EKPHRASIS AT THE FIL-AM ARTIST DIRECTORY

I'm really proud of the EKPHRASIS section at the Filipino American Artist Directory. We've got a few more poems scheduled in the weeks ahead. But this is to say that Submissions will take a break, and will resume Feb. 1, 2018. Until then, please peruse the beautiful literary and art works so far released. And perhaps you can work on your own creative writing to submit something come Feb. 1, 2018! THANKS to all participating writers and artists.... as well as to Directory founder Janna Añonuevo Langholz!

4TH FILIPINO AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL BOOK FESTIVAL

I was delighted to be part of this Festival!

Fourth Filipino American International Book Festival, San Francisco

Oct. 7, 2017

San Francisco Public Library

I participated in a "Hot Off the Presses" Reading as well as moderated a panel on "Ekphrasis" featuring authors reading works inspired by Filipino-American artists. During the day, I was present at the PALH/Paloma Press/Meritage Press Table at the Book Fair.

Hot Off the Press Readers: Gemino Abad, Aileen Cassinetto, Merlinda Bobis, Barbara Jane Reyes, Roberto Flor, moderator Cecilia Brainard, Eileen Tabios, and Janice Sapigao

Paloma Press and I also officially launched MANHATTAN: An Archaeology at the FilBookFestival as well as introduced LOVE IN A TIME OF BELLIGERENCE for a fundraiser for Puerto Rico relief. HERE is a video of my reading. And here are some readers:

Here's info on panel:

PANEL: Word + Image: Filipino American Art as Inspiration

Moderators: Eileen Tabios and Janna Añonuevo Langholz

Ekphrasis, typically defined as a literary response to a visual work of art, can be valuable to the work of a writer both as a creative exercise and as the impetus for a complete poem or prose piece. During this session, artists from The Filipino American Artist Directory will introduce slides of their art and writers will share their crafted responses.

Panelists include the artists Carlo Ricafort, Kimberley Acebo Arteche, Pam Ybanez, Daniel Ballesteros, and Janna Añonuevo Langholz. Represented writers include Jonel Abellanosa, Aileen Cassinetto, Melinda Luisa de Jesus, Veronica Montes, and Eileen Tabios.  Jean Vengua’s art also will be featured.

As an ekphrasis project, REPRODUCTIONS OF THE EMPTY FLAGPOLE also was distributed to attendees of the ekphrasis panel. Here are more photos of the artists and attendees:

A good day!

ALOHA to SAN FRANCISCO and HAWAI'I!

Aloha, October -- usually a busy month for me as it's Filipino-American History Month. Here we go:

Tomorrow (Saturday) I will be at the 4th Annual FilBookFest doing a reading and a panel on ekphrasis (click on link for details).

THEN I'll be appearing at Litquake-SF:

THEN, please spread the word to your Hawai'i-based friends--I released a book in France to launch in Hawai'i!

THEN we all get tired of Moi. But, good times!

"A SHY PAINTING"

I love the drawing "face down" (2014) by Maryrose Cobarrubias Mendoza. Thus, I wrote a poem "after" the drawing! "A Shy Painting" was first published in print viz Spillway #25 with some fine company, but is now available online through The Filipino-American Artist Directory. Hope you enjoy!

"A SHY PAINTING"

Happy to be in the new Spillway 25, especially as it's the last edited issue by poetry editor extraordinaire Susan Terris. Great company. And I love that my poem "A Shy Painting" is one inspired by the FilAm artist Maryrose Cobarrubias Mendoza -- this ekphrastic relationship will be reprinted in the FilAm Artist Directory's Ekphrasis section (for which I'm always looking for submissions -- go to link). On behalf of the Poetry World, thanks to Susan for 17 years of editing poetry journals!

(Click on images to enlarge.)

CALL FOR EKPHRASIS WRITINGS!

I’m pleased to announce that the next new poet to participate in the FilAm Artist Directory’s ekphrasis project will receive a copy of the Filipino American Artist Directory 1 (in addition of course to ekphrasis poetry books by Moi). I’m always looking for (both Filipino and non-Filipino) creative writers (not just poetry but also fiction and other prose) to participate in the Directory’s Ekphrasis Project – the Call for Participation (including examples) is HERE.

Poets who've previously participated also should feel free to send more poems.

"TAKING IT SLANT..."

Isabel Cuenca, “Untitled” (2016). Acrylic on canvas, 48"x48"

My short story -- or perhaps it's a prose poem, says the mischievous genre-disruptor -- entitled "Taking It Slant From Those February Days" is now up at the Fil-Am Artist Directory's Ekphrasis Feature. It's a work "after" Isabel Cuenca's painting. I share that work as I want to encourage fictionists, not just poets, to participate in the Ekphrasis section -- the Call for Writing is HERE. So, short short, anyone?

Meanwhile, you might notice that my story presents dated sections in reverse chronological order. It's not just about a riff off "slant," though that's appropriate. The story reflects my years of tinkering with disrupting linearity in narrative. Theoretically, one could read the story in a chronological order (per the dates) or just in any order and (if it works) it still would be valid.

Hope the story and this Ekphrasis Feature is of interest, and inspire some of you -- poets and fictionists (and, actually, any other creative writing genre. Short plays, anyone?) -- to participate!

THE FILIPINO AMERICAN ARTIST DIRECTORY!

"(De)Centered: An Exhibition of Filipino American Artists," the Fil-Am Artist Directory's first exhibit will be up at WAS gallery (Washington D.C.) through June 16 (for more info, go to http://www.filamartistdirectory.com/events/ ; the above image is from the exhibition's announcement). Meanwhile, Directory founder Janna Añonuevo Langholz reads my Reproductions of the Empty Flagpole with Directory advisor Isabel Manalo's guinea pig. I love a diversified audience for (my) poetry!

I'm also an Advisor to the Directory and one of  my projects is an ekphrasis-based creative writing series in response to art from the artists in the Directory. If you'd like to participate, go for more information to  http://www.filamartistdirectory.com/call-for-writing

THE FILIPINO AMERICAN ARTIST DIRECTORY!

Janna Anonuevo Langholz

I'd been advising/supporting the Fil-Am Artist Directory, in part by editing its ekphrastic section--you are invited to participate HERE (and you need not be Filipino). The Directory is the brain-child of artist Janna Anonuevo Langholz and now they're going to have their first exhibit in Washington! It will open May 13 at Was Gallery. All the details are in this lovely Inquirer article by Walter Ang, whose illustrations include another artist  and Directory Advisor Isabela Manalo and me:

Isabela Manalo and Moi

Read all about it HERE! You are invited to know these artists and their works!

CALL FOR EKPHRASTIC WRITING!

So, after you've voted :), you might want to look at some art and if inspired, write a poem, (flash) fiction or any other type of creative writing inspired by an artwork! That's the idea to a new project, EKPHRASIS WRITING AFTER ARTWORKS in THE FILIPINO AMERICAN ARTIST DIRECTORY. 

The project is open to all writers, Filipino or not. More information is available at the CALL FOR WRITING . You'll also see there two examples--one by Luisa A. Igloria and one by me ("Alegria" , a "Haybun Interrupts" variation of the hay(na)ku, after Janna Anonuevo Langholz's installation "Ghost Houses") to give you an idea of poems written after some of the art. Please spread the word.

I will be editing this feature, and participating writers also will receive, in addition to publication, either of two of my ekphrastic books, Reproductions of the Empty Flagpole (inspired by abstract expressionism) and SUN STIGMATA (inspired by sculpture).

This project has an ongoing deadline and offerings will be posted as accepted over time. Please visit the site -- at least it will expose your eyes to some LOVELY ART!