What we do for art, right?

This program is very special to me for many reasons – three of whom were in the show. My girls LOVE their time in programs at BCC. I love that they have an excellent balance of focus on the end product (a good show) and skill building. This particular show had the highest production values I’ve seen in the program – including when I was director of it! Way to go, cast and crew. And way to go, Broadway Center for investing in quality arts programming for these super stars.

Here’s what I hope: I hope you see these images and know that something truly special happened. Strangers came together for a weekend retreat and left with layers of experience, emotion, friendship and memory. For a first attempt, I don’t think it could have gone better. Of course we have plenty of ideas for improvements next go-around, but that’s pretty standard.

Mostly, I was absolutely floored by the amount of collective compassion and honesty in our group. A friend of mine who attended said we all came away a little bit braver. I think she’s right.

Please enjoy some of the images I had the good fortune to capture. Bearing witness to the many emotions unearthed this weekend was an honor, one I hope my images do justice to.

Edited to add this sweet little video of Write participant and my new favorite singer/songwriter, Elijah Sussman. He wrote To the Sea at the workshop, about the workshop. It holds special meaning for those of us lucky enough to be a part of it all, but it’s damn fine on its own. Check out Elijah here and support this up-and-coming Seattle musician.

In case you don’t know, Westwind Aviation, based in Friday Harbor, Washington, provides a range of flying experiences including Air Charter Flights, Flight Training, Scenic Flights and Pilot Services. They also provide ground school classes, seminars and a Pilot Store for the aviator’s needs.

What an excellent way to see the San Juans! More info about Westwind here.

Does your family need new photos? Contact me and we should talk!

Over the course of the next six months, I will be photographing and collecting stories centered this fair city. I’m talking to strangers, asking them all kinds of questions and getting their opinions on what makes us fickle humans happy. I’m just getting started and I can’t wait to add your suggestions, your stories and your face to the project.

• Have a special place with a good story you want to share?
• Know a living treasure in Tacoma?
• Does a favorite space need photographing?
• Want to be a part of this project?

I’d love to hear from you. Oh, and keep your eyes open come September – The Broadway Center for the Performing Arts has been kind enough to offer their support in hosting an exhibition of the work. It’s going to be grand, I just know it.

What are you waiting for? Check it out!

Langston Ward of Mead High School, in Spokane, won with his recitations of The Gift by Li-Young Lee, The Bad Old Days by Kenneth Rexroth, and A March in the Ranks Hard-Prest, and the Road Unknown by Walt Whitman.

As the winner of the state final competition, Ward won a $200 prize. In addition, his school receives $500 for the purchase of poetry books, and Ward earns an all-expenses-paid trip (with a chaperone) to compete in the National Finals in Washington, DC, on April 29-30, 2013. This is the second state championship for Ward, who represented Washington state in the 2012 national finals. He placed in the top nine students nationally last year.

The runner-up, Tom Zbyszewski, a senior from Liberty Bell High School in Winthrop won $100 and a $200 stipend for his school. Three students received honorable mentions: Ben Caldwell, a senior from the Vancouver School of Arts and Academics in Vancouver; Mennah El-Gammal, a freshman from Northshore Junior High School, Bothell; and Meghan Mulcahy, a junior from Olympia High School, Olympia.

More than 23,000 students from 76 schools in Washington state participated in Poetry Out Loud this year. Following classroom-level and then school-wide competitions, top students from the schools continued on to one of seven regional finals, held in Northwest Washington, Southwest Washington, Central Washington, Eastern Washington, Southeast Washington, and the Puget Sound region. Thirteen students advanced to the state finals, which took place Saturday, March 9, at Theatre on the Square, in Tacoma.

Through three rounds of poetry recitations the students performed works selected from an anthology of more than 600 classic and contemporary poems. Participants were judged by a panel of experts in poetry and performance. The panelists scored each student based on presence, level of difficulty, evidence of understanding, accuracy, and other criteria. Poetry Out Loud is sponsored by the Washington State Arts Commission, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), and the Poetry Foundation. This is the eighth year that high school students in Washington state took part in Poetry Out Loud, a national arts education program that encourages the study of great poetry. This year, the Poetry Out Loud National Finals will award a total of $50,000 in scholarships and school stipends, with a $20,000 college scholarship for the National Champion.

Visit www.poetryoutloud.org for more information on this national program or visit www.arts.wa.gov to learn more about the local competition.

But did I mention how incredibly generous our workshop presenters have been? Not one of them is charging a fee for their services. And Doe Bay Resort and Retreat gave us a smoking deal for housing and the cafe meal. Why? They’re doing it because they want to be a part of something amazing, something beautiful and something profound.

But having Paula West Pottery join us in sponsoring our little event just about sent me over the moon. You guys, her work is amazing and because of her generous sponsorship, we get to share it with everyone at the workshop. Participants and leaders alike will take home a beautiful mug because Paula just loves what the workshop is all about. She wants to share her craft with those who are in the midst of honing their own. Swoon.

Lastly, my friend and super-talented videographer/photographer from the Doe Bay Fest just released this lovely vid of Write’s very own Daniel Blue (frontman for Seattle’s Motopony) performing at Bare4 recently. It’s a GREAT watch and it makes me very excited for the energy, humor and passion Daniel will bring to Write. (And how about that audience participation!?)

A few weeks ago, I was driving home from my teaching gig in Seattle when a friend texted me. I happened to be at a stoplight when I heard the notification and I peeked at my screen. “Did you SEE this job posting, it’s totally YOU!” When the light turned green, I pulled into a parking lot and clicked through to a job I had coveted for years: staff photographer for the Pt. Defiance Zoo and Aquarium and NW Trek. And not only that, it included videography and web content management. I don’t think a job could be more perfectly crafted to my skills, my passion and my expertise! Practically in my back yard? Ok!

I had nearly missed the closing date, so the following days were spent putting together a portfolio and application materials. So excited by the prospect of the job, I spent more than one sleepless night imagining the extraordinary chance of serving such a dynamic and important icon in the region.

You guys. I got it. I got the job! I start March 4. Happy, happy day!

By the way, the image is of Nigel. I got to meet him one day during one of my interviews. He’s a Coendu, from South America and he’s not on exhibit quite yet. He’ll be in the new outdoor show this spring/summer. I love him. We’re going to be BFF.