A Killer Whale Calls – Catherine DeNardo
Catherine Denardo’s project for the 2024 Jack Straw Writers Program is a piece of nonfiction narrative writing that celebrates the sounds of the Southern Residents, a community of endangered killer whales located in coastal waters of British Columbia and Washington State. In her conversation with curator Nisi Shawl, they delve into the importance of scientific accuracy in her narrative writing, why she chose to write about the Southern Residents, and why she feels hopeful for their recovery. “I felt like a lot of the writing was leading me in a sorrowful way. A lot of grief and a lot of exasperation about us not doing enough to save these killer whales. And for the Jack Straw project I felt like I wanted to write something a little more hopeful that was still accurate and truthful and more of a celebration about something wonderful about them.”
Music by EarthtoneSkytone, produced in part through the Jack Straw Artist Support Program.
