Writers

Незлим тихим словом (A kind, quiet word)

Posted on

Back in November, I was invited to participate in a reading of Ukrainian American writers at the Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art in Chicago.

I’ll admit to being a bit nervous before the reading at UIMA. It was a new venue for me, and I was uncertain of the audience: Who would attend? How would the Ukrainians like my selection from The Silence of Trees?

Any anxiety was unfounded; the audience was gracious and enthusiastic. I even ran into a few people I hadn’t seen in years. I thoroughly enjoyed the readings by the other Ukrainian American writers: Anya Antonovych-Metcalf, Michael Beres, Ksenia Rychtycka, and George Wyhinny.

Ukrainian American Literary Voices Reading at UIMA. Here we are pictured with the two organizers (Anna Golash and Sonya Arko) on opposite sides of the group.
Three of us had been students (at St. Volodymyr Ukrainian School) of the artist Alexandra Kochman. Pictured: George Wyhinny, Alexandra Kochman, Valya Dudycz-Lupescu, and Anya Antonovych-Metcalf

Such diverse voices, genres, and themes in our writing, and yet there were familiar echoes . . . of sacrifice, displacement, hope. There were references to Chernobyl, to WWII and the DP camps. Ukrainian words peppered the prose: familiar names and places.

As I listened to the other readings, I found myself thinking about our little sampling. Was there something that connected our work as Ukrainian American writers? Something that set us apart from other ethnic American poets, dramatists, novelists, artists?

Clearly our worldview and voices have been shaped by certain defining historical events of the 20th century. Shared traditions and language influence our imagery and help to define our characters. But what does it mean to be a Ukrainian American writer/artist in this day and age?

I didn’t come up with answers, only more questions. But I think that for writers and artists, questions can be better. They encourage us to seek, to stretch, to challenge, to uncover, to make connections. Questions fuel us. They certainly motivate me.

I was grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the event and happy for the time I had to chat with the other writers. I would have liked a few more hours to sit down with them around a large table, perhaps over coffee or tea, to talk about our inspiration and experiences. I look forward to the next time our paths cross, and I hope that it’s soon.

Big Shoulders

Posted on

Along with literature, I have always had a passion for history. I think it comes from my parents and grandparents trying to impress upon me at a young age the importance of my roots.  They always taught us that we build upon the foundation of those who came before us.

When I learned about the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame, I saw it as an opportunity to honor my literary ancestors: historic Chicago writers like Gwendolyn Brooks, Studs Terkel, and Saul Bellow; as well as important living writers, such as Ray Bradbury, Stuart Dybek, and Gene Wolfe. Stuart, in particular, is near and dear to my heart, not only because he is an excellent writer, storyteller, and craftsman, but also because he indirectly set me on the path I follow today.

Back in 1996, I was a student at the School of the Art Institute in the inaugural class of their MFA in Writing Program. I had just decided to switch from Law School to Writing, and art school seemed the perfect place for me.

I had been mostly writing nonfiction and some poetry, and the themes that kept emerging in my work were ideas of identity, mythology, roots, and displacement. Then one day in the Fall, I was sitting in a guest lecture by Stuart Dybek. He read from The Coast of Chicago and talked about his process, and something inside me of me clicked and came alive.

As I listened to him, I realized that I had been trying to intellectualize what I really needed to tell as a story. I went home and wrote the first three chapters of what became The Silence of Trees. Stuart’s writing and his talk that day, reinforced the idea that fiction doesn’t have to be about lofty ideas and monumental characters–it could be about ethnic, familiar characters found in the neighborhoods of Chicago, it could combine realism with the fantastic, it could put two seemingly opposite things together to show something in a new light.

After that, I thought a lot about Chicago writers–the stories they choose to tell, the characters they capture and bring to life. When I first read about Donald Evans’ idea to start a Chicago Literary Hall of Fame, I felt a similar kind of click inside, not unlike Mircea Eliade’s hierophany. It was a moment of destiny and purpose–I wanted to be a part of this.

I was (and continue to be) inspired by the thought of creating a lasting tribute to great Chicago writers. I agree very much with Isaac Newton when he wrote, “If I have seen a little further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants.” In Chicago, we have some fantastic literary Giants to honor.

So the event is now three days away, and it has evolved into something special:

LITERARY EVENT OF THE SEASON
INAUGURAL INDUCTION CEREMONY
CHICAGO LITERARY HALL OF FAME
Saturday, November 20, 2010
6 p.m.-10:00p.m.
Northeastern University
3701 W. Bryn Mawr Avenue, Chicago, IL
Parking Lot F

Emcee: Rick Kogan

Complimentary appetizers, desserts and drinks, including beer and wine
Ticket Price: $45
Chicago Writers Association Members/Students $35
Tickets Available at http://clhofinduction.eventbrite.com
or call 773.414.2603

Honoring:
Nelson Algren
Saul Bellow
Gwendolyn Brooks
Lorraine Hansberry
Studs Terkel
Richard Wright

At 7 p.m., the ceremony begins with Chicago journalist and radio legend Rick Kogan taking the stage to emcee an evening artfully orchestrated by Marc Smith, founder of the poetry slam movement. Among those accepting the posthumous honors of their famous writer relatives are Greg Bellow, Nora Brooks Blakely, Dan Terkell, Dana Smith (grandniece of Richard Wright) and Taye Hansberry (grandniece of Lorraine). Photographer Art Shay will accept for Algren. Complementing those most honored guests are a diverse collection of Chicago’s artistic community, all of whom have come together to join in this celebration. Representatives of the artistic community will be authors Audrey Niffenegger, Stuart Dybek, Haki Madhubuti, and Sara Paretsky; actors Gary Houston and Jackie Taylor; and the Nelson Algren Committee. Attendees will be entertained with vocal performances, as well as by local literary and theatrical groups.
·        6-7 p.m. Pre-ceremony reception (drinks and hors d’oeuvres)
·        7-9 p.m. Ceremony
·        9-10 p.m. Post-ceremony reception (drinks and desserts)
Parking:    Free         Dress:     Business Casual

I can’t believe that the Induction Ceremony is this coming weekend. It’s been a long road, and now it’s nearly here.

Along the way, I have learned a great deal and met amazing people. Truth be told, that’s my favorite part of this process—the people I’ve met from all areas of Chicago’s Arts communities: writers, musicians, sculptors, performers, journalists. I’m a firm believer in the magic that can happen when people from different perspectives and disciplines collaborate. The Chicago Literary Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony is an example of that collaboration.

I hope that you can join us this Saturday, November 20, at Northeastern Illinois University, to experience some of that magic for yourself.

http://www.chicagoliteraryhof.org/

Unexpected gifts

Posted on

Last month at the launch party for The Silence of Trees, I saw several friends and family I don’t see nearly enough. Among them was a high school friend I hadn’t seen in two decade.

Michelle Conte Sylvia and I reconnected on Facebook while I was still living in Germany. I was immediately impressed by Michelle’s art and vision, and we’ve stayed in touch, tossing around a few ideas of collaboration for the future.

Michelle and her husband came to the Book Cellar, and Michelle gave me my first book signing gift! (How strange and lovely to be on the receiving end!) I now have a lovely print and seasonal room spray that I’ve already used on several occasions when friends have dropped by.

The title of the print is Protector of Confidence, and this is from Michelle’s description of the piece:

“The tree represents me, the heart hanging by a limb is symbolic of Confidence, My Heart and My soul. The owl is wise and a great protector waiting on a branch to swoop in and protect. This is extremely symbolic since I am really declaring that I will face my fears this year and expose my soul by creating and sharing more of that with you.”

Follow the link to read about Michelle’s experience of the launch party and her reading of The Silence of Trees on her blog, The Blackberry Briar.

This week I also received my first of Michelle’s hand-poured soy candles in the mail: Papa’s Cedar Chest. It’s burning beside me while I type this: a clean, earthy, comforting smell. I can’t wait to try other scents, especially those Fall and Winter holiday-inspired: Spiced Pumpkin, Coffee House Latte, Pumpkin Cheescake, Cider Mill, Pumpkin Latte.

In the above photo of gifts, you can also see a beautiful book aptly titled a book of books by Abelardo Morell. A gift from my dear friend Alison in Paris, the extraordinary book features photographs of unusual books combined with provocative quotes. It is an amazing collection of books as treasured objects.

The night of the launch party, I received a note from my youngest cousin, who’s just a few years older than my oldest daughter. Last but not least, it speaks for itself:

I want to say thank you. Thank you for the gifts, for the support, for the encouragement. Thank you for taking the time to read The Silence of Trees, for spreading the word, and for writing reviews. Thank you for being the readers I dreamt about as a child and hoped for when I was writing. Thank you.

xxo