Monthly Archives: February 2012

Introduction to Family History

Back by popular demand–this class was a great success when it was offered in January, so we’re offering it again:

Instructor Karen Merrill Martin has been doing genealogy research for over 20 years, and has a certificate from the National Institute of Genealogical Studies affiliated with the University of Toronto.

Family History can be many things, from “I just want to put a scrapbook together of these old photos” to a scholarly text with footnotes and charts, to a novelized version of an ancestor’s life story.

Classes will include: Discussions on how to begin; how to organize files and protect documents; research ideas on vital records, courthouse trips and online resources; how to keep track of your family and research either by hand or computer.

Whether you are a beginner or someone with more experience, there will be lots to learn in this class.

The class will be held on 4 consecutive Thursdays–March 22nd, March 29th, April 5th and April 12th from 2-3:30 pm, and will cost $40. Class is limited to 12 students.

To register, download a registration form from the Hoffman Center website and mail it in to the Hoffman Center at PO Box 678, Manzanita, 97130.

Clay Mask Making Workshop with Glenna Gray

Join Glenna Gray on Wednesday, March 21st from 1:00-3:00 pm in a fun introduction to the ancient art of ceramic mask making. After the introduction and demonstration, each participant will make their own mask which will be fired when dry. Mask makers then have the option of glazing their piece and having it fired in the kiln again, or taking it home to paint with acrylics. Absolutely no art experience of any kind is needed to take this workshop! Glenna has taught art in public schools at the junior high level, and facilitates art activities locally whenever possible. Masks are one of her favorites!

Class tuition is $20, which includes all materials, glazes and firing. Only 6 spaces are available. Email Glenna to register: glenna@nehalemtel.net or call the Hoffman Center at 503 368 3846 and leave a message.  Class tuition must be paid in advance.  Make checks out to Glenna Gray and mail to Hoffman Center, PO Box 678, Manzanita 97130.

CARTM and Hoffman Center Join Together to Present Trash Art Show in July

Cheese trays made from recycled wine bottles by Skip Rognlien

The show must go on and go on it will—the Trash Art Show that is. The Hoffman Center stepped up with an offer to collaborate with CARTM and host the show at their venue and share in the work of production and marketing of the show, and the proceeds. Both organizations see this as a win for both as well as a big win for the community.

The Trash Art Show which is scheduled for July 6, 7, and 8 will be the 14th annual show which was birthed in 1997 by Susan Walsh and Lorraine Ortiz. Through the ensuing years the show has produced a whole new cadre of local artists specializing in the making of this art-form which relies solely on recycled materials as its medium.

“The Hoffman Center sees this partnership as the perfect fit to let the show go on without impacting CARTM’s operations or current desire to focus its attention on its mission,” said John Freethy, Hoffman Center board member. “We are an art center so it was natural to have the show move to our venue to carry on this local tradition.”

The show will be a fundraiser for the two organizations and the plans for the event this year include a ticketed pre-opening night event for those wishing to support the organizations above and beyond purchasing the art. There will be a limited number of tickets sold to the pre-opening which are expected to go on sale in early May.

“All of us at CARTM are overjoyed at the partnership proposed by Hoffman Center,” said Jan Hamilton, CARTM Executive Director. “We all want to see trash art continue to thrive in our community because it is one of the ways our community expresses itself creatively, and as as art-form it inspires creative re-use of materials which is ultimately at the heart of everything we do at CARTM.”

Plans are also underway for a series of Trash Art workshops to be held in April and May in anticipation of the show. The organizers of the 14th Annual Trash Art Show encourage anyone who has ever wanted to enter something in the show to do it this year.

Oregon Book Award Finalist Marjorie Sandor appears March 10th

Oregon Book Award Finalist Marjorie Sandor to read, and lead free memoir workshop

Literary Arts is pleased to announce an event in Manzanita as part of the Oregon Book Awards Author Tour. Marjorie Sandor will appear as part of the Manzanita Writers Series at Hoffman Center on Saturday, March 10th, at 7 p.m.

In addition, Sandor will offer a free workshop on Saturday, March 10th from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the Hoffman Center for the Arts in Manzanita (594 Laneda Ave). The workshop will focus on memoir-writing and explore the power–both haunting and restorative–of our most ordinary and familiar domestic spaces. Sandor will briefly discuss her own experience of creating a book out of the bits and pieces of an early-morning gardening journal kept during a mid-life moment of intense change. From there, participants will do some of their own writing, working from simple prompts. The workshop is free but space is limited and participants are asked to register by emailing Susan Denning at susan@literary-arts.org.

Marjorie Sandor’s most recent book is The Late Interiors: A Life Under Construction, a 2012 finalist for the 2012 Oregon Book Award in Creative Nonfiction. Her previous books include the linked story collection, Portrait of my Mother, Who Posed Nude in Wartime: Stories (Sarabande Books), which won the 2004 National Jewish Book Award in Fiction; and a previous book of essays, The Night Gardener: A Search for Home (The Lyons Press), won the 2000 Oregon Award for Creative Nonfiction.

Following Sandor’s reading and Q&A, we’ll have our popular Open Mic where up to nine local writers will read 5 minutes of their original work.

Admission for the evening is $7.

 

North Coast Squid Available Now!

The North Coast Squid, a new literary magazine featuring the writing of locals — both full-time and part-time — was unveiled to an enthusiastic crowd on Saturday, February 15.  The annual magazine will be available for sale at all the Manzanita Writers’ Series events, as well as the following retail outlets (we’ll keep adding to the list, so keep checking back):

In Manzanita:
Cloud & Leaf Bookstore
Ekahni Books
Manzanita News & Espresso

In Nehalem:
Rainbow Lotus
Hal’s Emporium

In Cannon Beach:
Jupiter Books
Cannon Beach Book Company

In Seaside:
Beach Books

New Literary Journal, the North Coast Squid, to Debut on February 18, 2012 at the Manzanita Writers’ Series

The North Coast Citizen and the Manzanita Writers’ Series coordinators have partnered to bring out a literary journal, the North Coast Squid.

Writing entries were called for in the fall. Even with a short turn-around time, over fifty writers submitted 120 pieces. Sixty-seven submissions were poetry, 18 fiction, 16 memoir, 13 non-fiction, and six Flash Fiction. In addition, over 20 people submitted photography or art.

Entries were judged by two accomplished authors from outside the local area. Novelist Jennie Shortridge of Seattle read the prose submissions. Oregon’s sixth and current Poet Laureate Paulann Peterson, read the poetry.

“Jennie and Paulann have a passion for increasing literacy and broadening the love of reading and writing,” said Vera Wildauer, of the Manzanita Writers’ Series, “They eagerly read through their stacks to support this endeavor and selected 38 pieces.”

A committee of five chose the artwork to include.

“Sponsors stepped up to cover publication costs,” added Kathie Hightower, “We’re very pleased with the results, especially for an inaugural issue where people had just one month to submit. Of course, we have a vision that future journals will be even more expansive and stitch-bound volumes. But this is a great start and a way for many local writers to see their writing published for the first time. We hope many of the writers will read their entries during our Open Mic events this year.”

The North Coast Squid will be available for purchase at every Manzanita Writers’ Series event as well as at a number of retail outlets along the coast, which will be announced soon. Fifty percent of the $2 cover price will go to the Hoffman Center to help with operational costs that provide programs like the Manzanita Writers’ Series.

 

Introduction to the Adult Clay Studio at the Hoffman Center

With Dee Koscheski and Kathleen Ryan

Wednesday, March 28th 1:00 – 3:00 pm

Cost: $10, which includes 2 pounds of clay

This introductory class will familiarize you with the Hoffman Center clay studio and what is possible to create within it. A studio tour will be given, includingan overview of the equipment, tools and guidelines. Dee and Kathleen will be giving demonstration of hand-building and wheel throwing.

Students will have a chance to experiment with clay and learn how it behaves with the guidance of the two instructors.

To register for the class, limited to 6 people, contact Dee at hoffmanclaystudio@gmail.com or leave message at 503-368-3846