Pesha Joyce Gertler: Readings and Events

Pesha's Upcoming Poetry Readings and Events

Saturday, July 11, 2009: Sisters Singing: An Evening of Poetry and Music. Saturday, July 11, 2009, 7:30 p.m., downstairs at Town Hall, 1119 Eight Avenue (at Seneca Street), Seattle. Info: (206) 962-5311 Sisters Singing: An Evening of Poetry & Music will feature sacred music from Jami Sieber, Alysia Tromblay and Coleen Renee and poetry and prose from Carolyn Brigit Flynn, June BlueSpruce, Katie Nelson, Carolyn Davis Rudolph, Anne Mize, Beth Coyote, Pesha Gertler, Linda Barton and Marcia Moonstar. Tickets $15. Available online at Brown Paper Tickets or call 1-800-838-3006 or at the door. Cosponsored by Elliott Bay Books and The Bon Future Fund. More information at http://www.sisterssinging.com

Recent and Forthcoming Publications:

Interview and poem published in Drash: An interview with Pesha appeared in the 2008 edition of Drash, and her poem, "Sarah and Hagar" appeared in the 2009 edition of Drash. Available at Third Place Books Ravenna.

Pesha's poetry book: The Healing Time: Finally on my Way to Yes may be purchased at her readings or by sending $10 plus $2 postage to Pesha Joyce Gertler.
P.O. Box 75464
Seattle, WA 98175-0464

Pesha's poems have appeared in the following anthologies:

Sisters Singing. Blessings, Prayers, Art. Songs, Poetry & Sacred Stories by Women. Edited by Carolyn Brigit Flyn. Foreward by Deena Metzger. Wild Girl Publishing, Santa Cruz, CA.

Jump Start. A Northwest Renaissance Anthology. Steel Toe Books, Western Kentucky University, 1906 College Heights Blvd. #11086 Bowling Green, KY 42101-1086

An Almanac for the Soul. Anthology of Hope. Marv and Nancy Hiles, Iona Center, P.O.Box 1528, Healdsburg, CA 95448

The anthologies will be on sale at Pesha's upcoming readings. Later, she will provide mailing info--the P.O. Box and the cost for mailing.

Previously published:
"Mother and Daughter Storm" appeared in WeMoon 2008. "Miriam: not an American Success Story," and "Women at the Well.com" appeared in the Spring 2007 issue of Bridges (an issue that will focus on the theme of Miriam). In 2007, Calyx published "Homage."

The August 24, 2006 edition of Seattle Weekly included a large picture of Pesha and an article about her year as Seattle's Poet Populist. Prime Time has recently published a Poet Populist article; The Daily (University of Washington newspaper) printed another in July.

The poem, "November Rite" appeared in Real Change in November, 2005. Pesha has three poems in the recent issue of Chrysanthemum: "Sipping the Nectar", "To the Wind", and "January". Her poem, "If you would Walk your own Heart's Path", appeared in the May Seattle Woman. "The Little Matchgirl, Revisited", previously published in Pontoon (2001), has been published online in Switched-on Gutenberg. "In this Long Emptiness" has been published in Jewish Women's Literary Annual.

The poem, "Ballad of a Welfare Mother", was reprinted this July, along with an article about Pesha's years as a Welfare mother, in WROC's newsletter. (WROC = Welfare Rights Organizing Coalition}. Plans are underway for Pesha to give a poetry reading and writing workshop for the women who work for this organization, and lend support to women on welfare.

Articles about Pesha and the Poet Populist world appeared in the spring quarter University of Washington Women's Center Catalog and the April 19th issue of the North Seattle Herald-Outlook. The Herald-Outlook article includes a large picture of Pesha at a reading. Later in the spring, an article was published on the Human Resources of the City of Seattle Intranet. The intranet article included information about the April 29th and May 30th events, and excerpts of three poems.

Pesha's 2009 Poetry Readings and Events

Saturday, June 27th: Cultural Collisions: Women Poets & Their Craft Saturday, June 27th, 2 p.m.–5 p.m., at Beacon Hill Branch Library, Seattle. Calling themselves La Jefa, (“The Boss” in Spanish) four Seattle women writers who collectively represent at least sixteen cultures, will present an interactive audience panel and a reading of their work. The event is free and open to the public. Cultural Collisions: Women Poets & Their Craft features JT Stewart, Pesha Gertler, Felicia Gonzalez, & Jourdan Keith. They as La Jefa will distribute complimentary poetry broadsides, written especially for this occasion as a way to encourage audience participation. This event is co-sponsered by Hedgebrook, Richard Hugo House, Washington Center for the Book, and 4Culture.

Saturday, April 4th: Cultural Collisions: Women Poets & Their Craft Saturday, April 4, 2 p.m.–5 p.m., at Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Avenue, Seattle. Calling themselves La Jefa, “The Boss” in Spanish and Portuguese, four Seattle women writers—JT Stewart, Pesha Gertler, Felicia Gonzalez and Jourdan Keith—who collectively represent at least 16 cultures, will present an interactive audience panel and a reading of their work. FREE. Presented with support from Hedgebrook Washington Center for the Book and 4Culture. Co-sponsored by Richard Hugo House.

Thursday, August 9th: Pesha will read at the It's About Time Writers Reading Series, at the Northeast Branch of the Seattle Public Library, Thursday, August 9th, 6:00 p.m. to 7:45 p.m., 6801 35th Ave N.E., Seattle. Also reading are Denise Calvetti Michaels, Wendy Marcus, and Crysta Casey. Diane Westergaard facilitates.

Saturday, April 28th: Pesha will read "Sarah and Hagar," accompanied by flutist and percussionist, Esther Sugai, on Saturday April 28 at 6:15 p.m. on the CacadeStage at the Burning Word Festival on Whidbey Island. Pesha traveled to Israel/Palestine where she presented the poem with music and dance performers and it was enthusiastically received by Palestinian and Israeli audiences of men and women. Many poets and workshops will be offered at this all-day event, including Naomi Shihab Nye who will read immediately after Pesha.. For more info: http://www.burningword.org/

Readings and Events Prior to 2009

Saturday, March 10th: Ugly Mug Coffee House readings 2nd Saturdays. Open mic signups at 6:45. Reading 7:00 p.m. to 9:15. Ugly Mug is located at 11425 Rainier Avenue South (on the border of Seattle and Renton). Plenty of free easy parking. Discover this great hang-out and new poetry venue !!!! Please support this poetry venue and help it grow.

Pesha Gertler is accompanied by Simone La Drumma on the drums and Esther Sugai on flute for the reading of Pesha's poem, "Sarah and Hagar," which she read last April at the Poet Populist Celebration reading at the downtown library, and also read with music and dancers in Palestine and Israel, where it was enthusiastically received.

Judith Roche, former Literary Director of Bumbershoot and award winning poet will read some of her memorable poems. See Chris Jarmick's web site for more info.

J.T. Stewart , poet, playwright, performance artist, and recent Curator of the Jack Straw Series will also lend her dramatic presence while reading her poetry. Also, read Chris Jarmick's web page for more details. Or better yet, just come and join us for what is sure to be a memorable night.

Friday, February 23rd: Please join us for the next NSCC Poets & Writers' Event -- After Long Silence-- a Black History Month reading with Seattle's 2006-2007 Poet Populist Jourdan Keith and poet, playwrght and editor JT Stewart. Pesha Joyce Gertler is Coordinator of the reading series.

Location: Rose Room (ground floor, south campus)
North Seattle Community College
9600 College Way N.
Date: Friday, February 23, 2007
Time: 7:30-9:30 p.m.
Fee: Free
Open mic follows forum (time permitting)
For more info, please call 206-527-3709 Humanities Division, NSCC
206-525-5373 Pesha Joyce Gertler, Coordinator

Friday, December 1st: Please join us for the next NSCC Poets & Writers' Event--a Literary Editors Forum--in which Amy Schrader, Poetry Editor of Cranky Literary Journal and Paul Hunter, producer of WoodWorks letterpress books--will share with us what they look for when they publish. Pesha Joyce Gertler, Coordinator of the reading series, will mediate the forum and questions will be encouraged from the audience.

Location: Rose Room (ground floor, south campus)
North Seattle Community College
9600 College Way N.
Date: Friday, Dec. 1, 2006
Time: 7:30-9:30 p.m.

Sunday, October 22nd: Pesha will read with several other poets at 3 p.m., at Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave. The event is sponsored by Switched on Gutenberg and will feature poets recently published in their online edition.

Tuesday, September 12th: 8 p.m. in the Cabaret at Hugo House. Pesha will appear with several poets reading poems based on the theme of "Gravity and Levity." Pesha will read her midrashic poem, "Sarah and Hagar" which contains the dream of peace in the Middle East. She will be accompanied by Simone La Drumma on the drums and Esther Sugai on the flute. Pesha presented this in Israel and Palestine in 1992 (with music and dance performers) where it was warmly received by Palestinian and Israeli women and men. She offers this poem as a way of honoring the peace workers and keeping the dream of peace alive.

Monday, September 4th: Pesha will introduce a series of readings and events in the Alki Room: Wave Books, Poetry Bus Launch, 5-6 p.m.; Fun Homes, 6:30-7:30 p.m.; Trapdoor 62 Dream Interpretation Panel, 8-9 p.m. For more info on these performances, see the Bumbershoot schedule. If you'll be around at that time, please drop in and say hello.

Friday, September 1st: from 3:20-3:30 p.m., Pesha will be interviewed by Nancy Guppy about her experiences as Seattle's Poet Populist. Archived tapes will be available on the Seattle TV Channel.

Saturday, September 2nd:
If you'll be at Bumbershoot on Sat. Sept. 2nd, please drop in at 12:30 p.m. in the Alki Room, where on Starbucks Literary Stage, Pesha will read the poem she has been commissioned to write, joined by the four finalists who will also read their poems. She will then relinquish her "crown" to Seattle's new Poet Populist who will be announced at that time. Please attend as this incredible year comes to a close for Pesha and a new one begins for her successor.

Later that same day, Sat. Sept. 2nd, from 7-10:30 p.m. at the Arboretum, in the Japanese Gardens at the Moon Viewing Event, Pesha will join other poets in reading moon, stars and night sky poems in an environment of Japanese lanterns, candles afloat on small boats on the pond and koto music. Bring a chair or blanket for seating and warm clothing for the cool Seattle evening. The reading will probably begin approx. at 9 p.m. when the Full Moon should be overhead. Fee: $10 per person. Good idea to purchase tickets in advance. What an ideal segue into the post-Poet Populist world! For more info, see http://www.cityofseattle.net/parks/parkspaces/japanesegarden/japanesegardenevents.htm#moon

Sunday, August 27th:
End-of-the-’05-’06 term reading by Poet Populist Pesha Joyce Gertler and finalists Nancy Dahlberg and Don Kentop including open mic if time permits. Reading will be at Ravenna Third Place Books, 6504 20th Ave. N.E. from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. This reading is also intended as a welcome to the new Poet Populist and finalists, soon to be announced.

If time permits, please join us after the reading for a glass of wine in the Pub downstairs

Pesha Joyce Gertler thanks everyone for the honor of serving as Seattle’s Poet Populist, a role she has experienced as the most fulfilling one of her professional life. The position has not only validated her vision of taking the poem where it is not usually heard but has also opened doors, all the way from housing for homeless women and children to swearing-in ceremonies for officials at City Hall. Monday, June 12th
Pesha read a poem to open a meeting/discussion on Darfur at Temple Beth Am, 2632 N.E. 80th, 6:30-9:00 p.m. This was an informative and strategizing meeting and was open to all.

Tuesday, May 30th
UW Choral Singers, directed by Dr. Geoffrey Boers, UW Choral Director, will present Elizabeth Alexander's musical version of Pesha's poem, "The Healing Time" (musical version re-named with first line of poem, "Finally on my way to Yes"). Meany Hall, 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, May 21st

University District Street Fair, reading at 2:30 p.m. at Chapel on the Av, Agape, 4130 University Way N.E.
Northgate Arts Council. Location: 2132 Northgate Wy and 1st Av. N.E. Pesha will read with Poet West poets, Jeannette Allee, Dennis Caswell, J.Glenn Evans, and Priya Keefe. 4-6 p.m. Pesha reads last.

Thursday, May 18th
Literary Festival at Columbia Basin College, Pasco,WA. Pesha will read her poetry with Dorianne Laux and Joseph Millar.

Saturday, May 13th
Poet Populist reading at Epilogue Books, 2005 NW Market Street, Seattle, with Pesha and Poet Populist nominees Irene Drennan and Paul Hunter.

Wednesday, May 10th
The April 29th Poetry and Music Celebration of Pesha Joyce Gertler's term as Poet Populist will be presented on Seattle Channel 21 at 6 p.m. The video also can be viewed online.

Saturday, April 29th
Celebration of Pesha's one-year term as Poet Populist. Central Library, 1000 Fourth Avenue, Seattle, 3-4:30 p.m. One of Pesha's poems will be "Sarah and Hagar" which she presented in Israel and Palestine. Esther Sugai, flautist and Simone LaDrumma, will accompany her. Guest poets are Judith Roche, J.T. Stewart, and Koon Woon.

Tuesday, March 7th
KUOW 9 a.m. Steve Scher will interview Pesha and others about the conditions of women in their varying fields. Later on the same day, Pesha will give a poetry reading, seminar and writing workshop for a Women in the Sciences Conference, "Cultivating Global, Local and Personal Awareness." This is closed to the public due to limited space but next year, a larger space may make it possible to accommodate more people.

Thursday, February 23rd to Sunday, February 26th
Women of Wisdom Annual Conference, featuring Jean Houston and many others. Pesha will act as Poetry Coordinator of a Poetry Wall where everyone may add a poem (hand-written on the spot okay). Later, the poems will be printed in a book which people may purchase in advance. Attendance at one of the conference events is necessary to participate in the Poetry Wall (and book).

Friday, February 17th
Pesha will read her poetry on February 17th with creative writing instructor colleagues at North Seattle Community College at 7:30 p.m. in the Rose Room. Open mic follows. This is a part of an ongoing reading series which Pesha coordinates, is open to all and is free. Deborah Green, Tracy Heinlein, and Molly Tenenbaum, published poets and writers of various forms, will read original work.

Location: North Seattle Community College, The Rose Room
Time: 7:30 p.m.

Friday, January 20th
Pesha will read with Margie McCarty, Shelley Minden, Peggy Sturdivant and Irit Weisel.

Location: 3rd Place Books
20th and Ravenna N.E.
Time: 7:00 p.m.

Friday, December 16th, 2005
December 16th is the third Friday of the month and that means the poetry series: TAKE A POEM FROM YOUR HEART AT BOOKWORM EXCHANGE in Columbia City will be presenting featured poets and some open mic readings. The featured poets include: the 2005 poet populist Pesha Joyce Gertler, Scott Galasso and Jed Myer.

Location: Bookworm Exchange in Columbia City
4860 Rainier Av. S.
1/2 block n. of Rainier and Ferdinand
Time: 7-9 p.m.

Thursday, February 10th, 2005

Featuring Amitra Freeman, J.W. Marshall & Peter Pereira on the Craft
for additional info: www.itsaboutimewriters.homestead.com

Location: 3rd Place Books
20th and Ravenna N.E.
Time: 7:30 p.m.

Gallery 110 flyer Saturday, February 19th, 2005
Pesha Joyce Gertler & Jud Roche with African American Writers Alliance
Gallery 110 with artists Pamela Miller & Karen Kosoglad
Location: 110 S. Washington St.
Time: 3-5 p.m.
For additional info:
allison@gallery 110.com
206-624-9336
www.gallery110.com

Wednesday, June 22nd, 2005 7-9 p.m.
Park Place Books, Kirkland
348 Parkplace Center
Kirkland, WA
425-828-6546

Pesha will be reading with
Denise Calvetti
Irene Drennan
Esther Helfgott
Diane Westergaard

And coordinated by Pesha
At North Seattle Community College...

After Long Silence:
with artist & writer, Barbara Earl Thomas
Date: Friday, Feb. 25th, 2005
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Location: Rose Room on NSCC campus
Free
followed by open mic

New Voices:
with Shelley Minden, Jeremy Cole, Luis Carlos Congdon, and David Bowen
Date: Friday, June 3rd, 2005
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Location: Rose Room on NSCC campus
Free
followed by open mic

For additional info contact Pesha Joyce Gertler, coordinator
of the reading series at: 206-528-4598 (office)
or Humanities Dept. 206-527-3709

To contact Pesha
send email to namastepeace-at-juno-dot-com
(replace "-at-" with "@" and "-dot-" with ".")