It’s odd, but we have an opportunity to tie in three stories, all involving women and the literary world, in one post…it’s Kismet.
Spoken word artist, Storme Webber is this year's special guest for Bent's 11th annual Mentor Showcase.
The first bit of news is a celebration of all things “Bent”. The writing institute (which isn’t limited to women, but seems to lean toward a female majority) is hosting their 11th annual Mentor Showcase this coming Friday, November 18th from 8pm to 10pm at the Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI). Storme Webber, a multi-genre spoken word artist is the guest of honor/artist in residence for this year’s showcase. “Webber is the Founder/Artistic Director of Voices Rising: LGBTQ of Color Arts & Culture, and has been a City Artist with the Seattle Mayor’s Office, a Writer in Residence at Richard Hugo House, and a CD Forum Creation Project Artist.” Tickets available at Brown Paper Tickets.
Bent also hosts a writing workshop with Storme Webber the following day at a private home. Space is limited but apparently tickets are still available and also at Brown Paper.
More After the Jump!
Part Two of our Literary Ladies post is an “Open Call for Student-Written “Vagina Monologues” Here’s the skinny on this opportunity for both writers and performers:
The ASUW Women’s Action Commission is calling for student written “Vagina Monologues” to be included in the WAC’s annual “Vagina Monologues” production. The show is centered on the experiences of women, female-identified folks, transmen and genderqueers.
The Monologues have been recognized for their tremendous emotional power but they have also been met with many feminist and anti-racist critiques concerning its diversity of voices and handling of identity representation. Last year, for the first time, an original monologue written by a UW student was included in the performance. In an effort to better represent the experiences of students, faculty and staff on our campus, the Women’s Action Commission is calling for more original monologues to be featured in this year’s production.
The Vagina Monologues can be a powerful and transformative experience for cast and audience members. We hope to take it a step farther and give better voice to a range of communities.
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Submission Guidelines
Content/Format: Submitted monologues can be written on any topic that you believe should be part of the conversation that the Vagina Monologues is intended to spark. Topics encouraged include gender identity, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, bodies, activism, relationships, families. Write the truths that need be shared to discuss and deconstruct the identity of “woman”. Monologues should written as first-person accounts, preferably centered around a specific experience that relates to the larger theme of the Monologues.
Length: 2 – 5 minutes (when read aloud at an even pace)
Email to: smhand@uw.edu (with the subject line “Original Monologue Submission”)
Submit by: December 9th, 2011
Questions/More Info: Please email smhand@uw.edu.Note: By submitting an original monologue (if it is chosen to be included in the show), you will have the option of performing your own monologue or allowing another cast member to perform it. If you are interested in performing your own, sign up to audition: https://catalyst.uw.edu/
webq/survey/asuwomn/148511 (as well as submitting the text of your monologue).
Finally, some sad news to report. Naiad Press co-founder, Barbara Grier, a founder of what once was the world’s largest publishing house of literature about gays and lesbians, has died at age 78 of cancer in Tallahassee, Florida. With her life partner Donna McBride and two other partners, the couple created Naiad in 1973 which became a leading publisher of titles for the lesbian (and gay) community.
“It was her belief that through literature she could make lesbians feel good about themselves and find a happy life,” Donna McBride about Barbara Grier.
A toast to Barbara Grier, a pioneer publisher.
(via GeekPornGirl.com and from a tip from Lamar Van Dyke.)
