SOCIAL: To Build a Fire

Saturday, July 23, 5-8p.m. at the Joaquin Miller Park Fire Circle [map]

The Heart of the Muse joins with the Berkeley Branch of the California Writers Club to gather East Bay literary communities for the 2016 Jack London Legacy Celebration.

A hundred years ago, Jack London, Joaquin Miller, Ina Coolbrith and their contemporaries would gather informally at Woodminister for “a blanket and a basket of chow.” From this group the CWC was born. These writers would perform “hijinx” in the form of skits & readings to amuse one another.

Gathering with the Heart of the Muse sparks new connections, friendships, and ideas between East Bay writers, in all of our richness and variety.

Guests are invited to bring readings by early Bay Area authors, or works inspired by them. Please sign up in advance here.

Please sign up to bring a potluck dish and pitch in to help.

RSVP on FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/events/566544150195282/

 

Have you read To Build A Fire?

Our Hijinx!

Kristen Caven reporting

We were a little in our cups but I believe this was the lineup…

• Funny man David Strom read The Abalone Song by Jack London
• Henry Hitz read an excerpt from London’s Martin Eden. (“Because I’m famous; because I’ve a lot of money. Not because I’m Martin Eden, a pretty good fellow and not particularly a fool.”)
• Eli Wirtschafter read Who Am I Where? ¿Quién Soy Dónde? A Map of Contingent Identities and Circumstantial Memories, by Rebecca Solnit and Guillermo Gómez-Peña from Infinite City
• Aquelia Lewis read Cupid Kissed Me by Ina Coolbrith ~ and recited her original poem, Venus, Goddess of Love.
• Cristina Deptula talked about Ina, then read her original Spontaneous Grace and Sandwich Poem.
• Leah Vass, visually taking us back in time, read Ina Coolbrith’s Copa de Oro and Joaqin Miller’s California’s Cup of Gold  (obviously a writing prompt from one of their hijinx!)
• Amos White read harmonious haiku (hokku) by Yone Noguchi and himself.
• Kristen Caven (with help from Karma Bennett) led a sing-along to Joaquin Miller (went walkin’).