Editor's Note

“En plein air” is the French term literally meaning to paint in the outdoors. The Pacific Northwest Plein Air Write Out is done in conjunction with the competition and exhibition for fine art painters, which takes place in the Columbia Gorge, hosted by the Columbia Center for the Arts in Hood River. The writing part of this five-day event is done in a similar manner for both the writers and painters. Writers take their laptops, Ipods, notebooks or tape recorders and head to the locations chosen for the painters. It doesn’t matter if it is hot and sunny or cool and rainy; the idea is to let the atmosphere and location inspire the writer.

This year the writers produced a very potent bouquet of written works, as I am sure you will agree as you browse through their pieces. The public reading on September 4 at Columbia Center for the Arts invoked ghosts, talking trees, granddaughters, yellow jackets, blessings for writers, memories, smells, a river like a silver crochet hook and many more images to take home with us. Here, online, are all the works organized by the place they were composed for your enjoyment. I know I will be reading them again, and probably again.

I want to take a moment to thank some people who made this, the seventh year of the plein air write out really special. First I thank Mark and Peggy Hudon of Hood River Coffee for supplying the writers with beans! Then, Bonnie White gifted her fellow writers with a precious little notebook with her artwork on the cover. Columbia Center for the Arts gave each writer a keepsake water bottle, and Bloomsbury in Stevenson contributed candles for those late night writing sessions. The artist’s committee generously put gift certificates in the writer’s bags as well. Thank you to the Skamania County Chamber of Commerce for supplying maps, magazines and bags for the whole event. And last, but most importantly, Waucoma Books of Hood River generously donated books for the writers who read at the public reading. It made the evening even more festive and fun so thank you Muir and Jenny and the whole staff at Waucoma.

Thank you writers, Director, Columbia Center for the Arts, Joanie Thompson, staff Caroline Mead and Kristen Godkin, and the committee members for making the 2011 Plein Air Write Out the best yet. Enjoy Writers, Ghosts and Yellowjackets and we will see you next year.