Continuing to honor the lifework of Nebraska artist Tom Bartek, I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to arrange several gallery exhibits for him in 2012, commemorating his eightieth birthday. Here is part of the publicity from that time—an interview that The Rumpus published. My condolences to Tom’s friends, family, and many admirers. Rest in peace, rest in power.
In Memoriam: Tom Bartek
I’m deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Omaha artist Tom Bartek. My memories of him stretch back to my wandering into his studio when I was in high school and watching him make his serigraph prints. He was an important figure to me as a blue collar kid living on the edge of downtown in a midwestern industrial city. I remember well the distinctive lettering on the door: Tom Bartek Studio, in his own hand. I was inspired to see someone fully give his lifework over to his creative passion—and to make it and be successful, raising a family as a full-time artist. After college, working in publishing, I was fortunate enough to feature his artwork on book covers at several presses—most recently for Howling Bird Press. And it was a great honor to help him organize his multi-site 2012 retrospective, which displayed his work at three galleries simultaneously in Omaha: at Creighton, UNO, and the Nebraska Arts Council. My house is filled with his work, including several pieces that I bought and several that he generously gave me, including the landscape featured here. It was a great honor and a privilege to know and work with Tom Bartek. He was a kind, easygoing, open-hearted soul, as well as a dedicated and skillful craftsman. He was a perfectionist when it came to his artwork—retouching several of his paintings in preparation for the retrospective. I’m sharing a link to one of the articles I wrote about him in connection with the exhibit, this one published by The Museum of Americana. My deepest condolences to his family and to his many friends, collectors, and admirers. His memory and his art are great blessings to us all.
New book from Linda Watanabe McFerrin!
I’m thrilled to have worked again with Linda Watanabe McFerrin, this time on editing her new poetry book POST-Apocalyptic Valentine, forthcoming from 7.13 Books. Linda is a force of nature, and it was great to reunite with this friend and author from my Coffee House Press days. I have many fond memories of collaborating with her on the marketing of her lyrical and profound novel Namako: Sea Cucumber and editing and promoting her witty and insightful story collection The Hand of Buddha. If you are not familiar with Linda’s work, do yourself a favor and preorder her new book!
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We’ve launched a free monthly newsletter at MNHS Press. Sign up to keep track of author events, reviews, and releases.
New Poems in SLEET Magazine
Thanks to the editors of Sleet Magazine for publishing a handful of new poems! I’m happy to be included in their seriously irreverent journal, and in great company! I was honored to edit Deborah Keenan’s award-winning book Willow Room, Green Door.
I'm reading at Quatrefoil Library on April 22 with other QUEER NATURE contributors!
I’m looking forward to reading at Quatrefoil Library in Minneapolis on April 22 from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. as a celebration for the Queer Nature anthology!
Howling Bird's Jean Prokott is the new Rochester Poet Laureate!
Cheers to Jean Prokott, winner of the Howling Bird Press Poetry Prize for The Second Longest Day of the Year, who is the new Poet Laureate for her home city of Rochester, Minnesota! Read her interview in the Star Tribune!
Deadline Extended for Howling Bird Press Manuscript Contest
Join the growing list of Howling Bird Press and submit your creative nonfiction manuscript to our contest! We’ve extended the deadline to August 31, 2022!
HBP Author Interview: Jean Harper in THE REVIEW REVIEW
I’m enjoying this interview with the wonderful Jean Harper, author of Still Life with Horses, in The Review Review.
Cover Reveal for Howling Bird Press and Carrie Grinstead's I HAVE HER MEMORIES NOW
I’m happy to share the cover design, featuring art by Tom Bartek, of Howling Bird Press’s fall release. Here’s what Robert Boswell has to say about this book: “I Have Her Memories Now is a dark and beautiful collection of stories about girls and women, daughters and mothers, friendship and loneliness. The prose is exquisite, and the narratives have a way of plunging into the characters that is breathtaking. Carrie Grinstead is an amazingly talented young writer. Her stories are utterly hers; they sound like no one else. I really love this book.”
Honored to serve as a judge for the NSPA Literary Arts Magazine Pacemaker Awards
It was a great pleasure to assist the National Scholastic Press Association recently by serving as a judge for their annual Literary Arts Magazine Pacemaker Awards! I was impressed by the amount of creativity and the range of voices represented in student-produced literary magazines from across the country! Cheers to all the submitters! Click the logo below to see a list of the finalists.
THE ECHO profiles Howling Bird Press!
Many thanks to the student newspaper of Augsburg University for profiling Howling Bird Press! They write, “For aspiring undergraduate and graduate writers, there are few programs more promising than Howling Bird Press, a publishing house run through Augsburg’s MFA program in Creative Writing. With its emphasis on experiential learning and its opportunities to involve student writers at all stages of the publishing process, it is indispensable for any Auggie student hoping to cement their place in the writing industry.” Keep reading by clicking on the button below!
Howling Bird author Jean Prokott on Verse Daily!
Celebrating that Jean Prokott has a poem from Howling Bird Press’s 2021 poetry book featured on Verse Daily for January 16, 2021! Cover design for The Second Longest Day of the Year is by yours truly, using artwork by the amazing Erika Harris!
Received my contributor’s copies of Water~Stone, volume 24!
So pleased to be a part of this handsomely produced magazine,, and to have my writing including along with so many friends whose work I admire!
Included in WATER~STONE REVIEW, issue 24
I’m excited to have a new lyric essay, “Lethologica,” included in the new issue of Water~Stone Review. Many thanks to the editors for their amazing work—including this gorgeous minty green cover! Never has an airplane looked so appetizing!
Cat Dang interviewed for University of Minnesota College of Liberal Arts
My former student Cat Dang is out with her debut novel, Nice Girls, from Harper Collins. Check out this interview she did for the University of Minnesota’s College of Liberal Arts!
September 2 Instagram takeover of Grand Marais Art Colony
I’ve been posting on the Grand Marais Art Colony’s instagram all day today—check out their account at @gmartcolony, where you can see one of my favorite buildings in Midway, books I’m currently reading, and other moments from the day—including houseplants vacationing on my porch! This is to promote my upcoming poetry workshop at the Colony’s NonFest from November 4 to 5, which will be IN PERSON!
New poem in the Gay & Lesbian Review!
Proud to have a new poem, “Taking Care of Animals,” included in the September-October issue of The Gay & Lesbian Review!
Poetry Writing on the North Shore!
Come study with me on the beautiful North Shore this November! I’m teaching a poetry workshop for the Grand Marais Art Colony.
Midstream Reading Series on May 13
On Thursday, May 13, at 7:00 p.m. CST, I’m one of four readers in the Midstream Reading Series. Read more about it here:
