Call for entries: Veteran Artist Program

Deadline Oct. 30. FMI: http://www.veteranartistprogram.org/submissions

"Active Duty, Active Voices" book festival panel teams up Iraq War soldier-writers Brian Turner and Luis Carlos Montalvan

Luis Carlos Montalvan, author of "Until
Tuesday" with his service dog, Tuesday

The Wyoming Arts Council has been a partner in the Equality State Book Festival since its launch in 2006. The 2012 edition makes for an action-packed two days in Casper. Most of the events will be held in Casper College's shiny new Gateway Building. I urge you to attend for the many reasons spelled out in this line-up of events.

 Here are some of the highlights:

A craft talk by David Romtvedt, poet and musician, gets things going on Friday. David, who was Wyoming Poet Laureate for eight years, will speak about "Invisible Craft, Ordinary Language." I'll be introducing him in my role as Wyoming Arts Council literature guy. I'll also be sticking around to learn some things, as poets have much to teach us prose writers about craft and language.

Current Poet Laureate Pat Frolander will discuss revising, Rebecca O'Connor conducts a craft talk about "Finding your writing through blogging and journaling, and Renee d'Auost explores writing and dance. 

Readings by Romtvedt and Linda Hasselstrom enliven the afternoon. Things get started with a 1 p.m. reading by the Wyoming Arts Council's poetry fellowship winners Matt Daly and Claudia Mauro of Jackson and W. Dale Nelson of Laramie. They'll be joined by soldier-poet and fellowship judge Brian Turner, author of "Here, Bullet" and "Phantom Noise."

The happenings head downtown that evening with a reception at The Corridor Gallery, a reading by Frolander at 7:30 at Metro Coffee Company followed by a poetry slam at 8:30. The slam is always the highlight of the bookfest as you never know who's going to show up. It's been rumored that there will be music as well as poetry.

Brian Turner, author of "Here, Bullet"
 and "Phantom Noise"

Saturday is panel discussion day. Two biggies go head-to-head at 10 a.m. "Active Duty, Active Voices" features Iraq War veterans and writers Brian Turner and Luis Carlos Montalván talking about writing and war. The panel will be moderated by Casper College Professor and miltary veteran Patrick Amelotte. If you write children's books (or are thinking about it), you'll want to catch the publishing panel with Cat Urbigkit, Zak Pullen, Karla Oceanak and Kendra Spanjer.

Fiction writer and UW Creative Writing Program Professor Alyson Hagy will be the luncheon speaker -- this is the only event that has a fee.

The afternoon features a number of readings. At 3:30 p.m., there is a panel discussion, "Writing Nature, Writing Self," with four writers who know both subjects well: Frolander, Hasselstrom, O’Connor and Urbigkit. The events wrap up with a 5 p.m. book signing.

This is the fourth edition of Wyoming's statewide book festival, held each even year. It's a fantastic event with something for everyone who loves books.

Tim O'Brien leads a writing workshop on "The Things We Carry" Oct. 5 at LCCC in Cheyenne

Want to take a free writing workshop with one of America's best writers?

Tim O'Brien, author of "The Things They Carried" and "Going After Cacciato," will be at the Literary Connection at Laramie County Community College on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 5-6. On Friday, between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., he will join two other award-winning writers -- John Calderazzo and Cat Valente -- who will each conduct a free workshop. Tim is a Vietnam veteran whose work continues to explore the legacy of that conflict on the American psyche. Here are the workshop details:

Tim O'Brien: The Things We Carry

"In this workshop I'll be discussing my approach to writing fiction and will touch on such topics as the use of autobiographical materials in fiction, the principle of simultaneity, animating a story, thematic gravitas, etc."

Tim O’Brien received the National Book Award in Fiction in 1979 for his novel Going After Cacciato. In 2005 The Things They Carried was named by the New York Times as one of the twenty best books of the last quarter century.

NPR to air Memorial Day story on Utah veterans using sweat lodge ceremonies to overcome PTSD

In honor of Memorial Day, NPR's All Things Considered is airing our Deep West Radio Documentary about an unusual healing ceremony that is being offered to veterans at the Salt Lake City VA Center—a Native American sweat ceremony. Conducted by a medicine man in a dome-shaped structure or lodge, these sweats are helping veterans overcome symptoms related to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and are drawing increasing numbers of non-native veterans. This story is part of a larger documentary project called First Nation Warriors that is in development by the Western Folklife Center's Media Department.This television documentary will explore Native American service in the US military, and the warrior traditions that help returning soldiers readjust to life back home.

Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day and ballet

Roman Baca, on the shoulder of the standing male dancer, during a performance of Baca 's "Homecoming". Baca is a USMC Veteran of Iraq: choreographer & ballet dancer and co-founder of Exit 12 Dance Company of New York City. Photo Courtesy of Roman Baca. Read about Baca's lifelong devotion to ballet at American Homecomings at the Denver Post. 



Deadline is June 8 for Wyoming Arts Council poetry fellowships

The postmark deadline is June 8 for the Wyoming Arts Council creative writing fellowships in poetry.

To apply, you must be a Wyoming resident, 18 or older, and not enrolled as a full-time student pursuing high school, college or university art-related degrees. There is no entry fee.

Up to three, $3,000 awards will be given. Winning poets also will receive a $500 stipend to attend the Equality State Book Festival in Casper Sept. 14-15 and read from their work with fellowship judge, Brian Turner.

Turner is a soldier-poet and the author of two poetry collections, Phantom Noise (2010) and Here, Bullet (2005). His work is drawn from his seven years in the U.S. Army, including one year as an infantry team leader in Iraq with the 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division. Prior to that, he was deployed to Bosnia-Herzegovina in 1999-2000 with the 10th Mountain Division. Turner was also featured in Operation Homecoming, a unique documentary that explores the firsthand accounts of American servicemen and women through their own words. He earned an MFA in creative writing from the University of Oregon and has lived abroad in South Korea.

At the book festival in Casper, Turner will participate on a panel about soldier-writers with Luis Carlos Montalvan, U.S. Army Iraq War veteran and author of Until Tuesday: The Story of a Wounded Warrior and the Golden Retriever Who Saved Him.

Printable applications are available on the Wyoming Arts Council web site at http://www.wyomingartscouncil.org/. To receive in the mail, call the WAC at 307-777-7742. For more information, contact Michael Shay, 307-777-5234 or mike.shay@wyo.gov.

Soldier-poet Brian Turner is judge for 2013 WAC creative writing fellowships in poetry

Brian Turner will be the judge for the 2013 Wyoming Arts Council creative writing fellowships in poetry. He is a soldier-poet who is the author of two poetry collections, Phantom Noise (2010) and Here, Bullet (2005) which won the 2005 Beatrice Hawley Award, the New York Times “Editor's Choice” selection, the 2006 Pen Center USA "Best in the West" award, and the 2007 Poets Prize, among others. Turner served seven years in the U.S. Army, including one year as an infantry team leader in Iraq with the 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division. Prior to that, he was deployed to Bosnia-Herzegovina in 1999-2000 with the 10th Mountain Division. Turner's poetry has been published in Poetry Daily, The Georgia Review, and other journals, and in the Voices in Wartime Anthology published in conjunction with the feature-length documentary film of the same name. Turner was also featured in Operation Homecoming, a unique documentary that explores the firsthand accounts of American servicemen and women through their own words. He earned an MFA from the University of Oregon and has lived abroad in South Korea. In 2009, Turner was selected as one of 50 United States Artists Fellows.

At the Casper College Literary Conference Sept. 14-15, 2012, Brian Turner will read from his work together with the fellowship winners. He also will participate on a panel about soldier-writers with Luis Carlos Montalvan, U.S. Army Iraq War veteran and author of "Until Tuesday: The Story of a Wounded Warrior and the Golden Retriever Who Saved Him."

Here’s what critics had to say about Here, Bullet:

 "In sharp, straightforward, yet lyrical language, Turner exposes the many costs of war.” — Library Journal

“The day of the first moonwalk, my father's college literature professor told his class, ‘Someday they'll send a poet, and we'll find out what it's really like.’ Turner has sent back a dispatch from a place arguably more incomprehensible than the moon—the war in Iraq—and deserves our thanks...” — New York Times Book Review

Printed fellowship applications have been mailed to those of the WAC creative writing fellowship list. Printable apps will also be available next week on the WAC blog and web site.

The postmark deadline is June 8, 2012.

For more information, contact Michael Shay, 307-777-5234 or mike.shay@wyo.gov, or visit the WAC web site at www.wyomingartscouncil.org.

Western Underground and Suzy Boggus perform benefit concerts in Dubois Aug. 19-20

Western Underground and Suzy Boggus will perform in concert Aug. 19-20 in the Dubois Town Park. The concerts will benefit two charities – the Chance Phelps Foundation and Needs of Dubois. Tickets for each concert are $40 per person. Get tickets for both nights for $70 each. FMI: http://www.chancephelps.org/concert_tickets.htm

Tha BossFoundation performs at VFW 1881 for Fourth of July weekend concert

Get updates at Tha BossFoundation on Facebook

Dubois summer concerts to benefit Chance Phelps Foundation and Needs of Dubois

Suzy Bogguss (shown in photo) and Western Underground will perform in concert in the Dubois Town Park on Friday and Saturday, August 19 & 20. The concerts will benefit two local charities: Chance Phelps Foundation (CPF) and Needs of Dubois (NOD) 

Call for entries: 11th annual Veterans Creative Arts Festival

From a press release:

The Cheyenne Veterans Administration Medical center Recreation Therapy Department is currently accepting visual and performing art entries for the 11th Annual Veterans Creative Arts Festival.

This event is open to all Veterans who have received care or services from the Cheyenne VAMC or any of the other VA clinics in southeastern Wyoming, northern Colorado and western Nebraska. Entry Forms are due by Feb 18, 2011 and may be picked up at the Laramie County Library, VA Medical Center 2360 E. Pershing Blvd or by contacting Kristi Ruben, local coordinator at 307-778-7550x7240.

There is no cost to enter the festival. Winners from each category will advance to a regional competition with the chance to advance to the 2011 VA National Creative Arts Festival. The VA Art Competition and Show provides our Veterans with an opportunity to showcase their artistic talents and skill and recognizes the value of the arts in the healing process.

This year's local art will be showcased February 24-27 at the Laramie County Public Library with an artists' reception at 3 p.m. on Saturday, February 26.

All art must have been created after April 1, 2010, except for the Military Combat Experience entries. For a complete list of the nearly 60 categories of acceptable art and an information packet, contact the Cheyenne VA Creative Arts Festival Coordinator: Kristi Ruben at 307-778-7550 x7240 or kristi.ruben@va.gov.

Cleo Parker Robinson dancers, "The Race Show" and veterans' voices at UW MLK Days of Dialogue

Calendar of events for the 2011 Martin Luther King, Jr. "Days of Dialogue" at the University of Wyoming. This year's theme: "A decade of defining diversity through dialogue:"

Monday, January 17th
10:00 am - 4:00 pm: National Service Day, Laramie Plains Civic Center
- Restoration Projects

4:00 pm - Martin Luther King Jr. March and Supper, Albany County Courthouse
- The March will start at the Courthouse and continue to the Wyoming Union where soup will be served. WASA and Ballet 7220 will be preforming.

Tuesday, January 18th
12:00 pm - 1:30 pm - ECTL Book Discussion, "War and the Soul: Healing Our Nation's Veterans from Post-traumatic Stress Disorder" - Union East Ballroom.
Registration required. Click here.

12:15 pm - GLBTQ Cultural Panel Discussion, "Commonalities Across Culture: GLBTQ Life in Various Cultural Communities" - Union Family Room
* Pizza Provided *

7:00 pm - MLK/DOD Keynote Speaker, Common - Hip Hop artist and activist. Union Ballroom

Wednesday, January 19th
12:00 pm - B.E.A.U.T.Y. Panel Discussion, "Standing at the Crossroads of Identity" Union Family Room
* Pizza Provided *

3:00 pm - 4:00 pm - Panel Discussion "Interfaith Dialogue: Spritual Wholeness In a Fractured World" headed by Dr. Sally Palmer. Union Family Room

4:00 pm - Film Screening: "The Calling" Union Family Room

8:00 pm - Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble, Laramie Plains Civic Center
* sponsored by the Student Activities Council, transportation from and back to campus provided by SAFE RIDE. *

Thursday, January 20th
10:00 am - 11:30 am - Master Dance Class with Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble - Union Ballroom
* No prior dance experience required.

4:00 pm - Ethnic Idenity and Voice in N*GGER WETB*CK CH*NK -A conversation with the actors - Union West Ballroom

7:30 pm - N*GGER WETB*CK CH*NK: The Race Show - A & S Auditorium
* UW Student Tickets $10.00
Non-Student Tickets $27.00 *

Friday, January 21st
1:00 - 3:00 pm - "How and Why We Are Different When We Come Back: A Veteran's Perspective" Union East Ballroom

2:00 pm - A Program with The Beehive Collective Union West Ballroom

6:30 pm, 9:00 pm, 11:30 pm - FNF Movie: "The Messenger" Union Family Room

9:00 pm - Dead Prez Concert, Union Ballroom
* Hip hop music, sponsored by Friday Night Fever *

Cody's Harry Jackson got his start as Marine combat artist

Great article in today's New York Times about the U.S. Marines' combat artists' program. During World War II, the Marines has 70 combat artists and today only one remains, Sgt. Kristopher J. Battles.

One of those World War II Marine combat artists was Harry Jackson of Cody. At 18 in 1942, he was the youngest of them all. The slide show accompanying the NYT article shows one of Harry paintings. Here's the caption:

"From World War II there's a vigorously worked scene of men engaged in combat on Tarawa, painted by Harry Jackson, later an Abstract Expressionist and today a hugely successful Western painter."

View Harry's painting of the battle of Tarawa -- and the rest of the slide show -- at http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2010/07/14/arts/design/20100718-MARINES-8.html. The painting is on exhibit at the National Museum of the Marine Corps, Triangle, Virginia.

Harry was awarded a Wyoming Arts Council Governor's Arts Award in 1990. Read about his very colorful life in his equally colorful autobiography at www.harryjackson.com/biography.cfm

"The Toll of War" hits stages in Utah

From the Salt Lake Tribune:

James Svendsen believes works of art about warriors from thousands of years ago might be used to serve warriors of today. The University of Utah dramaturge is helping produce a series of staged readings of "The Toll of War," two short one-act performances cut from Sophocles' 2,400-year-old plays "Ajax" and "Philoctetes."

"Ajax" tells the story of a suicidal warrior who takes his own life after struggling to come to terms with the unjust spoils of war. "Philoctetes" is a play about a disabled soldier who is abandoned by his commander.

Svendsen said it's not hard to find modern resonance in either play. And he hopes military members and veterans of recent wars -- the performances will be staged at Fort Douglas, the Salt Lake City VA hospital and other locations where they are likely to draw a military-oriented crowd -- will walk away understanding they are connected to generations upon generations of past warriors, who also struggled to "come home" from war.

Free performances of "The Toll of War" will be staged in these Utah locations:
Wednesday, 7 p.m. » Main Library Auditorium, 210 E. 400 South, Salt Lake City
March 6, 2 p.m. » Universe City, 2556 Washington Blvd., Ogden
March 8, 11:50 a.m. » Fort Douglas Post Theater, east of the University of Utah Campus
March 13, 7 p.m. » VA Hospital, Bldg.8, 500 Foothill Drive, Salt Lake City

FMI: http://www.sltrib.com/utah/ci_14493842

Remembering Solomon Foss, WAC volunteer

Wyoming Arts Council Administrative Assistant Evangeline Bratton recruits and supervises volunteers for the agency. One of the WAC's longtime volunteers was Solomon Foss who passed away March 16 in Cheyenne. Here's a remembrance of Sol, written by Evangeline:

Wyoming Arts Council Volunteer Solomon Foss joined the WAC's Volunteer Family with his wife Wanda in 1988.

Sol, as he preferred to be called, enjoyed his time spent with others either in assembling a massive mailing for the Arts Council or to braving the early cold morning hours at Lions Park picking up debris and whatever else he would find to clear the park of trash. As he once mentioned at one of his volunteer visits to the Arts Council, he likes that time of the day when it's very quiet, no one else is around and one's thoughts are not hindered as he would pick up bottles, papers, etc., He found treasures as well as "stuff" at the park for more than 10 years.

During World War II, Sol played in the U.S. Army Band. He loved wearing his signature veteran's cap, a familiar sight that revealed his character. It was his friendly, talkative, amiable, down-to-earth character and his smile we will always remember.

Sol was a witty, sharp, and intelligent guy as he would talk to just about anyone and about any subject. He could speak in a German dialect that he learned from his German immigrant parents. He spoke often of his Army experiences, and liked to give out Hawaiian greetings as well.

The Arts Council was delighted and honored that Sol and Wanda came to the December 2008 WAC Christmas party. They also attended the annual Governor's Arts Awards dinner over the years until health reasons prevented them from coming to the event.

Sol's last stint donating his skills, time and good cheer to the Arts Council was on March 13, 2007, with labeling of the Youth Arts Month Poster mailing. He and Wanda were always happy to take the time to help us out until ill health forced them to curtail their activities and be home bound.

Whenever I would call them for an upcoming project and Sol answered the phone, he would always say: "I'll have you talk to Wanda, the boss." And then Wanda would say that both of them would be at the WAC on the appointed day.

Pat Mendoza drops by to show latest film

Denver-based storyteller and musician Pat Mendoza has spent two decades making trips to Wyoming to perform in schools, libraries and arts centers. He dropped by the Wyoming Arts Council today to talk about his latest interest -- filmmaking. Pat, a Vietnam veteran, is making a new short film about a highly-decorated woman military veteran from Wyoming. He brought us copies of his 2008 film, "In the Shadow of Giants: A Return to Makin Atoll." As is always the case, Pat has almost as many stories about the making of the film as he has included in the film itself. It's the product of seven years of research, which included travels around the U.S. and a jaunt to the South Pacific. You can view a clip from the film here: http://web.mac.com/patmendoza/Site/The_Shadow_of_Giants.html

And more info about the film from Pat's web site:

In the Shadow of Giants: A Return to Makin Island, a film by Pat Mendoza, is the remarkable true story about the recovery of the remains of the 19 Marines who were killed in action in WWII. They were buried on the island and their remains were discovered 58 years later. The recovery was made by The U S Army’s Central Identification Lab Hawaii (now called JPAC--Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command).

This film clip is part of a full hour production about, not only the recovery, but of the men who served in Carlson’s 2nd Marine Raiders in 1942. On August 19, 2006. the U.S. Navy christened the ship the USS Makin Island (LHD8) to honor that engagement.

Traditional song "E Papa" and the "Marine Corps Hymn" arranged by Pat Mendoza. Song is performed by Makin Islanders and Pat Mendoza. "Marine Corps Hymn" performed on flugelhorn by Steve Wiest. Narration and music by Pat Mendoza and Steve Wiest

"Taking Chance" debuts in Dubois Feb. 18

Reporter Addie Goss reports this on Wyoming Public Radio:

A film about a Wyoming soldier killed in action in Iraq will be shown on Wednesday, Feb. 18, in Dubois. The HBO film "Taking Chance" tells the story of Lance Corporal Chance Phelps, who died in 2004 while defending the rest of his convoy during a firefight outside of Baghdad. His body was escorted home to Dubois by Lieutenant Colonel Michael Strobl. Strobl says that journey was a remarkable one: "From the hearse drivers or the flight attendants or the cargo handlers, the ticketing agents, the pilots, they all were very moved by Chance and his sacrifice." The film chronicles that journey. It will be screened at Dubois High School on Wednesday at 6 p.m. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Wyoming Tribune-Eagle features reporter Karen Cotton interviewed actor Kevin Bacon (shown in HBO photo above), Lt. Col. Strobl and Chance's father, artist John Phelps, in a series of articles that you can read on her blog at wtecriticscorner.wordpress.com/.

Cheyenne veteran finds poetic voice

Walter Reed Mellott dropped into the Wyoming Arts Council this morning with a copy of his book, "My Heart's Poetry." This is the Cheyenne resident's first book, and he was looking for ideas on marketing and promotion. Wyomingarts had several ideas for him -- this blog post was one. He's conducted book signings at a local bookstore and at the Cheyenne Veteran's Administration Hospital. Walter's a 22-year Air Force veteran who spent some time in Southeast Asia way back when. He also read one of his military-based poems at a Memorial Day ceremony last year in Cheyenne.

Walter grew up on a farm in Pennsylvania and came to Wyoming after he joined the Air Force. He made a few detours along the way, but eventually made Wyoming his home. He wrote technical manuals for Wyoming's commuter airline, and only turned to poetry as he was recovering from a major illness in 2004.

Walter said that his most successful marketing technique is "hand-selling" through one-on-one contacts with potential readers. While it's a time intensive technique, it's effective and allows you to meet new people. It may be the best marketing plan for poets since major publishers don't publish poetry anyway and small press (and P.O.D.) poetry publishers have little or no promotion money.

You can buy a copy of Walter's book through the publisher's web site at http://www.authorhouse.com/ and http://www.authortree.com/tuscarora. Contact him in Cheyenne thorough his cell phone at 307-631-1847.

Call for entries: Veterans Creative Arts Festival

The Cheyenne Veterans Affairs Medical Center is holding an open house on Saturday, Jan. 10, 9-11 a.m., to promote its ninth annual Veterans Creative Arts Festival. It will be held in the main lobby of V.A. Medical Center on Pershing Ave. just off Converse in Cheyenne.

At the open house, veterans who are visual and performing artists may pick up an entry form at the open house. Staff will be on hand to help applicants fill out the forms. Deadline for applications is Friday, Dec. 13. The festival will be held Tuesday and Wednesday, Feb. 17-18.

FMI: Kristi Ruben, 307-778-7550 ext. 7240

Note to veterans: The Wyoming Arts Council offers Individual Artist Professional Development grants to artists, performers and writers interested in taking the next step in their careers. In the past, the WAC has funded IAPD grants for travel, attending arts conferences, web site development and many others. For info, contact Mike Shay in Cheyenne at 307-777-7742 or visit the WAC web site at http://wyoarts.state.wy.us/Grants/PApps.asp

Books & music mark veterans event

On Saturday, August 23, come to Lion's Park Ampitheater in Cheyenne and hear three-tour Vietnam veteran and author Roger Helle talk about his books, "My War Beyond Vietnam" and "A Time to Kill, A Time to Heal."

There will be music by local favorite Todd Dereemer and his band.

FMI: Contact Jay Meyer at (307) 287-2077.