1/3/25: Creative Things
Let’s get into it!
First, some sign up alerts:
Meditate, Move, & Create will be online through Eastern Shore Writers Association January 15, 22, 29, and February 5. Sign up now for all sessions or as many as you wish.
Register here: https://www.easternshorewriters.org/event-5986563
Sunday Funday Book Club is January 19 at Lithology in Farmingdale noon to 2 PM for this month.
House of Health is hosting me for a Reiki circle on January 20. Reply to me if you’re interested in signing up. The registration link is not yet live.
THINGS HAPPENED
The Metropolitan Museum of Art has a floor plan that makes no sense at all, meaning I got lost in the museum for quite a while. The upside of getting lost is discovering all the permanent exhibits I somehow had never seen, like a room that is built as an outdoor Japanese backyard (for lack of a better term).
KUDOS
Congrats to the Door Is A Jar winners!
https://www.doorisajarmagazine.net/diaj-awards
BOOKSHELF
I’m reading Circe by Madeline Miller for book club. I might finish it before we meet. I also read a few more pages of Figuring and a few poetry collections. Most of my time in December was devoted to refreshing my memory for teaching Early British Literature and writing the Studies In Science Fiction course I’m teaching for the first time. If you’re interested in the sci fi reading list, it’s at the end of this newsletter, after the events.
Poetry
“Parable of the Sower” by David Joez Villverde
https://poems.com/poem/parable-of-the-sower
“From the Horns” by Lauren Russell
https://poems.com/poem/from-the-horns
“Autumn” by Nur Trukmani
https://therumpus.net/2024/12/05/nur-turkmani/
Internet
My scififem publisher, Aqueduct Press, asks its writers to offer a wrap-up of suggestions every year; here’s mine:
The Pleasures of Reading, Viewing, and Listening 2024 https://aqueductpress.blogspot.com/2024/12/the-pleasures-of-reading-viewing-and_0951509358.html
For The Dogs
https://www.paranoidtree.com/read/vol-47
And of course check out these:
How We Make Amends, post card sentiments, typewriter photographs, found poetry, and new inspirational stickers are all available.
LISTEN
My poem “Deceleration” aired on Destinies: The Voice of Science Fiction radio show. (Poem at 9:00) https://www.captphilonline.com/Destinies/Destinies_12_06_24.mp3
Working It Out: Mike Birbiglia chats with Elizabeth Gilbert
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/151-elizabeth-gilbert-eat-pray-jokes/id1515419751?i=1000677279478
Hyperfixed: Ava Needs To Measure
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/eva-needs-to-measure/id1762447440?i=1000670012449
WATCH
Cold Mountain Moon
https://www.arteidolia.com/swifts-slows-cecelia-chapman-rafael-gonzalez/
Queenpins
Ghosts (on CBS)
OPPORTUNITIES
Artist Telephone
https://artists.telephonegame.art/
Artists & Mothers Grant Cycle, Deadline January 2
https://www.artistsandmothers.org/
NYFA: Marketing For Artists and Creatives, Online Presentation, Jan 14 (preregister)
https://nyfa.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/nyfa/event.jsp?event=2779&utm_
NYFA: Inside Representation: Paths to Working with Galleries, Online Presentation, Feb 13 (preregister)
https://nyfa.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/nyfa/eventRegistration.jsp?event=2784
Hudson Valley Writers Center Residencies, Deadline Feb 15
https://hudsonvalleywriterscenter.submittable.com/submit
Third Wednesday Magazine Poetry Contest, Deadline February 28
https://thirdwednesdaymagazine.org/
Surel’s Place Residencies, Deadline March 1
https://surelsplace.org/month-long-residencies/
The Rumpus Prize, Deadline March 2
https://therumpus.net/the-rumpus-prize
Gwenn A. Nusbaum Scholarship, Deadline March 31
https://www.waltwhitman.org/nusbaumscholarship/
Bethany Arts Opportunities
https://bethanyarts.submittable.com/submit
ChaShaMa Galleries in NYC hosts solo artist shows
https://chashama.org/location/733-3rd-ave-lobby/
Call for artists and vendors at Annmarie Sculpture Garden and Arts Center (Solomon, MD)
https://www.annmariegarden.org/annmarie2/opportunities
Loop Art Critique hosts critique groups and experimental exhibitions
https://loop.onland.io/
Call for Work and Grant Opportunity with City of Boston Arts and Culture
https://cityofbostonartsandculture.submittable.com/submit
Deputy Director, Audience Experience & Learning at Rhode Island School of Design (RISD)
Marketing Manager (Remote) at Terry Knickerbocker Studio
www.terryknickerbockerstudio.com
Arts, Letters, and Numbers Residencies
https://www.artslettersandnumbers.com/
Vermont Studios’s curated list of fellowships:
https://vermontstudiocenter.org/fellowships
SUGGESTED THINGS
Kitchari (you can find a premade spice mix for an easier method)
Vote for Critters! (Akua Lezli Hope appears as one of the noms!)
https://critters.org/predpoll/poem.shtml
MISCELLANY
I have a brand new website on the way, which has made me realize I do not understand how the internet works at all.
All good things,
Christina
** If you post information publicly, please link back to me. Appreciate it.
THINGS ARE HAPPENING
Wednesday, January 8, 2025 at 7 PM
Lit Youngstown First Wednesdays featuring Jessica Manack and Marie Vibbert
Westside Bowl, 2617 Mahoning Ave, Youngstown OH
https://www.lityoungstown.org/post/first-wednesday-reader-series-jessica-manack-marie-vibbert
Saturday, January 11, 2025 at 6 PM
Rattle and Hum: An Art and Other Exhibition (art, oracle readings, and board breaking)
Barrier Brewing Co, Oceanside, NY
Saturday, January 11, 2025 at 7 PM
The Gypsy Felons Acoustic Trio at Margarita’s Café, Port Jefferson, NY
Sunday, January 12, 2025 at 12 noon, Pacific time
Cultivating Voices Series with Julene Tripp Weaver, Lana Hecthman Ayers, and other MoonPath Press authors Zoom, Register at: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYvce6gpz0sGN2xjVakkXh6GNCTLhKUnste
Free
Sunday, January 12, 2025, afternoon
Somnambulant Visuals offers readings from The Eigengrau Oracle Deck, The Cup, Wantagh, NY
Wednesdays, January 15, 22, 29, and February 5, 2025 at 6:30-8 PM EST
Meditation, Move, & Create with Christina M. Rau
Eastern Shore Writers Association
Members: All four sessions $100 / Per session $30
Nonmembers: All four sessions $130 / Per session $35
Register here: https://www.easternshorewriters.org/event-5986563
Thursday, January 16, 2025 at 7 PM
Art Opening at The Last Word in Huntington, NY
Sunday, January 19, 2025 at Noon to 2 PM
Sunday Funday Book Club reading Circe at Lithology, Farmingdale, NY
Friday, January 24, 2025 at 7 PM
AllOne & Conscious Four Maras album release at Industry, Huntington, NY
Saturday, January 25, 2025 at 7 PM
The Gypsy Felons Acoustic Trio at The Lion’s Den, West Islip, NY
Sunday, February 2, 2025 at 2 PM
The Gypsy Felons Acoustic Trio at the Jericho Public Library’s Distinguished Artist Series
Wednesday, February 5, 2025 at 7 PM
Lit Youngstown First Wednesdays featuring Cherise Benton & Paula J. Jambert
Westside Bowl, 2617 Mahoning Ave, Youngstown OH
Saturday, February 15, 2025 at 11 AM
Meditate, Move, & Create at Oceanside Library (NY)
Registration link on the way
Sunday, February 16, 2025 Noon to 8 PM (I’m reading at 3PMish)
Boog City 18.5 Arts Festival
Block Hill Station, 718 5th Ave., Park Slope, Brooklyn
$8 suggested
Wednesday, March 5, 2025 at 7 PM
Lit Youngstown First Wednesdays featuring Jennifer Hambrick & Christopher Johnston
Westside Bowl, 2617 Mahoning Ave, Youngstown OH
Saturday, March 8, 2025 at 3 PM
Cedarmere Poetry Series presents Nicole Cooley
225 Bryant Ave, Roslyn Harbor, NY
RSVP to attend and/or read at the limited open mic: https://forms.gle/99omfqvNAx54sasY7
FREE but you can certainly donate any time
Wednesday, April 2, 2025 at 7 PM
Lit Youngstown First Wednesdays featuring Amanda Stovicek D’Alessandro & Jyostna Sreenivasan
Westside Bowl, 2617 Mahoning Ave, Youngstown OH
Sunday, April 13, 2024 at 2 PM
Molloy University Reading Series presents NCPL Alan Semerdjian and former NCPL Lorraine Conlin
Reception Room, Kellenberg Hall,1000 Hempstead Avenue, Rockville Centre, NY
Hosted by Barbara Novack, Writer-in-Residence
Open mic follows feature. Refreshments!
516.323.3000 directions; 316.323.3260 information
Free
Saturday, May 3, 2025 at 3 PM
Cedarmere Poetry Series presents Martha Rhodes
225 Bryant Ave, Roslyn Harbor, NY
RSVP to attend and/or read at the limited open mic: LINK on the way
FREE but you can certainly donate any time
Sunday, May 4, 2025 at 2pm
Molloy University Reading Series presents Nicole Cooley
Reception Room, Kellenberg Hall,1000 Hempstead Avenue, Rockville Centre, NY
Hosted by Barbara Novack, Writer-in-Residence
Open mic follows feature. Refreshments!
516.323.3000 directions; 316.323.3260 information
Free
Wednesday, May 7, 2025 at 7 PM
Lit Youngstown First Wednesdays featuring Jon Graham & David Prather
Westside Bowl, 2617 Mahoning Ave, Youngstown OH
Saturday, September 27, 2025 at 11 AM
Tactile Poetry Workshop at Oceanside Library (NY)
Registration link on the way
On The Regular (Always check with venues. If no contact info is listed below, google it. If your series has changed, let me know for next time. If you want to add your series, drop me a line).
One Sunday a month: Mid-Island Y JCC Poetry Series 2-4 PM https://www.gaylteller.com/mid-island-2/
First Sundays: Poetic License, online, 4 PM, https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82298684083#success
One Sunday a month: Speculative Sundays with Akua Lezli Hope, online, 7 PM EST
https://akualezlihope.com/speculative-poetry
Third Sundays: Book Club, updates on the way
Third Sundays: Sunday Reading Series at The Hungry Brain, 6:30 PM, http://www.hungrybrainchicago.com/
Every Monday: Restless Open Mic, Marché Le Woof 31-03 Vernon Boulevard Astoria. Signups at 6:30 PM
Every Monday: Phoenix Reading Series, Shades of Green 125 e 15th NY NY, 6:30 PM, $5 plus food purchase
Every Monday: The Underground Open Mic at Bar Freda (Queens/Brooklyn Border), 7:30 PM
Every Monday: Easy Paradise Open Mic at KGB Red Room, 8 PM, sign up in advance, 21+, 2 drink min
First Tuesdays: First Tuesdays Series, Espresso 77 Cafe, Jackson Heights, 6:40 Sign up, 7 PM open begins, feature follows, $5 purchase, https://firsttuesdays.net/
First Tuesdays: Poetry At Greenspace, 47 Broadway Rocky Pt, NY, 7 PM (open mic sign up 6:30), jeweliasdad@aol.com for info
Every Wednesday: Wednesday Night Poetry, Kollective Coffee and Tea, Hot Springs, AZ, 6:30-9 PM
First Wednesdays: The Platform, Madison Community Arts Center 10 Kings Rd Madison NH, 8 PM, https://www.madisonartsnj.org/about/community-arts-center/
Second Wednesdays: Poetry: It's a Shore Thing!, Long Beach Library (NY), 6 PM https://longbeachlibrary.org/
Second Wednesdays/Thursdays: The Muse at Neirs Tavern, Queens, 7 PM
Fourth Wednesdays: Risk of Discovery at QED Astoria, 7:30-9 PM https://www.pw.org/content/the_risk_of_discovery_reading_series_and_the_queens_literary_scene
Third Thursdays: Poetry Pairs Series, Literature Repository Reading, Bohemia, 7 PM
First Thursdays: BVAC at Jack Jacks, Babylon, 7 PM
babylonvillagearts.org
First Thursdays: Poetry Circle Open Mic, Living Room Café, Ardmore, PA, 6:30 PM livingroomardmore.com
Third Thursdays: At Brookline Booksmith, MA, 7 PM, www.brooklinebooksmith.com
Third Thursdays: SAFTA Reading Series, Pretentious Beer Co, Old City Knoxville, TN https://www.sundresspublications.com/safta/reading-series/
Every Friday: Fridays: Seed Café Open Mic, 250 Main Street, Pawtucket, RI, 6:30 PM https://allevents.in/pawtucket/seed-caf%C3%A9-open-mic-fridays/200025919132025
First Fridays: Revolutionary Poetry Nights, Grounds Books and Coffee, Tuscon, AZ www.revolutionarygrounds.com
First Fridays: Maryland Writers’ Association, 7 PM EST, online, https://marylandwriters.org/first_fridays
Third Fridays: Hudson Valley Writers Center in person and online, 7 PM
https://writerscenter.org/calendar/
Last Fridays: Northport Arts Coalition Poetry Reading, Northport and online, 7:30 PM EST https://www.northportarts.org/
Last Fridays: Friday Night Fire, Teatro Yerbabruja Second Avenue Fire House, Bay Shore, NY, 7 PM, https://www.eventbrite.com/e/friday-night-fire-featured-artist-and-open-mic-event-tickets-488297128857
Last Fridays: Redmond Association of Spoken Word, Centro Cultural Mexicano Redmond, WA, 7-9 PM, www.centroculturalmexicano.org
Every Saturday: Astoria Music Collective Saturday Songwriters at The Local Bar, 3 PM, https://happeningnext.com/event/saturday-songwriters-open-mic-at-the-local-bar-astoria-eid3a0889pfbk
Every Saturday: Cultivating Voices Live, online, 3 PM EST
https://www.nmpoetry.com/wp/events/cultivating-voices-live-poetry-online/
Biweekly Saturdays: Lip Balm, online, 5 PM EST
First Saturdays: PPA East Meadow Library, 1-3 PM, hosted by J R Turek and Margarette Wahl
Third Saturdays: PPA Levittown Town Hall, 1-3 PM, hosted by J R Turek
Various Saturdays: It’s Poetry Baby!, Oceanside Library, NY, 2 PM
www.oceansidelibrary.com
Last Saturdays: Poetry Street On The Road at Riverhead Library and online, Riverhead NY, 2 – 4 PM, poetrystreetontheroad.com
Sci Fi Reading List
“The Last Question” by Isaac Asimov
“The Star” by Arthur C. Clarke
“Sci-Fi” by Tracy K. Smith
“Recognition” by Brian Garrison
The Time Machine by H. G. Wells
“I Have A Time Machine” by Brenda Shaughnessy
“Bloodchild” by Octavia Butler
“Evolving” by Linda Addison
“Eviction” and “Descent of the Composer” by Airea Matthews
“Child Price” by Akua Lezli Hope
“Request” and “Commitment” by Alexis Pauline Gumbs
“The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas” by Ursula K. LeGuin
“Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
“Civilization” by Vylar Kaftan
“Future Biometrics” by Jillian Weise
“Turing Test” by Franny Choi
“Fairy Tales For Robots” by Sofie Samatar
“There Will Come Soft Rains” by Ray Bradbury
“The Hollow Men” by T. S. Eliot
“A Song For The End Of The World” by Czeslaw Milosz
“The Goblin Market” by Christina Rossetti
“Witchcraft has not a pedigree” by Emily Dickinson
“The Inside Out Mermaid” by Matthea Harvey
“Giants In Liverpool” by Colleen Anderson
“The Tale Of Kitchen Spirits” by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland
“The Handsomest Drowned Man In The World” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
“After Her Brother Ripped The Heads From Her Paper Dolls” by Beth Cato
“Samsa In Love” by Haruki Murakami
“We Can Remember It For You Wholesale” by Philip K. Dick
“Sunshine Ninety-Nine” by N. K. Jemisin
“Poison Fish” by Nnedi Okorafor
“The Tamarisk Hunter” by Paolo Bacigalupi
“As A Portent” by David Baker
“Neptune.4” by CA Conrad
“Story Of Your Life” by Ted Chiang
OPTIONAL
“The Idea of Marcel” by Marie-Helene Bertino
“The Astronaut” by Valentina Zhuravlyova
“Let Us Save The Universe” by Stanislaw Lem
“When It Changed” by Joanna Russ
“The IWM 1000” by Alicia Yanez Cossio
Congrats! You've made it to the end! As always, this newsletter is gratis. If you wish to at any time, you can feel free to buy me a tea (or a coffee): https://www.buymeacoffee.com/christinamrau