![16 SPARK { Humanities Washington Magazine FALL/WINTER 2014
Iwantedtomodeltohim,andmodeltothe
group,thatpeoplecanagreetodisagree,
andwecandoitwithrespectandcivility.
Wedon’thavetoreduceourselvestothe
psychologyofabruteandbesoforcefulwith
ouropinionsthatnobodylistensanymore.”
Disagreementswillpersist,Griffeyagrees,
andnoteverysocialproblemwillbesolvedat
aThink&Drink.AfterhisMarchevent,he
says,“Definitely,somepeoplewerestill
tryingtoholdontotheideathatthingsare
lessbadinSeattle,andthatsomehowmakes
theissueslessurgent.”
“Peopleframe[racial]issuesbothinterms
ofdownplayingthem,aswellaserasingthe
fact[that]thereareongoingstruggles.”
“Think&Drinkisaveryseductiveidea,”
Reyessays.“Itgetsyourattention.ButI
thinkwhatIexperiencedis,it’sreallyabout
theinformalityofthesetting—being
outsidetheclassroom,beingoutsideof
school,andbeinginthecommunity.”
“I’mfondofalliteration,”hesays,“soIlike
theconceptthat‘courageousconversations
createcompassionatecommunities.’
KING COUNTY
NakedCityBrewery&Taphouse
8564 Greenwood Ave. N., Seattle, WA 98103
The Royal Room
5000 Rainier Avenue S., Seattle, WA 98118
SPOKANE COUNTY
Lindaman’s Gourmet Bistro
1235 S. Grand Blvd., Spokane, WA 99202
PIERCE COUNTY
Engine House No. 9
611 N. Pine St., Tacoma, WA 98406
YAKIMA COUNTY
Gilbert Cellars Tasting Room
5 N. Front St., Yakima, WA 98901
The Humanities Washington Think & Drink program brings hosted conversations on
provocative topics and new ideas to pubs and tasting rooms around the state. Since Think
& Drink began in Seattle in 2011, it has expanded to Tacoma, Yakima, and Spokane.
We are excited to share details about the next events we have scheduled for the fall.
Panelists will explore a range of perspectives around a theme introduced earlier this year:
Race,PlaceandCulture. Past events tackled topics that have included prohibition, consumerism,
morality, religion, history and politics.
Individual events will explore an array of topics related to theRace,PlaceandCulture theme
through the voices and perspectives of scholars, artists, journalists, and members of the
audience. See page 27 for details then consider joining us for one, or several, of these
thought-provoking events!
“Webelievethissetofeventswillsparkconversationaboutthehumanitiesina
waythatissimultaneouslyprovocative,uncomfortable,civilandfun,allin
placeswherepeoplealreadyfeelcomfortablegathering.”
–ZakiAbdelhamid,HumanitiesWashingtonprogrammanagerforThink&Drink
YOU CAN GO
Think & Drink events are offered
at five locations around the state:
MORE ONLINE
We are finalizing even more events. For the latest Think & Drink events visit, humanities.org/calendar
YouraisethecollectiveIQofacommunity
whenithasthecouragetotalkaboutthings
thatpeoplemightdisagreewith.
Itwasn’tabouthavinganintellectuallovefest,
havingpeoplecometogetherandtalkabout
thingstheyagreeupon.It’sabouthowyou
createasafespaceinwhichtounderstand
eachotherbetter.”](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/a8cef88c-e9d7-4831-ab9b-dd244d324f68-150429172710-conversion-gate02/85/HW_Spark-Magazine-Fall2014-16-320.jpg)
HW_Spark Magazine-Fall2014]
- 1. Honoring Storytellers Across Our State 40yearsofconversation,communities andmemories humanities.org FALL/WINTER 2014 Humanities Washington sparks conversation and critical thinking using story as a catalyst, nurturing thoughtful and engaged communities across our state. ALSO INSIDE An Original Poem by Jess Walter • Page 17 | Bedtime Stories • Page 19 | Speakers Bureau 2015-2016 • Page 21
- 2. FALL/WINTER 2014 FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR...............2–3 PROFILE......................................................4–7 ShortRunPresscelebratestheartofthe‘zinewiththeirannual ComixandArtsFestival. COVER STORY..........................................8–12 HumanitiesWashingtoncelebrates40yearsofstorytellingand communityengagement. WA POET LAUREATE ................................... 13 ElizabethAustenbuildsandsharesapoetrylegacy. IN THE FIELD........................................... 14–16 OurThink&Drinkprogramcontinuestosparkconversation inpubsandtastingroomsacrossthestate. SONG OF SPOKANE .............................. 17–18 AnoriginalpoembyJessWalter. BEDTIME STORIES 2014............................19–20 SPEAKERS BUREAU...................................... 21 New2015-16SpeakersBureaupresentersannounced. 5 QUESTIONS........................................ 22–24 SpeakerT.AndrewWahldiscussescomicbooksandhowthey reflecthistory. WHY THE HUMANITIES..........................25–26 HistorianandjournalistJimKershnerreflectsonthelasting impactofthehumanities. CALENDAR...................................................27 NEWS & NOTES...........................................28 ABOUT HUMANITIES WASHINGTON..... 30–31 INSIDE Thissaying waswritten byFrenchcritic, journalistand novelist Jean-Baptiste AlphonseKarr in1849.And wheneveritis mentionedtoday itstillringstrue –especiallyinrelationtothehumanities. Thatiswhywehavedecidedtofeatureitasa themeforthestoriesinthisissueofSpark. These days we are sparking conversation in the field, at libraries and airports, in pubs and tasting rooms, and yes – online through our blog and social media. We have included stories in this issue about new, innovative programs, like the Short Run Small Press Fest (on page 4) which delivers the worlds of ‘zines and DIY publications to the greater Seattle community. At the same time, a scrapbook of our work from the past 40 years (starting on page 8) illustrates a lasting, core purpose: to spark conversation and critical thinking using story as a catalyst. Washington Poet Laureate Elizabeth Austen is continuing this legacy as she tours the state (see page 13). The face of Washington is changing, and our programs are following suit, while remaining true to our mission. In a recent issue we told you about the theme of our 2014 Think & Drink series: Race,Placeand Culture. In the spring, discussions in Seattle and Spokane tackled race and class in education, race in film, and Seattle’s civil rights history. This fall, we’ll continue the FromtheExecutiveDirector SPARK is published semiannually by Humanities Washington, 1015 8th Ave. N., Suite B., Seattle, WA 98109. Founded in 1973, Humanities Washington is the state’s flagship nonprofit for public humanities programming. Opinions expressed in Spark are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Humanities Washington, its trustees or its staff. Spark is distributed free of charge via U.S. Mail and through a network of partner organizations throughout the state. For information about editorial content, sponsorship opportunities or to be added to the Spark mailing list, contact the editor at spark@humanities.org or 206.682.1770. Copyright © 2014 Humanities Washington, all rights reserved. HUMANITIES WASHINGTON PROGRAMS GROW TO ENCOURAGE MORE STORYTELLING Themorethingschange,themoretheystaythesame By Julie Ziegler | Humanities Washington executive director 2 SPARK { Humanities Washington Magazine
- 3. 3SPARK { Humanities Washington MagazineFALL/WINTER 2014 Two unidentified boys look for work in this image, “Pea Pickers on the Move Near Auburn,” taken by Lt. Col. Floyd H. Oles in 1938. | Photo courtesy of the Washington State Historical Society A young woman shares a point during a Humanities Washington-sponsored event. | Photo from the Humanities Washington archives MORE ONLINE Sign up for Spark 5, our monthly e-news: humanities.org/signup Join us on social media: Humanities Washington @HumanitiesWA conversation in Seattle, Tacoma, and Yakima. Read more on page 14. And we have lots going on in the Spokane community. We are thrilled to introduce a new poem in this issue by Jess Walter, titled SongofSpokane (see page 17). In the WhytheHumanities?article (on page 25), Jim Kershner shares how the HopeinHard Times traveling exhibit at the Spokane County Library promoted community conversation. To date, this exhibit has reached more than 6,000 Washingtonians, through installations in museums, historical societies, libraries, and soon, at the Sea-Tac Airport. Our programming continues to serve the state, giving people opportunities to discuss and interpret their experiences, to learn more about their neighbors, and to discuss what it means to be human. That’s why we’re excited to announce the line-up of Speakers Bureau presenters for 2015-16 (see page 21). As the stories in this magazine illustrate, the more our programs adapt and change to reach new audiences, the more they reflect the same unwavering focus on our core work: to spark conversation using story as a catalyst. Check out these stories in this Fall/Winter 2014 issue of Spark and then plan to join us in conversation at an event and on social media. Withsincereappreciation, JulieZiegler,ExecutiveDirector
- 4. 4 SPARK { Humanities Washington Magazine FALL/WINTER 2014 Puttingtogetherashowcasededicated tosmallpressesisnotunlikeoperating asmallpress:Everythingyoucan thinkofthatneedstobedone,youhave todoyourself.ArtistsEroynFranklinand KellyFrohdiscoveredasmuchin2011, whentheylaunchedthefirstShortRun ComixandArtsFestival. “We were sort of naïve,” Froh recalls now. “We didn’t have any money. Every expense that came up, we just split or came up with a way to make money at a bake sale to pay ourselves back. It was kind of off the cuff – we really didn’t know if anybody would attend.” But like their work as independent, self-published creators, the results proved artistically satisfying. More than 800 people visited that first six-hour Short Run, held at Seattle’s Vera Project music enclave. Attendance ballooned two years later, when the third Short Run festival took place at Washington Hall in Seattle’s Central District and drew more than 1,500 visitors. “We can really thank Seattle’s arts and literary communities for taking a chance on us in 2011,” Froh says, “because we came out of nowhere, and nobody knew what our name meant or what we were doing.” For purposes of explaining the festival, “small press” often means really, really small ... like one person, creating and selling books one after another. “Short run” is a publishing term for a limited print edition, in which only a relatively Profile SHORT RUN COMIX AND ARTS FESTIVAL Alookathowthepopulareventcametobe By Jefferson Robbins | for Humanities Washington Short Run Comix and Arts festival organizers, (left to right) Janice Headley, Eroyn Franklin and Kelly Froh juggle the cascade of submissions for the 2013 event. l Photos by Alex Stonehill
- 5. 5SPARK { Humanities Washington MagazineFALL/WINTER 2014 small number of a certain book are produced. Many of the participants in Short Run — writers, poets, comic artists, and designers — have created works with print runs as small as fifty or so. These are not artists and writers who make a book and shop it around to publishers. They conceptualize it, put it together, and market and sell it themselves. The book itself might be a work of art, using collage or unorthodox printing methods. Froh and Franklin have been in the small press world for years. Franklin got her start in 2007, eventually producing the graphic novels “Detained” and “Another Glorious Day at the Nothing Factory.” Froh’s ‘zines and semi-autobiographical mini-comics include “The Cheapest S.O.B.s,” “Puke Stories” and “Beating Up Little Brother.” Each piece has been a solo labor of love. “In my case, I make really short-run books, like maybe 50 copies of a book that I’m photocopying four blocks away from my house, and I’ll take them home and collate them and staple them and all that,” Froh says. At the festival, “You need to make decisions on how best to spend your time and how much money to spend on that project.” That budget-rate, do-it-yourself-ism is visible when visitors peruse the tables at Short Run, Froh says. “I think you’re going to see people that have black-and-white ‘zines that are maybe just folded – maybe the staples put them over budget.” A move last year from the Vera Project to Washington Hall in Seattle’s Central District opened up the space for those tables — and there were more of them than in the debut year. Roughly ninety exhibitors displayed their wares at the 2011 debut show, growing in 2013 to about 120. The reach has extended beyond Seattle and the Northwest too, pulling in local talents like comic artists Peter Bagge and Colleen Frakes, as well as British creator Sam Bell and Alex Longstreth from the Center for Cartoon Studies in Vermont. Janice Headley, a Short Run co-organizer and an events promoter with Seattle’s venerable Fantagraphics Books, said the festival seeks out exhibitors who are new to Seattle audiences. For instance, at the “Morethan800peoplevisited thatfirstsix-hourShortRun, heldatSeattle’sVeraProjectmusic enclave.Attendanceballoonedtwo yearslater,whenthethirdShortRun festivalsetupatWashingtonHall inSeattle’sCentralDistrictand drewmorethan1,500visitors.” Eroyn, Janice and Kelly collaborate on each of the steps to make a ‘zine: draw, cut, fold, staple.
- 6. 6 SPARK { Humanities Washington Magazine FALL/WINTER 2014 Olympia Comics Festival in 2012 the group recruited China Faith Star, a multimedia artist whose books layer images atop each other to new effect. “I think that’s kind of what fuels Short Run — that experience of discovering new artists every year,” Headley says. Last year, a grant from Humanities Washington helped fund Read/Write. The November 29 interactive reading event at the Vera Project took place the night before the 2013 festival began. Led in part by artists David Lasky and Greg Stump, the venture fostered engagement between authors and the audience. That engagement has become a necessary part of DIY creation, as Froh learned when she started doing her own public readings of her comics in 2012. “I realized that I was engaging with the audience on a more intimate level,” she says. “… They were more apt to come and talk to me about (my work) and maybe buy a book. Sitting behind a table with your books out, people who come by are looking at a lot of things. You really only get two seconds to engage with people when they’re just passing by, so I think performance is a great way for them to get to know you.” Headley helped steer Read/Write in its Vera Project space. Two poetry readings started the day, followed by performance pieces and panels, including one on women in comics featuring veteran creator Roberta Gregory. A focus on international artists led the organizers to broaden their recruitment of Above: Short Run Board Members Nina Ingram and Mita Mahato talk with visitors to Short Run’s table, as a festival goer contributes to a collaborative comic mural in another room.
- 7. 7SPARK { Humanities Washington MagazineFALL/WINTER 2014 exhibitor-artists from other countries: show, six international creators are shortlisted to attend the 2014 festival. Read/Write proved so successful, in fact, that it won’t exist in that form for this year’s convention. Instead, it will permeate the entire event and even spread beyond it, staging performative and informational programs on the day of the fest and in interim gatherings throughout the year. For example, during the festival itself, poet Elissa Ball plans to murmur her work into the ears of passing guests, while Michelle Peñaloza leads a walking tour to sites where love went wrong as part of her poetry project, “landscape/heartbreak.” “After Read/Write and after seeing how enriching all these panels were, our first thought was, ‘Gosh, I wish more people could’ve gotten to see these,” Headley says. “So we’re hoping that by taking this new approach, more people can experience what Short Run has to offer.” Short Run just achieved 501(c)(3) nonprofit accreditation. Now, organizers Above: Up close and personal at the Festival with more than 1,500 festival goers. l Poster designed by John Porcellino YOU CAN GO What: Short Run Seattle Comix & Arts Festival When: Saturday, Nov. 15, 2014 Where: Washington Hall 153 14th Ave., Seattle Admission is Free MORE ONLINE For more information, visit shortrun.org hope to offer artist-friendly meet-ups in the festival offseason. “We want nights where we can info-share; where artists can talk about things that are important to them,” Franklin says, citing examples like Photoshop image tutorials and watercolor workshops. “… We want to have events like that, where people can learn and grow as artists.”
- 8. 8 SPARK { Humanities Washington Magazine FALL/WINTER 2014 FortymilessouthofHumanities Washington’sheadquarters,the organization’sarchivesoverflowwith stories,projectsandmemoriesfrom aroundthestate.Since1973,Humanities Washingtonhasworkedwithvariedgroups andinstitutionstorealizeparticular projects.Thesefortyyearsofactivityhave leftbehindarobustrecordofthepeople andcommunitiesthathaveenrichedlifein Washingtonstate.Aspartofitsfortieth anniversary,HumanitiesWashington looksbackatsomesnapshotsfromitspast. Serving communities ranging from the Filipino cannery workers known as “Alaskeros” to the elementary school students of Seattle’s South End, Humanities Washington’s programs gave groups the resources to tell their stories in personal and dynamic ways. These programs varied widely in form, from traveling photography exhibits to opera singers in classrooms, from sharing oral histories to constructing parade floats. These examples serve as reminders of the myriad of ways Humanities Washington has promoted and shaped the humanities in the state. We’re excited to share them with you, and we look forward to forty more years of helping the people of Washington tell their stories. 40 YEARS OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT By Sam Dunnington | for Humanities Washington CoverStory
- 9. 9SPARK { Humanities Washington MagazineFALL/WINTER 2014 SeattleOperaGoestoClass Spearheadedin1998bySeattleOpera’slateeducationdirectorPerryLorenzo,Experience Operaputstudyguides,operalecturersandperformersinover40classroomsacross Washingtonstate.Inadditiontothemusicitself,studentsstudiedthecultureandpoliticsthat helpedshapeopera.Asafinaltreat,theSeattleOperamadeticketsavailabletostudentsfor theirdressrehearsals.Sevenhundredticketsweredistributedtostudentsfrompublicand privatehighschools,andcorrectionalfacilities. Roslyn’sBlackPioneers Takingtheirnamefromtheroughly1,000blackmenthatarrivedinthesmallWashingtontown ofRoslynin1888,theRoslynBlackPioneersHistoricalSocietywasfoundedintheearly1980sto promoteWashington’sblackhistory.SpearheadedbycommunityleaderEthelFlorenceCraven, thePioneersengagedinavarietyofcivicactivitiesincludingbuildingparadefloatswithhistorical themes.In1993,thePioneersreceivedagrantfromHumanitiesWashingtontosupporttheir float-buildingactivitiestocelebrateJamaicanheritage.ThePioneerstouredtheirfloatacross thestatethatyear,continuingtheirtraditionofentertainingandeducatingWashington’scitizens abouttheproudanddifficulthistoryofWashington’sblackcitizens. LoggersandPoets WhenWashington’sloggersweren’tfellingtrees,manyofthemwerewritingpoetryandsinging songstopassthetime.Theirartwaslargelyconfinedtologgingcamps,however,untilthe1993 SilverLakeLoggerPoetryFestival.Thefestivaldrewover200peopletotheSilverLakeGrange Halltoseetheeightloggerpoetsperformoverthecourseofasingleevening.Washingtonlogger LonMinkler,whoperformedatthefestival,recalledhowhegothisstartforaninterviewwiththe CowlitzCountyAdvocate.“Iwouldwritealittleverse,generallynotverynice,aboutoneofthe riggingcrew,”hesaid.“IftheylikedacertainverseIsenttothem,they’dtakeithome.” ToBeYoung,GiftedandBlack Whenthen-artisticdirectorTimBondproducedLorraineHansberry’s ToBeYoung,Giftedand Black attheGroupTheaterin1994inSeattle,hesawtheplayasanopportunitytoconnectwith school-agedaudiences.“Iwantedtousethisasaninspirationtokids,tomakethembelievethey hadsomethingtoofferintheirEnglishclasses,”Bondsaid.HumanitiesWashingtonpartnered withtheGroupTheatertodevelopstudyguidesandwritingpromptstoaccompanythe production.Byencouragingstudentstocontinueexploring ToBeYoung,GiftedandBlackafter attendingtheplay,theGroupTheaterhelpedstudentsthinkcriticallyabouttheissuesthat Hansberrystruggledwithandencouragedthestudentstoseewritingandperformanceasa meansofconnectingthoseissuestowhattheywereseeingaroundthemintheirownlives. Loggers in front of Silver Lake Grange. | Photo from the Humanities Washington archives Group Theater in action. | Photo by Chris Bennion Black Pioneers Historical Society Jamaican heritage float. | Photo from the Humanities Washington archives The late Perry Lorenzo in the classroom. | Photo from the Humanities Washington archives
- 10. 10 SPARK { Humanities Washington Magazine FALL/WINTER 2014 ConnectingtoHomethroughPhotography PhotographerJoelSackettspentmuchofhistimeawayfromhisBainbridgeIslandhomeduring theearly1990s.WhenhetriedtosettlebackintolifeonBainbridge,hefeltdisconnectedfrom theplacesandpeoplearoundhim.Sackettbeganshootingportraitsoffellowislandresidentsin 1994asameanstoexploreandrediscoverhishome.AgrantfromHumanitiesWashington fundedanexhibitionofSackett’sportraitsinauniquevenue.Theywereprintedanddisplayed inthewindowsoftheWinslowHardwareandMercantileStoreindowntownWinslow.“I wantedtheviewingoftheworktobeinpublic,tosparkconversationsaboutthecontentofthe photographs,”saidSackett.Houseboatfamilies,farmersandgrinningteenagersallappearin Sackett’sphotographs,providingthecommunitywithavisualrecordofitsownvariety. TellingaTrans-Pacificstory SomanyFilipinoimmigrantsworkedinAlaska’scanneriesduringtheearlytwentiethcenturythat theyearnedtheirownnickname:theAlaskeros.Buttheirstorywasnotwidelytolduntil1986,when HumanitiesWashingtonpartneredwithSeattle’sCanneryWorkersUnionLocal37todevelopthe exhibit PioneerAlaskeros.SpearheadedbyphotographerJohnStamets,theexhibitusedportraitsand oralhistoriestoillustratethestrugglesandsuccessesoftheAlaskeros.Theexhibitreceivedalmost 40,000visitorsatlocationsaroundWashingtonstate.EvergreenStateCollegeProfessorPeter Bacho,whoadvisedfortheexhibit,remembersitwithgreatfondness.“Myfatheranduncleswere allAlaskeros,”hesaid.“I’mveryproudtohavebeenassociatedwiththeproject.” HistoryBroughttoLife By1990,IntimanTheatre’sLivingHistoryprogramhadreachedover20,000audience membersinschoolsandruralcommunitiesacrossWashingtonstate.Theprogramfeatured week-longresidencies,inwhichIntimanactorsstagedscenesthatservedasspringboardsfor historicaldiscussionanddebate.The1992seasonfeaturedperformancesofAntigone,which addressedissuesthatincludedcommunity,democracyandpersonalchoice,aswellasscenes from AMidsummerNight’sDream,whichhighlightedissuesofmoralresponsibilityandsexual politics.DecaturHighSchoolteacherPatSmithwrote,“Nopermanentclassroomprogram hasbeenaspopularinthelastthreeyears.” ForgingConnectionswithScholars-in-Residence EachparticipatingschoolhostedaspecializedscholarandanartistaspartofHumanities Washington’sScholars-in-Residenceprogram.Beginningin1983,claysculptorsarrivedin classroomsalongsidearthistoriansandpianistsdiscussedmusicwithjazzcritics,inweek-long residencesacrossthestateofWashington.AttheDixieSchoolinWallaWallaCounty,naturalbiolo- gistLarryEickstaedtandpoetEmilyWarrenworkedwithelementaryschoolstudentstoconduct scienceprojectsandreadpoetry.Thetwowrote,“Observationsofthenaturalworldareusedtomake entriesintoanaturalist’sjournalandareincorporatedintostoriesandpoems.Thelessonplanhelps studentstoseetheconnectionbetweenscientificexperimentandpoeticexpression.” Exhibit portraits. | Photos by John Stamets Intiman performer Amy Terry in the classroom. Photo from the Humanities Washington archives Larry Eickstaedt and Emily Warren in the creek. Photo from the Humanities Washington archives Life in Winslow. | Photo by Joel Sackett
- 11. 11SPARK { Humanities Washington MagazineFALL/WINTER 2014 TheArtandLifeofGordonVales In1973,artistGordonValesleftthementalinstitutionhehadmovedintotwentyyearspriorand begansupportinghimselfbysellingtorn-papersilhouettes.A1980documentarytitledTheSilhouettes ofGordonValesexploredhisexperienceoflivingwithadisability.Supportedwithagrantfrom HumanitiesWashington,thefilmwasreleasedduringatimewhenitwasstillrelativelyrarefora personwithadisabilitytoliveindependently.Theco-sponsoringorganizationwastheArcof Spokane,whichworkstoensureahighqualityoflifeformentallyanddevelopmentallydisabled people.Inadditiontomanagingtheproductionofthefilm,theArcusedVales’sstoryasacatalystfor aseriesofpublicdiscussionsontheattitudessurroundingdisabledcitizensintheSpokanearea. TheTerkelSealofApproval Amongthe23,000peoplethatcrowdedintoSeattle’sPier48forthefirstannualNorthwest BookFestivalin1995wasAmericanauthorandhistorianStudsTerkel.“I’veattendedlotsofthese bookevents,”saidTerkel,“andasfarasI’mconcerned,yoursandSanFrancisco’sarethebest.” BesidesheadlinerslikeTerkel,thefestivalincludedhundredsofbooksellers,multiplepanel discussions,andachanceforkidstobindtheirownbooks.OrganizedbyThe SeattleTimes,the PacificNorthwestBooksellersAssociation,andHumanitiesWashington,thefestivalwasopento thepublicandfreeofcharge.Bytheendoftheweekend,however,organizershadreceivedover $28,000indonationsfromattendees,whichwenttoorganizationsdedicatedtofightingilliteracy. BringingTearsofJoytoWashingtonState Duringitsfirstfewdecades,HumanitiesWashingtonrepeatedlypartneredwiththeOregon- basedTearsofJoyTheatertohelpbringpuppetshowstoschoolsacrossWashingtonstate. Theproductionsrangedfroma1981mask-theaterproductionentitledFacesinTimetothe company’s1995BetweenTwoWorlds,apuppetshowbasedonthefamousJewishplayTheDybbuk. TearsofJoyperformanceswerefollowedbydiscussionsandthedistribuionofstudyguides inordertoconnectthehumanitiescontentofthepuppetshowswiththelivesofthestudents watching.ThecompanywonaWashingtonGovernor’sArtsAwardin1991,andcontinuesto beperformedinthewesternUnitedStates. CelebratingWashingtonStories ForeverygroupofpeopleinWashingtonthathastheirhistorypreservedinarchivesandmuseums, therearemanymorethatlackaforuminwhichtosharetheircommunity’spast.Withthisinmind, HumanitiesWashingtonpartneredwiththeEthnicHeritageCouncilandtheMuseumofHistory &Industry(MOHAI)in2007todeveloptheWashingtonStoriesproject,whichsoughtoutseveralof Washington’sethniccommunitieswithunder-examinedoriginsandinvitedthemtodesign exhibitsthatwouldsharetheirstorieswiththerestofthestate.Inadditiontothetouringexhibits, eachgroupgaveaseriesofpublicperformancesatthegrandopeninginJanuary2007.Byproviding institutionalsupportandtechnicalassistancetothesegroups,theWashingtonStoriesprojecthelped preserveandcelebratethehistoryofourstate’straditionallymarginalizedethniccommunities. Festival program and book bound at the event. Photo from the Humanities Washington archives Faces in Time promotional photo. | Photo courtesy of Tears of Joy Theater Croatian Fraternal Union performance at MOHAI. Photo from the Humanities Washington archives Torn paper tiger silhouette. | Photo from the Humanities Washington archives
- 12. 12 SPARK { Humanities Washington Magazine FALL/WINTER 2014 Tacoma’sLongshoremenWriteTheirPast Inordertopreservetheunsungworking-classhistoryoftheirport,thelongshoremenof Tacoma’sInternationalLongshoreandWarehouseUnionLocal(ILWU)23joinedforceswith HumanitiesWashingtonin1979.Conceivedbylongshoreactivist,PhilLelli,theproject broughttogethertheILWU’sarchives,localhistoriansandthepersonalstoriesofover30 longshorementoprovidematerialforTheWorkingWaterfront:TheStoryofTacoma’sShipsandMen.The bookchroniclesoveracenturyofTacoma’swaterfronthistory,beginningwithitsoriginsasa tradingoutpostinthe19thcenturyandconcludingbyexploringthechallengesofincreased mechanizationthattheportfacedinthelate1970s.TheILWULocal23projectstandsasan excellentexampleofcommunity-drivenhistoricalwork,helpingtopreservememoriesof Tacomathatmightotherwisehavebeenlost. TakingtheOldRoadthroughEasternWashington Howdoesacommunitycontinuetothriveafteradeclineintraditionalindustrieslike agricultureandlogging?Thatquestionbecamethebasisfor TaketheOldRoad,aprogram producedbySpokanePublicRadioin2005.Theradiostation’sPhyllisSilvervisitedseveral communitiesinEasternWashingtonandprovidedplentyofsurprises,likethefactthatthe formerlyagriculturalDayton,Washingtonhadreinventeditselfasachictouristdestination completewithfarm-to-tablerestaurantsandsmallshopsforvisitors.SupportfromHumanities Washingtonhelpedtomaketheresearchfortheprogrampossible,and providedfunds foranexhibitofthephotosthatBethCarsrudtookoverthecourseoftheproject.Bygivingthe citizensofthesetownsaplatformtoreachastatewideaudience, TaketheOldRoadcelebratedthe stepstakentopreservethesecommunitiesandacknowledgedthestrugglestheyfaced. HarvestMoon’sSalishStories PresenterHarvestMoonjoinedtheSpeakersBureaurosterin1996andtraveledwiththe programfor12years,givingpresentationsthatrangedfromexplanationsoflonghouselife tobasketweaving.HerpresentationsintroducedaudiencestothecultureoftheCoastalSalish, agroupofFirstNationspeopleslivingalongtheNorthernPacificCoast.OneofHarvest Moon’sstrongestmemoriesoftheprogramcameoutofherportrayalofMarySam,aKlickitat womanwholivedonmodern-dayBainbridgeIsland.MarySam’sstory– fraughtwithdisease andsuffering –hadabigimpactonaudiencesinWallaWalla.“Therewerefarmerssittingin theaudience,bighuskyfarmersandloggers,withtearsintheireyes,”saidMoon. MORE ONLINE visit Sparkmag.org for more 40 Years of Washington Stories Spokane Public Radio interview in progress. | Photo by Beth Carsrud Moon in action at Griffin Elementary in Olympia. Photo from the Humanities Washington archives Tacoma port in action. | Photo courtesy of ILWU archives
- 13. 13SPARK { Humanities Washington MagazineFALL/WINTER 2014 WashingtonStatePoetLaureate ElizabethAustencontinuesto buildawarenessandappreciationofpoetry anditslegacythroughpublicreadings, workshops,andpresentations.Events occurincommunitylibraries,schools, colleges,stateparksandotherpublic settingsingeographicallydiverseareasof thestate.Austenadmitsthatasshepresents toothers,shelearnsintheprocess. “I try to adapt what I offer to suit the setting and participants. For example, teaching writing workshops with English- language learners and inmates at the King County Jail has challenged me as a teacher,” she says. “And it has confirmed mysensethatpoetryofferspeoplesomething essential.I’vealsobeenstruckbyhowmuch poetryishappeningaroundthestate— festivals, small presses, reading series — largelybecauseindividualpeoplearedevoting theenergytosimplymakeithappen.” Austen is committed to visiting all 39 Washington counties, and, at press time, has already given or planned events in 20 counties. Her current schedule, and details about how to arrange a visit to your community, are available at wapoetlaureate.org. Austen is the author of a collection, Every DressaDecision (Blue Begonia Press, 2011), and two chapbooks, TheGirlWhoGoesAlone (Floating Bridge Press, 2010) and Where CurrentsMeet(Toadlily Press, 2010). She produces poetry programming for KUOW radio, a Seattle NPR affiliate, and is a communications specialist and educator at Seattle Children’s Hospital. Austen moved to Washington in 1989, at the time a stage actor and occasional writer of poetry. After a transformative six-month solo trip to the Andes region in her early 30s, Austen focused her efforts on poetry. Often rooted in the landscapes of the Pacific Northwest, her work touches on issues such as grief and loss, women’s societal roles, emotional courage and spirituality. POETLAUREATEBUILDSAND SHARESAPOETRYLEGACY POET LAUREATE UPCOMING EVENTS SEPTEMBER SEPT. 12: Bedtime Stories, Seattle (see page 20) SEPT. 13: Reading with Terry Martin, Toledo Library, 7 p.m., Free SEPT. 25: Reading with Spokane Poet Laureate Thom Caraway, Moses Lake Museum and Art Center OCTOBER OCT. 8: Reading with Dianne Aprile for Beacon Bards in Seattle, 7 p.m., Free OCT. 16: Reading with Christopher Howell, Auntie’s Bookstore, Spokane, 7 p.m., Free OCT. 17: Bedtime Stories, Spokane (see page 20) OCT. 18: Writing workshop at Auntie’s Bookstore, Spokane OCT. 23: LitCrawl, Seattle NOVEMBER NOV. 7: Reading at the Tokeland Library, 4:30 p.m. NOV. 19: Reading and open microphone at The Creekside, Woodinville, 7 p.m. Austenmaintainsawebsiteofherworkat wapoetlaureate.org.Togetintouchor tobookherforaworkshoporpresentation, emailpoet@humanities.org. Elizabeth Austen | Photo by John Ulman By Karen Brandvick-Baker | Humanities Washington contributor
- 14. 14 SPARK { Humanities Washington Magazine FALL/WINTER 2014 IntheField THINK & DRINK SPARKS LIVELY DEBATES By Jefferson Robbins | for Humanities Washington Civildiscourseprevailsinpubsandtastingroomsacrossthestate RaymondReyesnoticedsomethingabout thecrowdatHumanitiesWashington’s Think&DrinkgatheringlastMayin Spokanebeforehetookthestage:Itwas standingroomonly. That’s not so unusual for these gatherings — the public conversation program has garnered crowds since it was launched in 2011. But this particular conversation was titled “On Different Tracks: Race, Class and Education.” The size of the audience at Lindaman’s Gourmet Bistro, for a subject of that depth and divisiveness, was impressive. “For a Monday night in early May, I was really surprised by how many people were there,” says Reyes, an associate academic vice president who’s guided Gonzaga University’s diversity projects since 2012. “Evidently people have a hunger or thirst, no pun intended, for this sort of conversation — wanting to be able to practice civil discourse in public space, where people don’t have to argue and debate, and be obnoxious toward each other’s opinions.” The topics of race and cultural differences within the United States, of course, are almost a sure bet to produce just that kind of debate. Think & Drink, which has held gatherings on a wide range of topics, ventured into questions of race in the Northwest with six events in spring 2014. Programs in Seattle approached race through the lenses of film and education. Speakers on film included TheStranger writer and critic Charles Mudede and film historian Lance Rhoades. Education speakers included academic Wayne Au and journalist Claudia Rowe from The SeattleTimes. “The Northwest brings its own particular baggage to any such discussions,” says Trevor Griffey, a University of Washington historian and co-founder of the Seattle Civil Rights and Labor History Project. “Seattle’s politics and culture, while more progressive in outlook than other parts of the state, still can make it difficult to address racial injustice.” Griffey and activist Eddie Rye, Jr. participated in a talk at Naked City Brewery in March, entitled “A History of Protest: Civil Rights Movements in Seattle from the 1960s to the 1980s” moderated by journalist Tonya Mosley. Their talk took place in partnership with the Seattle Repertory Theatre, then staging Peter Brooks’ apartheid drama, TheSuit. Think & Drink events generally open with introductions, followed by panelist remarks and then conversations with members of the audience. “I think there’s something about the disavowal of racism that exists in Seattle A member of the audience shares a point with panel speakers as others listen. l Photos by Mike Hipple
- 15. 15SPARK { Humanities Washington MagazineFALL/WINTER 2014 atmosphere.That’snottosaythingscan’tget heated.AttheSpokaneevent,Reyes’ discussionwithmoderatorShannRay Ferchfocusedoninequalityineducation, includingscarceeducationaloptionsfor minoritystudents. Someeducationalinstitutionshavetriedto addressinequalitybyincreasingstudent bodydiversity.ReyesnotedthatatGonzaga, theculturaldiversityofthefreshmanclass hasrisenfromnearlyfourpercenttoalmost 23percentoverthetwenty-sixyearshehas workedthere. ButintheThink&Drinkfullaudience participationsegment,oneattendeestrongly tookissuewithReyes’assessmentsofrace- basededucationalproblemsandsolutions. Theexchangecouldhavebeenashoutfest. Instead,Reyesbelieves,itwasauseful componentofthedialogue. “Hechallengedsomeinsightinme,andI thinkIdidthesameforhim.Imadehim uncomfortable;hemademeuncomfortable, andthenwewereabletogoback-and-forth. that allows people to think of Seattle as a liberal city,” says Griffey. “You can have racism and liberalism in the same place, and that’s something that people are sometimes resistant to learn.” Historicalexamplesofcivilrights movementsinSeattlearerare,asGriffey discoveredinhisownresearch.One exampleoftenneglectedbyacademiaisthe federalcourtdecisionU.S.v.IronworkersLocal86, inwhichajudgeruledfourSeattlelabor unionswereinviolationoftheCivilRights ActoverhiringandpromotionofAfrican Americanlaborers.Unionswereslowto correcttheirpractices,leadingworkerTyree ScotttofoundtheUnitedConstruction WorkersAssociationin1970tohelpblack laborerspressforchange. Evenearlier,AsianAmericansmobilized aroundmattersincludinglaborequality, segregationandgentrification.Coalitions broughttogetherprotestersofdiverseAsian origins—citizenswithrootsinChina,the Philippines,andelsewhere.TwoWashington statebillstooutlawinterracialmarriage inthe1930swerestruckdowninpartby AsianAmericanactivism,combinedwith theeffortsofAfricanAmericanresistors andlaborgroups. “Whencivilrightshistoryistaughtin mainstreamschools,”Griffeysays,“the accentisonconditionsintheJimCrow postwarSouthandthestruggletoright them.Thatleavesasideracialinjustices elsewhere—liketherestrictivecovenants builtintoseveralSeattleneighborhood developmentsinthelastcentury.”Such covenantspreventedanymemberofa designatedminoritygroupfromowning homesinneighborhoodsthroughout Seattle.Itraciallybifurcatedthecity. “Inthatregard,Seattleisnotunique,”hesays. “It’sjustthatSeattlehasahigherproportion ofpeoplewhoareofEuropeanAmerican descent,sothattendstoaddtothatgeneral myopiaaroundsegregation—asensethat becauseofthesmallnumberofpeoplein differentcommunitiesofcolor,somethings werelessintense,andsomethingsmay notevenhavetakenplace.” MostwhocametoparticipateintheThink& Drinkgatheringwantedtoextrapolateissues fromthepast,tocomparetoSeattle’s currenteducationandhousingissues. “Wehadsomehistoryquestions,butclearly, mostofthequestionspeoplehadwere aboutlegacies,andabouttoday,”Griffey says.“Tothatpoint,Ithinkitwasa successfulevent.” Think&Drinkhingesonthechanceto indulgeinstimulatingideasinarelaxed The discussion continues at The Politics Behind Your Pint in 2011. “Iliketheconceptthat‘courageous conversationscreatecompassionate communities.’Youraisethecollective IQofacommunitywhenithasthe couragetotalkaboutthingsthatpeople mightdisagreewith.” -RaymondReyes,AssociateAcademic VicePresidentandChiefDiversity Officer,GonzagaUniversity
- 16. 16 SPARK { Humanities Washington Magazine FALL/WINTER 2014 Iwantedtomodeltohim,andmodeltothe group,thatpeoplecanagreetodisagree, andwecandoitwithrespectandcivility. Wedon’thavetoreduceourselvestothe psychologyofabruteandbesoforcefulwith ouropinionsthatnobodylistensanymore.” Disagreementswillpersist,Griffeyagrees, andnoteverysocialproblemwillbesolvedat aThink&Drink.AfterhisMarchevent,he says,“Definitely,somepeoplewerestill tryingtoholdontotheideathatthingsare lessbadinSeattle,andthatsomehowmakes theissueslessurgent.” “Peopleframe[racial]issuesbothinterms ofdownplayingthem,aswellaserasingthe fact[that]thereareongoingstruggles.” “Think&Drinkisaveryseductiveidea,” Reyessays.“Itgetsyourattention.ButI thinkwhatIexperiencedis,it’sreallyabout theinformalityofthesetting—being outsidetheclassroom,beingoutsideof school,andbeinginthecommunity.” “I’mfondofalliteration,”hesays,“soIlike theconceptthat‘courageousconversations createcompassionatecommunities.’ KING COUNTY NakedCityBrewery&Taphouse 8564 Greenwood Ave. N., Seattle, WA 98103 The Royal Room 5000 Rainier Avenue S., Seattle, WA 98118 SPOKANE COUNTY Lindaman’s Gourmet Bistro 1235 S. Grand Blvd., Spokane, WA 99202 PIERCE COUNTY Engine House No. 9 611 N. Pine St., Tacoma, WA 98406 YAKIMA COUNTY Gilbert Cellars Tasting Room 5 N. Front St., Yakima, WA 98901 The Humanities Washington Think & Drink program brings hosted conversations on provocative topics and new ideas to pubs and tasting rooms around the state. Since Think & Drink began in Seattle in 2011, it has expanded to Tacoma, Yakima, and Spokane. We are excited to share details about the next events we have scheduled for the fall. Panelists will explore a range of perspectives around a theme introduced earlier this year: Race,PlaceandCulture. Past events tackled topics that have included prohibition, consumerism, morality, religion, history and politics. Individual events will explore an array of topics related to theRace,PlaceandCulture theme through the voices and perspectives of scholars, artists, journalists, and members of the audience. See page 27 for details then consider joining us for one, or several, of these thought-provoking events! “Webelievethissetofeventswillsparkconversationaboutthehumanitiesina waythatissimultaneouslyprovocative,uncomfortable,civilandfun,allin placeswherepeoplealreadyfeelcomfortablegathering.” –ZakiAbdelhamid,HumanitiesWashingtonprogrammanagerforThink&Drink YOU CAN GO Think & Drink events are offered at five locations around the state: MORE ONLINE We are finalizing even more events. For the latest Think & Drink events visit, humanities.org/calendar YouraisethecollectiveIQofacommunity whenithasthecouragetotalkaboutthings thatpeoplemightdisagreewith. Itwasn’tabouthavinganintellectuallovefest, havingpeoplecometogetherandtalkabout thingstheyagreeupon.It’sabouthowyou createasafespaceinwhichtounderstand eachotherbetter.”
- 17. 17SPARK { Humanities Washington MagazineFALL/WINTER 2014 Ourvoicescried,Wewill… NorthSidetoSouthhill, Wandermere,QualchanandManito Wewillonly…fromLunatoRanchoChico andwhiletest-drivingahigh-milesChrysler attheEastSpragueCheapWheels, Wewillonlybe…sippingtea attheservicedeskofLibertyLakeRangeRover Wewillonlybehappy…at24-hourfitness, openallnightforwhentheparadoxhitsus thatforallourtalkofsustainability theonlywaytoavoidobesity istoworkoffallthesecalories ontreadmillswithourownprivateTVs Wewhenonlybehappywhen… weconfidetotherapistsinclinicsandHMOs, Wewillonlybehappywhenwegeta TraderJoe’s. (Theyhavethemin,Seattle,youknow.) AndonthedaythatourJoe’sopened, thetherapists’eyeswerebleary fromnightswithoutsleep astheymadeappointmentstosee theirownlistlessshrinks andconfesstheirdeep-seatedfear thatawholecity’ssadnessmightdisappear whenthefirstlightsbuzzedattheJoe’son29th, neartheSubway,SupercutsandtheTire-ama— (ownedbythosebrotherswhosodespiseObama) ameregreasywhifffromtheKFC anditsgloriousbucketsoforiginalcrispy. Itwouldbeawful,thefrightenedtherapistsagreed, ifanewgrocerystoreactuallymadeus all…happy. Butnottoworry. No-oneeverwentbrokeinAmerica— Intheunhappinessbusiness… Andsoeventwo-buckchuck isn’tnearlyenough torelievethestuff thatcollectsonourdissatisfiedparietallobes likeJanuarysnow,Irememberonefromafewyearsago thatcausedallthestreetstoclose,theschoolstoshutdown andthesuddenrealizationthatperhapsinatown oftwohundredthousand wemightwanttoinvest inasecondplow… ButwhatIremember ismysonandIbuildingasnowfort andhavingthecountyassessit asworthmorethanourhome andhowniceitallwas, howpeacefulandquiet wecouldn’tevenleavehome ifwe’dwantedtotryit letalonegoforachubofsmokedgoudaatTraderJoe’s which,flashtothedaythatitopened, wasfilledwiththosesleeplessred-eyedtherapists thinking,Nowwewill… astheylookedattheirownshoppinglists —pasta,potstickersandadryGewurtzemeiner— andastherealpoetsaid,“Letbebefinaleofseem”or… Maybenot, Maybetheanswerdoeslie inahand-craftedbeer Andanapple-pecanpie Whichiswhyweplythoseaisleswithhungerandfear asthevoicescry,Nowwewill…andyoucanhear thempleading,fromFerristoMead,LCtoCV SONGOF SPOKANE By Jess Walter | author of We Live in Water
- 18. 18 SPARK { Humanities Washington Magazine FALL/WINTER 2014 ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jess Walter is the author of eight books, including the 2012 novel BeautifulRuins, a #1 NewYork Times bestseller. Walter was a finalist for the National Book Award for TheZero and won the 2005 Edgar Allan Poe award for CitizenVince. He’s been a finalist for the PEN/ USA Literary Prize in both fiction and nonfiction, a finalist for the LosAngelesTimesBook Prize, and twice has won the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Award. His most recent book, the short story collection, WeLiveinWater, was long-listed for the Story Prize and the Frank O’Connor International Story Prize. His books have been published in 30 languages and his short fiction has appeared in BestAmericanShortStories,Harpers,McSweeney’s,Esquire and elsewhere. He lives in Spokane, Washington, with his family. Nowwewillonlybe… floodingthisrivervalleywithourrestlessmoods: Nowwewillonlybehappywhenweget aWholeFoods Andmaybeit’snotsocrazytoimagine salvation’spathwaysofineandnarrow thattheyonlysellitatCrateandBarrel orthattruejoyawaitsandfulfillmentarrives inaislesoforganicbeetsandendives (andhonestlyIdon’tevenknowwhatanendiveis butIthoughtitsoundedlikearrive andIseethemonmenussometimes butmaybeI’mworkingtoohardheretorhyme) whichremindsmethatwhatIdrive isnotmywife’sToyotaPrius buta1963ContinentalbyLincoln inthatmostAmericanofhues theorangeofprisonjumpsuits fivethousandpoundsofsteelandengineering thatgetsninemilestothegallonofpremium andoftenIcanfeelthedisapproval ofenviro-leftiesjustlikeyourstruly thinking,Don’tyoucareabouttheworld thatyouleave? Youknow, Forthechildren? Andthat’swhenIhavetoforcemyselftorecall justhowcrappyotherpeople’schildrenoftenare likethislittleshitwhosatnexttome onathreehourflightfromDenvertoeternity thiscrazylapchildwhokickedandfussed andthrashedaboutwildlywhilehispoormomhushed himandtherestofusrecalledthatmovie abouttheplanecrashintheAndes astheMomgaveDamienaRedbullandsomecandy andwewonderedifaforty-minutedelaywas enoughjustification tobecomecannibalsbecausethere’dbenohesitation aboutwhotoeatfirst…andthat’swhen Damien’smomsmiledatmeandsaid,Heusually travelssoeasily, andwiththatDamien’sheadspun360degrees andhedeliveredaroundhousekicktomyteeth asflamesshotoutofhislittleshiteyes andthemomsaid,Honey,what’sthematterwithyoutonight? andthismonsterkidlookedupatme andlikesomegeniusexistentialprodigy inthevoiceofallhumanity,hesaid:I’m!Not!Happy! Andus?Whataboutus? Willweeverbehappy?Ihavenoidea-- butIsuspectthatonedaywewill whenwefinallygetanIkea.
- 19. 19SPARK { Humanities Washington MagazineFALL/WINTER 2014 BedtimeStories,thelargest,most successfulfundraisingeventfor HumanitiesWashingtonreturnsto SeattleandSpokanethisfall. BedtimeStories,thebrainchildof NationalBookAwardwinner,pastSpeakers Bureaupresenterand2013Humanities WashingtonAwardwinnerCharles Johnson,bringstogetherfellowauthorsto craftoriginalshortstoriestodebutatan annualdinnerbenefitingthestate’sflagship humanitiesorganization. “BedtimeStorieseventsaremore popularthaneverintermsofattendance andfundraising,”saidJulieZiegler, HumanitiesWashington’sexecutive director.“Inadditiontoinspiringnew worksfromNorthwestauthors,theevents havecumulativelyraisedover$1million tosupporthumanitiesprogramming acrossthestate.” Each2014BedtimeStoriesliteraryevent willfeatureoriginalworksbyWashington authors,inspiredbythisyear’seventtheme, BumpintheNight. BedtimeStoriesSeattlereturnstothe FairmontOlympicHotelonSeptember12. WritersincludeWashingtonState PoetLaureateElizabethAusten(EveryDress aDecision),ElizabethHeffron(“Bo-Nita”), CharlesJohnson(MiddlePassage),andPeter Mountford(AYoungMan’sGuidetoLateCapitalism) withemceeNancyPearl(BookLust). BedtimeStoriesSpokanereturnstothe SpokaneClubonOctober17.Writers includeElizabethAusten(EveryDressaDecision), JamieFord(SongsofWillowFrost),TodMarshall (DareSay),andSharmaShields(Favorite Monster),withemceeGaryStokes,General ManagerofKSPS. Thismarksthefirstyearthattwo HumanitiesWashingtonawardswillbe presented,oneateachevent,thanksto continuinggeneroussupportfromthe HeatherC.andHerbertL.FrankFamily. BedtimeStoriesisafundraisersupporting HumanitiesWashington’seffortstospark critical thinking and conversation, nurturing thoughtful and engaged communities across our state. For informationabouteitherevent,contact GeorgeAbeytaat206-682-1770x104 orgeorge@humanities.org. By Karen Brandvick-Baker and Andrew Wahl | Humanities Washington contributors BEDTIME STORIES FUNDRAISING EVENTS RETURN TO SEATTLE AND SPOKANE EventtoPresentAwards,UnveilNewWorksbyAuthors 2014 HUMANITIES WASHINGTON AWARD RECIPIENTS Spokane LizBurroughs Liz Burroughs has contributed years of dedicated service and community volunteer work to the humanities in the Spokane region. She serves on the board of Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture (MAC), the Inland Northwest Community Foundation, and is a former trustee and board chair of Humanities Washington. Seattle LorraineMcConaghy Lorraine McConaghy is a public historian who has served on the Humanities Washington Speakers Bureau since 2010. Her presentations guide audiences through the Civil War in Washington Territory. McConaghy has worked for the Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI) for 17 years, taught Museum Studies, and published several books.
- 20. 20 SPARK { Humanities Washington Magazine FALL/WINTER 2014 Bedtime Stories Seattle WHEN: September 12, 2014 WHERE: The Fairmont Olympic Hotel’s Spanish Ballroom, 411 University St. SEATTLE SPONSORS PEMCO Insurance David and Catherine Skinner Bedtime Stories Spokane WHEN: October 17, 2014 WHERE: Spokane Club, 1002 W. Riverside Ave. SPOKANE SPONSORS Hagan Foundation Center for the Humanities The McGregor Company 2014 Bedtime Stories Seattle authors (left to right): Elizabeth Austen, Elizabeth Heffron, Charles Johnson, and Peter Mountford. | Provided photos 2014 Bedtime Stories Spokane authors (left to right): Elizabeth Austen, Jamie Ford, Tod Marshall, and Sharma Sheilds. | Provided photos Statewide Sponsor: In-kind Sponsor PROVIDENCE HEALTH & SERVICES NOTE: For information on becoming a sponsor or purchasing a table for either event, contact George Abeyta at george@humanities.org or (206) 682-1770 x104. Individual tickets are also available. Bump inthe NightJoinus for the Annual Fundraiser MORE ONLINE For more information on this year’s Bedtime Stories events, visit humanities.org/programs/bedtime-stories.
- 21. 21SPARK { Humanities Washington MagazineFALL/WINTER 2014 HumanitiesWashington’sSpeakers Bureauisarosterof32cultural expertsandscholarswhoprovidequality, cost-effective,publicpresentationsacross thestate,encouragingaudiencestothink, learnandengageinconversation. A new roster of traveling presenters will spark conversations in 2015-2016 at libraries, museums, community centers, and other public venues around the state. Presenters auditioned at eight sessions held throughout Washington state in Seattle, Everett, and Moses Lake. Humanities Washington aims to serve the state with Speakers Bureau presentations throughout the year, particularly in rural areas, as well as to underserved populations. Organizations looking to host a presenter are encouraged to apply two months in advance of the intended presentation date. InanefforttoreachasmanyWashingtonians as possible, we are limiting Speakers Bureau presentations to three per hosting organization per year. Compiled by Humanities Washington staff Eva Abram Alex Alben Robert Bartlett Gloria Burgess Teresa Ciabattari Cornell Clayton Hank Cramer Dennis Dauble Eric Davis LLyn De Danaan David Fenner Antonio Davidson-Gómez David George Gordon George Halekas Julia Harrison Yesenia Hunter Megan Kelso Jeanne Kohl-Welles Nancy Koppelman Sam Louie Jolene Mason Milt Priggee Lance Rhoades David Schulz David E. Smith Jennifer K. Stuller Mike VanQuickenborne Dorothy Van Soest T. Andrew Wahl Amanda Wilde Shawn Wong Scott Woodward SPEAKERS BUREAU PRESENTERS ANNOUNCED Speakers Bureau Presenters (left to right): Antonio Davidson-Gómez, Eva Abram, David Gordon, Milt Priggee, Jennifer K. Stuller, Yesenia Hunter, Shawn Wong, Jolene Mason 2015-2016 SPEAKERS BUREAU PRESENTERS MORE ONLINE For more information about topics, including how to apply to host a speaker, visit humanities.org/programs/speakers.
- 22. 22 SPARK { Humanities Washington Magazine FALL/WINTER 2014 5Questions SUPERHERO AMERICA: THE COMIC-BOOK CHARACTER AS HISTORICAL LENS By Abby Rhinehart l Immediate Past Humanities Washington communications officer ScholarT.AndrewWahlonhowcomicsreflecthistory,socialmoresandsomuchmore Sincetherevolutionarydebutof Supermanin1938,theAmerican superherohasbeenaregularpartofour pop-culturelandscape.Thesecomic-book heroesalsoprovideafascinatinglens throughwhichtoviewournation’srecent history.Inaninteractive,multimedia presentation,journalistandcomic-book historianT.AndrewWahlexploreshow historicaleventsandshiftingsocialmores canbeseenintheevolutionofcharacters fromWonderWomantoSpider-Man. Usingaudiencemembers’memoriesasa springboard,theconversationconnects comic-booksuperheroes(andvillains!) tohistoricaltopicsincludingwar,the advancementofcivilrightsandthe societalimpactsoftechnology. Humanities Washington (HW): What initially drew you to this topic? Wahl: I have been both a comic-book aficionado and student of history since my earliest memories. The bulk of my academic studies have been in the area of history, with both my undergraduate thesis and a portion of my graduate coursework touching on the development of the American comic book. In my professional life, I work as an educator and journalist. In addition to Northwest newspapers, I’ve written for the comic-book trade press and edit the online magazine SequentialReaction (www.SequentialReaction. com). I think comic books offer an excellent entry point for community conversations: the medium’s ubiquitous place in American pop-culture over the past eight decades provides an excellent jumping-off point for intergenerational interaction. HW: How do you spark conversation among multi-generational members of the audience as a Speakers Bureau presenter? Wahl: I regularly call on audience members to recall and share their memories of favorite comic-book heroes. Given the intergenerational nature of my audiences, this tends to spark conversation about how characters have evolved over the decades – and what historical factors play into that evolution. For example, a fan of Spider-Man from the 1960s is likely to recall Peter Parker working as a newspaper photographer and
- 23. 23SPARK { Humanities Washington MagazineFALL/WINTER 2014 getting his powers from a radioactive spider. A reader from the early 2000s saw Spider-Man working as a multimedia web designer and getting his powers from a genetically modified spider. In this case, Spider-Man’s profession and origin both have been influenced by the societal impacts of technology. Participants’ memories provide a jumping off point for a discussion about a wide range of historical developments. HW: How does your presentation get people thinking about the role of comics in our culture? Wahl: The main objective of my presentation is to get participants thinking more critically about comic books and the other forms of pop culture they consume. While often meant as ephemera, pop culture provides a fascinating lens through which to explore our shared history and cultural development over the past century. A secondary objective is to spark intergenerational conversations. For all but the very oldest of Americans, comic books play some role in our childhood (and, increasingly, adult) memories. By sharing these memories, participants discover a commonality with others from different generations, allowing a jumping off point for rich conversations. HW: What drew you to comics as a Humanities Washington speaking topic? Wahl: The comic-book medium draws from humanities disciplines including literature and art. My presentation adds a layer of historical interpretation, exploring both historical events and shifting social mores. Main themes include the cultural impact of war, the advancement of civil rights and the influence of technological advancements on society. HW: How does your previous public speaking experience enhance your presentation style? Wahl: As an instructor at a community college, I speak in front of diverse audiences almost every day. My classes are filled with nontraditional students, from “Themainobjectiveofmy presentationistogetparticipants thinkingmorecriticallyaboutcomic booksandtheotherformsofpop culturetheyconsume.” –T.AndrewWahl ACTION COMICS #1 (far left): Since his first appearance in Action Comics #1 in 1938, Superman has personified many American historical trends. Most prominent: The immigrant experience, as the last son of Krypton came to Earth and found a better life in the U.S. Perhaps not surprisingly, Superman’s creators – Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster – were themselves the children of immigrants. X-MEN #135 (left): For decades, comics like X-Men #135 were distributed via mom-and-pop grocery stores, locally owned pharmacies and newsstands. T. Andrew Wahl purchased his copy of this comic at Tom Thumb Grocery in Lake Stevens, Wash., in 1980.
- 24. 24 SPARK { Humanities Washington Magazine FALL/WINTER 2014 underage Running Start students, to returning veterans, to senior citizens taking a class for fun. To take advantage of this diversity, my approach is often discussion driven. There is amazing educational opportunity in sharing stories and experiences. On a more personal note, comics have been a part of my life since I was very young, and the medium provides a direct connection back to my ten year-old self. I clearly remember the joy of peddling down to the local mom- and-pop grocery near my childhood home to get my weekly comic-book fix. I’d sit behind the store on a milk crate, drinking a Coca-Cola and devouring those four-color treasures. I was so enthralled with those stories there was no way I could wait to get home to read them! Now, decades later, I get to travel the state and share my passion of comics and history. What could be better? UPCOMING PRESENTATIONS SEPTEMBER SnohomishCounty Everett Public Library, September 6 ChelanCounty: Chelan Public Library, September 9 Entiat Public Library, September 9 SpokaneCounty: Argonne Library, September 10 Cheney Library, September 10 North Spokane Library, September 11 NOVEMBER PierceCounty: Jet City Comic Show , November 18 WONDER WOMAN #178: In the late 1960s and early ’70s, Wonder Woman lost her powers and had to find her way in a “man’s world” during a run of women’s-lib inspired stories. While tapping into the zeitgeist of the era, the de-powering of the character angered prominent feminists and Wonder Woman soon regained her powers. T.AndrewWahlisa longtimejournalistinthe PacificNorthwest,having workedasaneditorand editorialcartoonistat newspapersonbothsidesof theCascades.Heisalsoa lifelongcomicbook aficionado,withaspecial interestintheso-called “BronzeAge”oftheAmericancomicbook,aperiod coveringroughly1970to1985.Heistheeditorand publisheroftheonlinemagazineSequentialReaction. comandstudiedtheBronzeAgeaspartofhismaster’s studiesinthehumanitiesatFortHaysStateUniversity. WahlteachesjournalismatEverettCommunityCollege. AMAZING SPIDER-MAN ANNUAL #15: For many years, Spider-Man’s alter-ego, Peter Parker, was a photographer for the fictional New York City newspaper, The Daily Bugle. But, like many journalists, a more recent iteration of the character has found more gainful employment with the paper’s online edition.
- 25. 25SPARK { Humanities Washington MagazineFALL/WINTER 2014 WhytheHumanities? A HUNGER FOR THE HUMANITIES IS SATISFIED By Jim Kershner | guest commentary Reflectingonthelastingimpactofthehumanities AsIwalkedintothejam-packed auditoriumatWhitworthUniversity inSpokane,Ihadthefollowingthoughts: Where did all of these people come from? Since when do the words “history lecture” and “standing-room-only” go together? Were we in the right place? I soon realized that this crowd had gathered for the most natural of reasons. People have a deep hunger for knowledge, for history, and for compelling stories. In other words, they have a deep hunger for the humanities. Hundreds of people, giving up the most beautiful Sunday afternoon of the spring, were there to satisfy that hunger. In this case, the story they heard was both compelling and true. It was the story of the Dust Bowl, told through the words of Timothy Egan, author of TheWorstHardTime. The event was sponsored by Humanities Washington and the Spokane County Library District, as part of a HopeinHard Times exhibit about the Great Depression. Egan is what you might call a humanities star. Originally from Spokane and now living in Seattle, he won the National Book Award for TheWorstHardTime. He has established a massive national reputation for his other books, including TheBigBurn, and for his work as a reporter and columnist for TheNewYorkTimes. While many people may have been there to see and listen to Tim Egan, I suspect most people were present for a more fundamental reason. A heartening number of people, it turns out, are simply curious about the world. In this age – in which we seem more self-obsessed than ever – a surprising percentage of people still insist on learning as much as they can about the world. Essentially, they are seeking answers to one of the fundamental questions of history: How did things turn out the way they did? Egan is one of the best in the west – one of the best in the nation – at telling stories that address this question. During the course of his talk – performed without a slide show or any visual aids – he explained how the Dust Bowl happened, what became of the people who were caught in the maelstrom, and why it matters to us today. It matters, of course, because no “Peoplehaveadeephungerforknowledge, forhistory,andforcompellingstories. Inotherwords,theyhaveadeephunger forthehumanities.” -JimKershner,Spokaneauthor, historianandjournalist
- 26. 26 SPARK { Humanities Washington Magazine FALL/WINTER 2014 thinking person would ever want the Dust Bowl, or anything like it, to happen again. It also matters for a simpler reason: It happened. For the truly curious mind, no other reason is required. A month or so later, I was able to see the same dynamic at work on a more local and intimate scale. Thanks to Humanities Washington and the Spokane County Library, I gave two talks as part of the library district’s HopeinHardTimes exhibit, touching on the subject of “The Great Depression in Spokane.” Again, I wondered exactly how many people would tear themselves away from social media to hear a talk about something that happened 85 years ago. The answer: Just about as many people as the room could hold, although admittedly a much smaller room than the auditorium at Whitworth University. Again, I was heartened to discover that people have a hunger to know what happened right here, on the spot of earth they now occupy. Every town has its own particular Great Depression story, but most of those stories have never been written, much less compiled into any accessible database. If you want to learn those stories, you must seek out the people who have these stories inside their heads, which is what Timothy Egan did when he visited lonely towns that were previously impacted by the Dust Bowl. Or, you can attend a program, sponsored by an organization such as Humanities Washington, in which an historian, an author or a storyteller has sought out those stories and is prepared to share them with anyone who shows up to listen. And often, the experience starts a conversation. Not long ago, I spent four years sharing the story of Carl Maxey, Washington’s remarkable civil rights leader, as a member of Humanities Washington’s Speakers Bureau. My most vivid memory of those years is also the most telling. I was in Metaline Falls, a town of almost 238 people, located about 370 miles from Seattle on a freezing January night. A little more than 30 people showed up to hear a talk about a deceased civil rights leader. While the temptation to stay home by a warm fire might have been strong, stronger still was their hunger for knowledge about their state and its past. Without Humanities Washington, these kinds of gatherings would not happen. I am so grateful for all of the work that Humanities Washington does. Yet I am even more grateful that the humanities (with a small ‘h’) remain so crucial to people’s lives. JimKershnerisanaward- winningjournalistwho writesahistorycolumnfor theThe Spokesman- Review.Heisastaff historianforHistoryLink.org, andtheauthorofthreebooks includingCarl Maxey: A Fighting Life, publishedbytheUniversityofWashingtonPress. Farmer and sons walking in the face of a dust storm. Cimarron County, Oklahoma, April 1936. | Photo by Arther Rothstein for the Farm Security Administration courtesy of the United States Library of Congress President Franklin D. Roosevelt and his wife Eleanor arrive in Seattle for an official visit during the Dust Bowl years. | Photo courtesy of the Washington State Historical Society
- 27. 27SPARK { Humanities Washington MagazineFALL/WINTER 2014 Calendar October 2014 – January 2015 HOPE IN HARD TIMES: WASHINGTON DURING THE GREAT DEPRESSION ILWACO – This traveling exhibit explores the adversity and triumph of everyday Americans during the 1930s, comparing the struggles of the era with those faced today. The Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum is the final destination for the popular and informative exhibit. September 20 PIONEER DAYS FESTIVAL TACOMA – This free event will feature fun, interactive activities on the grounds of Old Town Park at the Job Carr Cabin Museum. Families can connect with the lives of Tacoma’s early settlers through homespun crafts and presentations that reflect the challenges and rewards of pioneer life. Photo courtesy of the Washington State Historical Society JOIN US! AselectionofupcomingHumanitiesWashingtonevents THINK & DRINK FALL EVENTS September 10 & 17 RACE & MUSIC SEATTLE – Featuring Eric Davis, Amanda Wilde, and Antonio Davidson--Gómez; moderated by Tonya Mosley, journalist with Al Jazeera America, The Huffington Post and KUOW-FM. September 25 RACE & FILM YAKIMA – Featuring Lance Rhoades and Zaki Abdelhamid; moderated by Mike Faulk, journalist with the Yakima Herald-Republic. October 15 RACE & MUSIC YAKIMA – Yesenia Hunter and Antonio Davidson-Gómez; moderated by Mike Faulk, journalist with the Yakima Herald-Republic. November 20 RACE & MUSIC TACOMA – Featuring Eric Davis, Amanda Wilde, and Antonio Davidson--Gómez; moderated by Phyllis Fletcher, journalist with KUOW-FM. MORE ONLINE More information about these events, along with a complete calendar of Humanities Washington activities (sortable by region): humanities.org/calendar
- 28. 28 SPARK { Humanities Washington Magazine FALL/WINTER 2014 News&Notes NEWS & NOTES Compiled by Humanities Washington staff New NEH Chairman Announced William D. “Bro” Adams was confirmed in July as the 10th chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). Chairman Adams is a committed advocate for liberal arts education and brings to the NEH a long record of leadership in higher education and the humanities. A native of Birmingham, Michigan, and son of an auto industry executive, Adams earned his undergraduate degree in philosophy at Colorado College and a Ph.D. from the University of California at Santa Cruz History of Consciousness Program. He studied in France as a Fulbright Scholar before beginning his career in higher education with appointments to teach political philosophy at Santa Clara University in California and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. As the NEH’s designated state humanities council, Humanities Washington is proud to welcome Chairman Adams. Opportunity Grants Update A total of 40 grants will be distributed in 2014 in honor of our 40th anniversary. To date, 27 out of 40 grants have been awarded – there is still time to apply! Opportunity grants do not require a funding match; organizations may request up to $1,000. SparkGrantApplications:DueOctober10 Spark Grants support projects at organizations of all sizes in Washington state that encourage dialogue, discussion, and thoughtful consideration of issues that provide social, historical and philosophical context. The grants are awarded once per year through a competitive process and require a funding match. Organizations may request up to $7,500. Letters of Interest are due SEPTEMBER 12. Full applications are due to Humanities Washington by OCTOBER 10. Notification to grantees will occur in early December. MORE ONLINE For more on Humanities Washington’s grants program, visit: humanities.org/grants. William “Bro” Adams | Photo by Fred Field, courtesy of Colby College
- 29. 29SPARK { Humanities Washington MagazineFALL/WINTER 2014 THANK YOU TO OUR AMAZING SPONSORS: WOCKNER FOUNDATION LUCKY SEVEN FOUNDATION THANK YOU TO OUR PUBLIC FUNDING PARTNERS:
- 30. 30 SPARK { Humanities Washington Magazine FALL/WINTER 2014 ABOUT HUMANITIES WASHINGTON As the state’s flagship nonprofit for the humanities, our work brings people together to learn about their unique pasts and shared present, promotes respect for other perspectives, encourages community dialogue and nurtures relationships that enable us to move toward a more prosperous future. By acting as a catalyst and facilitator, we support and partner with a wide network of communities, organizations and individuals across the state. Together, we provide low- or no-cost, high-quality cultural and educational programs that engage audiences in conversation, civil discourse, critical thinking and the democratic process. BOARD OF TRUSTEES Cynthia Wells, Chair John Baule Jonathan Buchter Bruce Burgett Mary Carr David Freece Debra Holland Elizabeth Joffrion Larry Kinner Dan Lamberton Ed Marquand Sue McNab Mary Pembroke Perlin Joan Penney David Powers Jane Reich John Roth Gary Stokes Jan Walsh STAFF Julie Ziegler, ExecutiveDirector Eric W. Sanders, CPA,AssociateDirector KayLee Jaech, DevelopmentDirector Ellen Terry, ProgramDirector Zaki Abdelhamid, ProgramManager KarenBrandvick-Baker, InterimCommunicationsOfficer Paige Spicer, DatabaseAdministrator George Abeyta, DevelopmentandExecutiveCoordinator Courtney Czarnecki, ProgramCoordinator CONTACT US Humanities Washington 1015 8th Ave. N., Suite B Seattle, WA 98109 206.682.1770 humanities.org SparkMag.org Humanities Washington @HumanitiesWA Humanities Washington is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in Washington state.
- 31. 31SPARK { Humanities Washington MagazineFALL/WINTER 2014 OUR MISSION HumanitiesWashingtonsparksconversationandcriticalthinkingusingstoryasacatalyst, nurturingthoughtfulandengagedcommunitiesacrossourstate. BEDTIME STORIES is an annual fundraiser featuring critically acclaimed Northwest writers unveiling new short stories created specifically for events in Seattle and Spokane. FAMILY READING uses storytelling and discussion to explore cultural and ethical themes in children’s literature and emphasizes the importance of families reading together. GRANTS assist local organizations in creating opportunities for their community to come together to discuss important issues using the humanities. SPEAKERS BUREAU draws from a pool of leading cultural experts and scholars to provide free conversational lecture events for community partners to offer local audiences throughout the state. THINK & DRINK brings hosted conversations on provocative topics and new ideas to pubs and tasting rooms around the state. TRAVELING EXHIBITS brings museum-quality exhibits and dynamic programming to underserved areas and surprising venues around the state. WASHINGTON STATE POET LAUREATE buildsawarenessandappreciationof poetry–includingthestate’slegacyofpoetry –throughpublicreadings,workshops, lectures,andpresentationsthroughoutthe state.(InpartnershipwithArtsWA.) OUR PROGRAMS MORE ONLINE Additional information about any of our programs: humanities.org/programs
- 32. 1015 8th Ave. N., Suite B Seattle, WA 98109 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Changes? Please make the corrections on your address label, check the appropriate box below, and return to Humanities Washington. Name misspelled Contact person changed Address wrong Duplicate mailing Remove from mailing list Or send changes via email to spark@humanities.org NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 241 WENATCHEE, WA 98801 STAY IN TOUCH WITH HUMANITIES WASHINGTON! Want to subscribe to Spark? Visit humanities.org/signup Whileyou’rethere,youcanalsosignupforourmonthlyemailnewsletter, featuringthelatesthumanitiesnewsandstoriesfromaroundthestate. humanities.org SparkMag.org Humanities Washington @HumanitiesWA