In the Studio at Jack Straw Productions

By Patricia El Koury

Jack Straw Productions (JSP) is the Northwest’s only non-profit multidisciplinary audio arts center. A community-based resource since 1962, we provide a production facility that is unlike any other in the region for local artists who work creatively with sound. Jack Straw focuses on annual artist residencies through our Artist Support Program, our Writers Program, and our Gallery Residency Program; art and technology education for all ages; arts heritage partnerships; and radio production. Our full-service recording studio is also available for a range of arts projects.

Recently, I had the chance to sit in on the recording sessions for the 2010 Jack Straw Writers program. Interviews were conducted by current Jack Straw Writer’s curator, Jared Leising. Jack Straw’s Studio 2 is ideal for recording spoken word and interviews. According to sound engineer, Moe Provencher, they currently use Pro Tools software and hardware. In the studio, Jared interviewed writers Louise Spiegler, Katherine Grace Bond, and Michael Dylan Welch. This recording session was part of the literary podcast series which will be available to listen to in the near future.
Jared began the session by interviewing author Louise Spiegler. Louise currently teaches at Cascadia Community College and is the author of The Amethyst Road, Purpurfeuer, and soon to be released The Jewel in the Key. Louise discussed her writing influences, method, editors, and teaching. Louise was also given the opportunity to read from her work. Her writing style is full of beautiful descriptions that give the audience the ability to join in the places that she writes about. She specializes in writing historical fiction for young audiences.
Next in the studio was poet Katherine Grace Bond. Katherine is the author of the chapbook Considering Flight and Yielding to Calliope. She is also the author of children’s books The Legend of the Valentine and Sleepy-Time Dance. Katherine read poems from Considering Flight in addition to some new work she is doing during her time as a Jack Straw Writer. Katherine discussed the playfulness of teaching writing. She revealed that a big part of getting young writers to explore their writing ability is to take them outside and ask them to live as the characters they write about. This sounds like an exciting possibility to combine role play with literary pursuits.
Michael Dylan Welch specializes in writing and discussing haiku. He is the editor of several haiku collections including Brocade of Leaves, Dandelion Wind, and Seeing Stars. Michael discussed Allen Ginsberg and other beat poets and cited traditional Japanese haiku as often misunderstood. Michael read several of his own haiku pieces and discussed his manuscript Seven Sons.
Other Jack Straw 2010 Writers include Martha Clarkson, Amber Flame, Roberto Ascalon, Brian Barr, Bill Carty, Esther Altshul, Majorie Manwaring, Denise Calvetti Michaels, and Tara Roth. To learn more about Jack Straw Productions visit http://www.jackstraw.org/ .