On Writing

I was delighted to see Julie Rinard at the Chamber of Commerce Evening with the Stars, an event honoring outstanding local businesses and individuals. Julie told me that she reads my monthly column in the Chamber’s newsletter. I do not have a by-line on the column so I asked her how she knew I wrote it. She replied, “Because it sounds like you.”

Hooray, I have a voice. But what about structure, force, brevity, clarity, color? I have not thought much about writing for years. I was required to take a writing class in law school. The course helped me become a good technical write–just the facts, ma’am. I did not have to worry about those pesky adjectives and adverbs. I did do a lot of technical writing and editing in my various jobs. As a bureaucrat, I mastered the passive voice (a bad thing) and as a consultant, I concentrated on clarity and brevity (a good thing).

Now I am writing some articles and signed up for Word Catchers, a series of writing workshop sponsored by Envision Kalama as a fundraiser for the Kalama Library. The event took place on April 23-the only sunny day in April. I took a morning class on storytelling given by Jack Hart, an editor at large and writing coach for the Oregonian. I am reading his book, “A Writer’s Coach: The Complete Guide to Writing Strategies That Work.” I plan to buy his book on storytelling when it is published next month. (Up to this time, my writing bible has been Strunk and White’s “Elements of Style”.) The afternoon workshop was Reading for Writers led by Brian Doyle. His latest book, “Mink River,” is one of the best books I have ever read. Both of these workshops were inspirational. Thanks to Mary Putka and Molly Ciancibelli for a well-planned, educational and delicious event. I urge anyone who reads or writes to attend Word Catchers next year.

Meanwhile, the Columbia River Reader is looking for writers for its new website: http://www.crreader.com/. More information is available on the website or on page 10 of the May 15 issue. That issue also contains Alan Rose’s review of “Lean on Pete” by Scappoose writer Willy Vlautin. Mr. Vlautin’s novel won two Oregon Book Awards: the Ken Kesey Award for Fiction and Reader’s Choice. He will be discussing and reading from his book at WordFest on June 7. Let’s all do the write thing!

June Activities and Opportunities

June is the calm before the hurricane of summer activities. Enjoy.

First Thursday Activities – June 2

Broadway Gallery, 1418 Commerce, Longview www.the-broadway-gallery.com/
Student Art Show and Zimbabwe Artists Project.
Reception 5:30-7:30pm. Music by Farrell Harris and Connie Wallace. Door Prizes.

Lord & McCord Art Works, 1416 Commerce, Longview http://www.lindamccord.com/
Ms. Marie with collage boxes and purses. Linda McCord will talk about digital photography and reproductions at 6pm.
Reception 5–7pm.

LCC Gallery at the Rose Center, 15th & Washington, Longview www.lowercolumbia.edu/community/art-and-entertainment/the-art-gallery/
Annual Student Art Exhibit.
Open until 7pm.

Teague's Interiors, 1267 Commerce, Longview http://www.teaguesinteriors.com/
Photographs by Mary Ann Dawkins.
Reception 5:30-7pm.

The Bistro, 1329 Commerce Avenue, Longview www.thebistrobuzz.com/
Wine tasting. Live music. Door prizes. Reservations recommended.
Hours: 5-8pm.

Cowlitz County Historical Museum, 405 Allen St, Kelso www.co.cowlitz.wa.us/museum/
“Remembering Mount St Helens,” illustrated program about Mt St Helens by author Christine Colasurdo, joined by Susan Saul and Darryl Lloyd. Audience members will be encouraged to share their stories.
Program begins at 7pm; museum open until 9pm.

Activities

May 26-June 11: “The Adding Machine.” LCC Center Stage. 7:30pm. $8 adults, $7 students/seniors. LCC Rose Center for the Arts, 15th Ave & Washington, Longview Wash. Info: 360-442-2682.

June 7: WordFest Willy Vlautin, award-winning writer from Scappoose. 6-8pm. The Brits, 1427 Commerce, Longview, Wash. Info: 360-425-3430x280.

June 8: Lower Columbia College Jam Bank Concert
June 10: Lower Columbia College Symphonic Band Concert
June 14: Lower Columbia College Jazz Band Concert
June 16: Lower Columbia College Community Choir Concert
7:30pm. Wollenberg Auditorium, LCC Rose Center for the Arts, 15th Ave & Washington, Longview Wash. Info: lowercolumbia.edu/community/art-and-entertainment/music/.

Opportunities

Call for Vendors: The Longview Downtowners are seeking vendors for produce, crafts, art, flowers, plants, food, etc. for new downtown community market. 12' x12' booth space; $15 daily fee. Friday Night Market will open June 3, 4-9. Info: Jeannette Palfy 360-903-3329 or jeannette.live@gmail.com.

Call for Vendors: Kelso Downtown Spring Fling seeking artists, crafters, food vendors, etc. June 18, 10-4. Booths available for $15. 203 S. Pacific Avenue, Kelso, Wash. Info: 360-423-4816.

Call for Artists: Broadway Gallery seeking artists for their Miniatures show, July 1-30. Any medium; 2-D art, no larger than 5”x7” framed; 3-D art no larger than 4”x 4”. Info: 360-577-0544.

Children’s Auditions: Missoula Children’s Theatre Company will audition children grades 1-12 for Snow White & the 7 Dwarfs. June 27, 10am. Show performance will be July 2 at 3 and 5:30pm. Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts, 1231 Vandercook Way, Longview, Wash. Info: 360-575-8499.

Mountains and Madonnas

Mount St. Helens 30th Anniversary
May 18, 2010 is the 30th anniversary of the eruption of Mount St. Helens. I was living in Alaska at the time, so I do not have story (See May 16th below). The volcanic eruption that is impacting Europe resonates more with me because I was trying to fly out of Alaska at Christmas time when Mount Redoubt erupted in 1989. A KLM flight flew through the ash, lost all its engines and flights stopped for several days. (The plane did land safely at the Anchorage airport.) I was luckier than most frustrated travelers because I lived near the airport and could drive back and forth several times a day to check on flights and get to sleep in my own bed. But many families had flown in from the Bush and were stuck sleeping on the floor of the airport for up to 5 days. Kudos to Alaska Airlines. Their employees didn’t know any more than anyone else, but they were nice.

I have been working with the Mount St. Helens Anniversary Planning Committee for several months. The committee decided to celebrate the event throughout the 2010 tourist season. Everyone is invited to plan a new or promote an existing activity throughout the state. The Committee will promotion and advertise activities in three different categories: Signature Events (“It’s all about the 30th Anniversary”), Related Mountain Events (It’s all about the Mountain”) and Regional Events – everything else that is happening. A number of the signature events are taking place starting May 15th. (Check the Mount. St. Helens@30 calendar at CowlitzToday.com for all the activities.)

• May 15th - The Mount St. Helens Institute has organized the annual "It's a Blast" event at Coldwater Lake and Johnston Ridge, focused on volcano science in your back yard.
• May 16th - Cowlitz County Tourism Bureau is featuring a "Tell Your Story" event and display at the Hoffstadt Bluff Visitors Center. This event will highlight oral histories of firsthand accounts of the 1980 eruption.
• May 17th - The Mount St. Helens Visitors Center operated by Washington State Parks Recreation Commission will host a special event.
• May 14th to 18th - The Forest Learning Center operated by Weyerhaeuser, will be open extended days. Normal days of operation are Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
• May 18th - Official Commemoration Program, Seismic Exhibit Unveiling and Amphitheater Ceremonial Ground Breaking at Johnston Ridge Observatory. The program will feature elected officials remarks culminating with a visual presentation by the National Geographic Magazine, highlighting the magazines M.S.H. 30th Anniversary May 2010 edition.
• August 14th - The "Awesome Hike" This ten mile hike starts early and goes from Johnston Ridge

Here are some websites that are covering all the activities:

Mount St. Helens Cowlitz County Tourism Bureau (official Web site)
http://www.visitmtsthelens.com/

Mount St. Helens Cowlitz County Tourism YouTube Channel (videos about Mount St. Helens)
http://www.youtube.com/user/CowlitzCountyTourism

Mount St. Helens Cowlitz County Tourism on Facebook (click the Facebook icon at top left of page, then log in)
http://www.visitmtsthelens.com/

Mount St. Helens Institute
http://mshinstitute.org/

Mount St. Helens Twitter Institute- get daily updates on what the volcano did 30 years ago
http://twitter.com/mshinstitute

Mount St. Helens Information Resource Center
http://www.mountsthelens.com/

Mount St. Helens Information Resource Center Twitter
http://twitter.com/mountsthelens

Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument - US Forest Service
http://www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/mshnvm/

Mount St. Helens - Natures Discovery site
http://www.mt-st-helens.com/index.html

I was impressed with the members of the committee because they were very interested in having art activities connected to the anniversary. To this end, the two Visitor’s Centers – Mount St. Helens (Mile 5, SR 504) and Hoffstadt Bluffs (Mile 13, SR 504) - are available for use by arts organizations. So far, two visual arts groups are mounting exhibits at the Silver Lake Visitor’s Center. For the Love of Art will be there May 18 to May 31 and the Columbian Artists Association will be there the month of June.

If you would like to plan a special activity or have an activity promoted by the committee, please send me a comment.

First Thursday Activities – June 3
Be sure and check out the Icons at Teague’s Gallery on June First Thursday. Bernadette Weber has been teaching an Icon Class at Teague's and student icons will be featured.

I was first introduced to Icons when I traveled to Russia in 1982 and visited many Russian Orthodox churches. An icon (from a Greek word for “image’) is a religious work of art. The icon is generally a flat panel painting of Jesus, Mary, saints, angels or the cross. I would have loved to purchase one but it was illegal to take Icons out of the country. So I had to wait until 1991 when an Alaskan artist, Bryan Birdsall, had an exhibit of Icons. My Icon is a copy of a 15th century Russian Icon.

Broadway Gallery, 1418 Commerce www.the-broadway-gallery.com/
The featured artists are Gini Smith (painting), Scott McRae (painting) and Gallery Students (various media).
Reception: 5:30 – 7:30pm. Music by John Crocker.

LCC Gallery at the Rose Center, 15th & Washington http://lowercolumbia.edu/gallery/
Annual Student Art Show. (Exhibit runs May 27 – June 11.)
Open until 7:00pm.

Longview Public Library Koth Gallery, 1600 Louisiana www.longviewlibrary.org/artschedule09.html
The featured artist is David Huffman (Photography)) (Exhibit closes June 3.)
Open until 8:00pm.

Lord & McCord Artworks, 1416 Commerce http://www.lindamccord.com/
The featured artist is Mike Smith, wood turning. Alan Brunk will be demonstrating collograph printing and Linda McCord will give a class in screen printing for children and adults.
Reception: 5:00 – 7:00pm.

Teague’s Interiors Mezzanine Gallery, 1267 Commerce http://www.teaguesinteriors.com/

Teague’s will be featuring Icons from the class taught by Bernette Weber.
Open until 7:00pm.

Java Joy Coffee House (in The Treasure House), 1252 Commerce Avenue
Featuring artists from For the Love of Art. www.ftloa.org/
Open until 7:00pm

ZoJo Coffee, 1335 14th Avenue http://www.zojocoffee.com/
Featuring a selection of African art from the private collection of Brian and Dana Cummings.
Open until 7:00pm.

The Bistro, 1329 Commerce Avenue www.thebistrobuzz.com/
Wine Tasting. Live music. Door Prizes. Reservations Recommended.
Hours: 5:00 - 8:00pm.