 6 p.m. For local quilters, at 11 is a session on writing poetry inspired by quilts.
Sessions on Sunday are also free and open to the public. These include not only the Book Fair, but also a film about William Stafford called “Every War has Two Losers” and a session on writing poetry for literary magazines. The Book Fair runs from 9 until noon with sessions at 10 and 11. Contact organizer Dr. Ellston at 541.563.6263 for more information.