Plein Air Writing Exhibition
Public Reading & Anthology Launch Celebration
September 20, 2009, 7pm
Plein Air Writing Exhibition
Brings Gorge to Life with Words ...
The 2009 Plein Air Writing Exhibition, presents the work of its participating writers at a public reading—which also celebrates the launch of its online anthology—on Sunday, September 20 at 7pm in the Columbia Center for the Arts theater (Third & Cascade in Hood River).
A no-host reception follows the reading.
Nineteen Pacific Northwest writers participated in this year’s event, which took place in five scenic spots in and near the Columbia River Gorge.
Works of these writers will be presented at the public reading, and also included in the Plein Air online anthology (see below).
The Plein Air Writing Exhibition is part of the Pacific Northwest Plein Air Painting Competition and Writing Exhibition. The Plein Air painting exhibit opens September 4 and runs through the end of the month in the CCA gallery. Both the gallery and theater are located at 215 Cascade Ave. in Hood River.
2009 Plein Air Anthology:
Last of
Summer's Sweetness
View the online anthology which resulted from 5-days of writing "en plein air" at remarkable locations throughout the Columbia River Gorge.
2009 Plein Air Anthology: Last of Summer's Sweetness
2008 Plein Air Anthology: Pears Like Copper Buddhas
What is "Plein Air" Writing?
En plein air is a French term for painting in the out-of-doors with the goal of capturing a moment—the lighting, the clouds, the mood—as quickly as possible. While plein air painting is popular across the country, Columbia Center for the Arts is (as far as we can tell) the only organization that includes writers.
The idea for writers is essentially the same as for painters: capture a moment before it disappears. Of course, writers are not bound to re-create visual portraits of the landscape—the “moment” might involve other people in the area, sounds or conversations overheard, smells and sensations, or even inner thoughts. The goal is to capture a snippet of time as deftly and quickly as possible and paint a picture for others to “see.”
Participating Writers
Participating writers in the 2009 Plein Air Writing exhibition:
- Linda Jo Hunter
- Nancy Woods
- Mary Schlick
- Jack Mills
- Paula Friedman
- Julie Jindal
- Himanee Gupta-Carlson
- Diane Allen
- Judy Davis
- Bonnie White
- Tiel Aisha Ansari
- Ruby Murray
- Madeleine Eno
- Penelope Scambly Schott
- Shaindel Beers
- Amanda Carlos
- Blue Ackerman
- Stacy Shaw
- Kristy Athens