SoundPages
SoundPages is produced by Jack Straw Cultural Center as part of the Jack Straw Writers Program. This podcast features interviews and live readings from artists in the Jack Straw Writers Program. Each year a series of twelve episodes is produced featuring the current Jack Straw Writers and curator.-
The Color of Fog – Anne McDuffie
Anne McDuffie creates a sensory portrait of fog in a set of essays from an earlier chapter in her life. Her descriptions are immersive, and saturated by deep hues. The reader learns of her time in Madrid as a student and joins her for a long walk through the fog.
Music by the Black Cat Orchestra, produced as part of the Jack Straw Artist Support Program.
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A Cultural Journey – Harold Taw
In his work, Harold Taw explores voice and perspective. Readers travel through cultural and emotional territory with complex characters, moving through stories with remarkable storytellers.
Music by Victor Noriega, produced as part of the Jack Straw Artist Support Program.
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By the Bedside – Ann Teplick
In her Jack Straw residency, Ann Teplick shares her grief, wrestling the difficulties and pain of losing parents. Her poetry imparts sorrow, beauty, love, and loss. Each word is chosen with courage, leaving the reader absorbed in the fragility of human life.
Music by the Bird Tribe Orchestra, produced as part of the Jack Straw Artist Support Program.
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Architecture of Poetry – Nora Wendl
Through her study of a Mies van der Rohe glass house in Illinois, architect and poet Nora Wendl illuminates the life of Dr. Edith Farnsworth. Yearly visits to the home and extensive research inform Wendl’s portrayal of the house and the character of Farnsworth. With an architectural lens, Wendl brings life and sentiment to marble floors and glass walls.
Music by the St. Helens String Quartet, produced as part of the Jack Straw Artist Support Program.
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That’s Magic – Maritess Zurbano
In her writing, Maritess Zurbano depicts the little known world of a female magician. Her work brings to light racial and gender issues surrounding the art and captures the intrigue of performance. Original subject matter and dramatic delivery make for a captivating read.
Music by the Owcharuk Sextet, produced as part of the Jack Straw Artist Support Program.
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Shades of Sensibility – Katharine Whitcomb
As a poet and fiction writer, Katharine Whitcomb serves a complex blend of sentiment. Her playful wording often frames serious content.
Music by Lori Goldston, produced as part of the Jack Straw Artist Support Program.
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Forgotten Light – Annette Spaulding-Convy
Blending nature themes and rustic imagery, Annette Spaulding-Convy has created a collection of poems that brings the past to life. Her work delves into family history and tells the story of a lost ancestor. With grace and force, Spaulding-Convy pays tribute to a forgotten individual.
Music by Sean Osborn, produced as part of the Jack Straw Artist Support Program.
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Canine Connection – Debra Jarvis
Debra Jarvis‘s humorous and personable writing invites readers to pull up a chair. Her connection to both people and animals is felt in her fluid narrative. Meet her therapy dog Max and fall in love.
Music by Jes Raymond, produced as part of the Jack Straw Artist Support Program.
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Destination Rome, Circa 193 CE – Louise Spiegler
Louise Spiegler lets her imagination take the reins to lead readers through life in early Rome. In her novel, history is intermingled with an engaging plot that’s suitable for both young and adult readers. Her careful research and original characters make for entertaining reading.
Music by Sean Osborn, produced as part of the Jack Straw Artist Support Program.
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Unwrapping Memories – Denise Calvetti Michaels
Through her use of expressive language, Denise Calvetti Michaels creates poignant snapshots of her own experiences and those of others. Her writing takes different forms in order to capture the scene and the sentiment she’s depicting. Translating memories to poetry, Michaels gives voice to beautiful personal stories.
Music by the St. Helen’s Quartet, produced as part of the Jack Straw Artist Support Program.
