Virtual and material: “Water in Three Acts” launch
Over the past difficult months, I've been grateful to work on these mini poems for the "Book Launch Edition" of my chapbook. As incredible as it is to gather virtually via Zoom, I wanted to make something by hand as well, a tactile offering.
From Newfound's website:
~ As a gesture toward the missed experience of an in-person poetry reading, the special edition offers a special "snail mail" version of the traditional book launch: a signed copy and a unique, numbered mini poem. ~
The mini poems are inspired by correspondence and the excitement I still feel when I check my (three-dimensional) mailbox. It's a treat to send them out to unknown recipients. If you are interested, you can find the Book Launch Edition (and other editions) here.
I am curious to explore the diverse possibilities of print and digital publishing, so I'm happy to share "Water in Three Acts" as a handbound book, an ebook, these mini poems made from scraps of paper, and now a Zoom reading as well:
It was an honor to celebrate this chapbook launch with Jose-Luis Moctezuma and Ching-In Chen, two poets I greatly admire. Jose-Luis read brilliantly first and, unfortunately, his reading is not captured on the video, though he does appear in the Q&A at the end to discuss his poems. The poems he read were "Private Equity," "CCTV," and "Red Cedar Distances," the last of which can be read here. His most recent book, Place-Discipline, was selected by Myung Mi Kim for Omnidawn's 1st/2nd Book Prize.
Ching-In read poems that touch on the theme of water and some new gathas that consider breath. Ching-In's most recent full-length book is recombinant from Kelsey Street Press, which I was fortunate to co-edit with Mg Roberts. One of the lovely surprises of working on this book involved the cover-image that Ching-In chose: Information Retrieval 131 (Central Pacific Railroad) by Geraldine Lau. Unbeknownst to Ching-In, this was a site-specific work commissioned by the Berkeley Art Museum when I worked there years ago (here’s a photo of the art in the museum on Lau’s website). It's remarkable to have an experience of that artwork in the museum and in the space of Ching-In's book as well.
Finally, the Zoom event was hosted by my editor Levis Keltner, who continues be as warm and supportive a presence now that the chapbook is completed. My thanks to the three of them and to all who have given the book their time!
Water in Three Acts, Newfound 2020.
