PORTLAND ARTS & LECTURES 2020/21

HELEN MACDONALDTUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2020

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THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

PORTLAND ARTS & LECTURES 2020/2021

EVENT UNDERWRITERS

Helen MacdonaldTuesday, October 13, 2020 Maybelle Clark Macdonald Fund

Madeline MillerThursday, January 28, 2021 A to Z Wineworks

Ibram X. KendiThursday, February 18, 2021 ZGF Architects

Joy HarjoTuesday, April 20, 2021 Angeli Law Group

Yaa GyasiTuesday, May 18, 2021 (Rescheduled) The Eberwein Family

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HELEN MACDONALD

Helen Macdonald was born in Surrey, in South East England, in 1970. Her father was the youngest

staff photographer at the Daily Mirror, and her mother worked for local newspapers including the Aldershot News. In 1975, her parents bought a home in Tekels Park, a private estate on land owned by the Theosophical Society. Growing up in Tekels Park “indelibly shaped” Macdonald’s writing life.

Living in Tekels Park turned her into a “child naturalist”; she spent hours wandering the grounds and observing the plants and animals. She liked to lay in the meadows or perch in a beech tree and read: “The more I read, the more I wanted to write, and I filled notebooks with everything from dreadful

poetry to stories about the characters in the books I’d read.”

A lifelong scholar, her long affiliation with the University of Cambridge began with her undergraduate studies of English literature. She returned later for graduate studies in history and philosophy of science, and from 2004 to 2007 was a research fellow at Jesus College at Cambridge. She is currently an Affiliated Research Scholar at the Department of History and Philosophy of Science. She has also worked as a professional falconer and assisted with the management of raptor research and conservation projects across Eurasia.

Simple Objects, Macdonald’s first book of poetry, was published in 1992, followed by

Helen Macdonald image © Bill Johnson Jr.

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Shaler’s Fish in 2001 (reissued in 2016). She published a cultural history of falcons, Falcon, in 2006. Her genre-defying book H is for Hawk was published in 2014. The book won the Samuel Johnson Prize for nonfiction (now the Baillie Gifford Prize) and the Costa Book of the Year award, and it was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award for autobiography. It was one of the New York Times Book Review 10 Best Books of the Year and a Best Book of the Year at TIME, NPR, Washington Post, and many, many more.

H Is for Hawk combines memoir, nature writing, and literary biography as Macdonald chronicles her experience training a goshawk while grieving her father. Macdonald said of the hybrid form: “I felt that all of me was in one place. All those parts of me—the literary side, the more scientific side, the experiential stuff, all the bird stuff—all came together in one.”

Dwight Garner called H Is for Hawk “an instant classic of nature writing” in the New York Times, writing, “Helen Macdonald’s beautiful and nearly feral book, H Is for Hawk, reminds us that excellent nature writing can lay bare some of the intimacies of the wild world as well. Her book is so good that, at times, it hurt me to read it. It draws blood, in ways that seem curative.”

In August 2020, Macdonald published the essay collection Vesper Flights to immediate acclaim. Slate said of the book, “No one describes the natural world with greater power or beauty,” and the Wall Street Journal called it, “Dazzling… Macdonald reminds us how marvelously unfamiliar much of the nonhuman world remains to us, even as we continue to diminish it.”

In an interview about Vesper Flights, considering her frequent subjects of wildness and grief, Macdonald told the Guardian, “I really like to think my subject is love. Love of the world and the things in it...” But, she continues, “Love and death and loss are all part of one thing, really, particularly now with the climate emergency. It is really hard to write about the natural world without writing about grief.”

Macdonald writes often for the New York Times Magazine. She lives in a cottage in the village of Hawkedon, in Suffolk county, near Cambridge. She has been weathering lockdown this year in the company of her green-cheeked conure (a small parrot), Birdoole, and recently got her first tattoo, a seraph inspired by a nineteenth-century screen in St. Peter’s Church, Ely.

Elena Passarello is an actor, writer, and recipient of a 2015 Whiting Award. Her first collection Let Me Clear My Throat (Sarabande, 2012), won the gold medal

for nonfiction at the 2013 Independent Publisher Awards and was a finalist for the 2014 Oregon Book Awards.

In 2017, she published the essay collection Animals Strike Curious Poses, which was one of the New York Times 100 Notable Books of 2017, one of Publishers Weekly Best Books of 2017, and won the 2018 Oregon Book Award for Creative Nonfiction. Helen Macdonald said in the New York Times

Book Review that it “might be the best book on animals I’ve ever read.”

Her essays on performance, pop culture, and the natural world have been published in Oxford American, Slate, Creative Nonfiction, and The Iowa Review, among other publications, as well as in the 2015 anthologies Cat Is Art Spelled Wrong and After Montaigne: Contemporary Essayists Cover the Essay.

Passarello has performed in several regional theaters in the East and Midwest United States, and in 2011, she became the first woman to win the annual Stella Screaming Contest in New Orleans. She lives in Corvallis, Oregon and teaches at Oregon State University.

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We’re grateful for your powerful writing and our wondrous reading.

thank you

celebrate you

hope with you

weep with you

cherish you

trust you

imagine with you

count on you

rejoice with you

thank you

thank you

thank you

To the writers,we...

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OREGONLIVE.COM THIS IS OUR STORYThere is a thread that ties this broad community together, connecting us all — urban and rural, stranger and friend, through history and hardship, shared goals and personal dreams. It’s our story, as Oregonians, all in it together. And we at The Oregonian/OregonLive are proud to help tell that story every minute of every day.

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LITERARY ARTS’ LEGACY SOCIETYFIND YOUR STORY, LEAVE A LEGACY

Join these founding members of the Legacy Society who have made a phenomenal statement of support—naming Literary Arts in their estate plans—and help secure literature as a cornerstone of the future.

Carole AlexanderJan BarossC. B. BernardRick W. ComandichGinnie Cooper & Rick BaumanJoseph & Lydah DeBin

Jodi Delahunt Hubbell & Todd Hubbell

Nancy & Ronald P. GronowskiSara GuestSusan HammerUrsula & Charles Le GuinKatherine O’Neil

& Toby Graff

Diane PontiAmy ProsenjakHalle M. SadleBob ScanlanDennis SteinmanCarl WilsonTom & Marcia Wood

Literature asks a reader to experience what it means to be another human being. It is an immersive and empathetic art form, and essential to the fabric of healthy civic life. Becoming a member of the Legacy Society at Literary Arts is an excellent opportunity to make a significant impact and ensure our work can continue for generations. Your commitment to a legacy gift to Literary Arts helps us endure the fluctuations of today’s environment while protecting our ability to develop plans for tomorrow.

“ I enjoy Literary Arts as a reader, Delve seminar participant, Portland Arts & Lectures subscriber, and board member. When I did my estate planning, I included a bequest to the organization to show my appreciation for their important work. I am happy to give a gift, both now and in the future, and I am proud that Literary Arts will be a mainstay in the community for years to come.”

— Amy Prosenjak

LEAVE YOUR LITERARY ARTS LEGACYWe welcome the opportunity to meet with you and your advisors to help determine the type of gift that works best for you, your family, and Literary Arts. Your Legacy Society membership celebrates your dedication as a community leader and will inspire others to follow in your footsteps to support the future of Literary Arts.

For more information about joining Literary Arts’ Legacy Society or to schedule a confidential consultation, please contact Lydah DeBin, Director of Development, at lydah@literary-arts.org or visit literary-arts.org/legacy.

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THANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTERS108 members of the Portland Arts & Lectures audience made a gift of $200 or more in response to our call for support during the 2020/2021 Season Renewal period. Together, the audience raised a total of $28,400. Your generosity will help Literary Arts continue to implement our mission in the uncertainty of COVID-19.

Geri AbereBeverly Aldinger

& Kirk GibsonBrijesh & Ann

AnandSally & John

AndersonAnonymousElizabeth Ash &

David MorgansternJoan BaldwinDanielle BeauvaisLinda BergJoe BlountKim & Randy

BoehmLarry & Jan BrutonShelly & Paul

BuchananKelley Burkett

& Nicholas KuhnEllyn ByeChristine CarrDiane CherryConnie ChristopherHoward & Rosemary

CohenJanie and Richard

CohenElizabeth CookJoan CorcoranMarian CreamerMartin & Anne

DavidsonSharon DawsonTerrence Dolan &

Catherine BlosserJustin Dune & Carol

Sanders

Tina Edlund & Sydney Edlund-Jermain

Ann & Ron Emmerson

David & Kendra Farris

Bob GeddesDiana GerdingThomas & Elizabeth

GeweckeMichele GoodmanEmily GrothKen & Paula HaleJon M. HanifinPhil HarrisBianca HartDebra Turner

HatcherSusan Hathaway-

Marxer & Larry Marxer

Mary Patt Hawthorne

Molly HiroMary E. Hirsch

& Yoshiaki ShimizuLynette & Donald

HoughtonAntje HowardSandra JacksonSteven JacobsonSusheela JayapalBarbara Jennings &

Richard TeutschTeri Jensen FreemanMaurice & Dori

KingJames KnollEva Kripalani

Paula KurshnerAnn LanfriRobert & Susan LeebStacy LewisKathryn Madison

& Jeffrey WertzKathryn MahaffyLinda MaletisPhillip M. MargolinRobert MathesonPete McDowellLora & Jim MeyerJustice Adrienne

NelsonBarry & Jane

NewmanBarbara

NiedermeyerAmy O’Neill & Larry

StaverCorrine Oishi &

Lindley MortonJan & Steve OlivaAlfred & Eileen OnoTraci ParkerKelly PerlewitzMari Margaret Piva

Raaf & John RaafDavid & Shirley

PollockLeslie Rennie-Hill

& Ken HillRae RichenDebbie RinkJanine RobbenRobin Roberts

& John L. BackesRosemarie F.

Rosenfeld

Michele RoyCharlotte RubinBarbara & Charles

RybergJane Sage & Tom

OlbrichBob ScanlanKathleen SchmidtJanet Schultz &

Dawn LloydBarb & Norm

SepenukMary ShawShirley Skidmore

& Ron QuantShauna SmithLeonie & Richard

SmithMerri Souther WyattEllen & Charles

StearnsBonnie Pomeroy

SternJohn & Sandra

SwinmurnAlice Trower KirkAnn & Tom UsherVera H. VacekEllen Vanderslice

& Scott ParkerStephanie & John

VolkmanRandi Wexler &

Malcolm CampbellKim WeylerClif & Patty WhiteAnne WoodburyMorton & Audrey

Zalutsky

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ABOUT LITERARY ARTSOur mission is to engage readers, support writers, and inspire the next generation with great literature.

ENGAGE READERS:

Portland Arts & Lectures brings the world’s most celebrated writers, artists, and thinkers to our community and connects readers and writers of all ages through classroom visits and workshops.

Portland Book Festival brings writers and readers of all ages together to celebrate a shared passion for books. This year’s festival will be all online and free for all, running from November 5–21, 2020. Find out more at literary-arts.org/PBF.

Delve Readers Seminars cultivates community around the shared experience of reading. By gathering around books, we engage in dialogues with authors we love, and artists who show us new perspectives.

The Archive Project Radio Show and Podcast features the most sought-after recordings from our Portland Arts & Lectures series, the Portland Book Festival, and other community events. Each week, new lectures are available to stream for free. Listen on OPB Radio Sunday evenings at 7:00 p.m., on our website at literary-arts.org/archive, or wherever you get your podcasts.

SUPPORT WRITERS:

Oregon Book Awards & Fellowships supports, promotes, and celebrates Oregon’s writers and publishers. In addition to awards and fellowships for emerging and established writers, the program also offers writing classes and literary events at our downtown center and produces the Oregon Book Awards Author Tour, which connects writers and readers throughout the state. In 2020 we awarded 150 Oregon writers, who were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, emergency funds of $1,000 each, with priority given to BIPOC writers.

INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION:

Youth Programs inspires public high school students to write, publish, and perform their own creative writing. Writers in the Schools residencies bring working writers into classrooms. Students to the Schnitz gives young people access to great books and influential authors. The College Essay Mentoring Project pairs mentors with college applicants. And the annual Verselandia! and East Side Slam poetry slams showcases high school spoken word artists.

For more information, or to make a gift in support of our programs, visit our website at literary-arts.org.

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Literary Arts: 925 SW Washington Street, Portland, OR 97205Phone: 503-227-2583 Online: literary-arts.orgFind us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @literaryarts.

WHO WE ARELiterary Arts

StaffAndrew Proctor,

Executive DirectorSophie AlbanisMaggie AllenAmanda BullockLydah DeBinAlanna FaelanJennifer GurneyHunt HolmanOlivia Jones-HallBrandon LenziAllegra LopezJessica Meza-

TorresSusan MooreJules OhmanLiz OlufsonEmilly PradoValeria I. RamirezJyoti Roy

Literary Arts Board of Directors

Amy Prosenjak, Chair

Jill AbereDavid AngeliJoan CirilloGinnie CooperAmy DonohueAnn EdlenSarah GibbonBetsy HenningJonathan HillDeidra MinerAnis MojganiJustice Adrienne

NelsonCorrine OishiKatherine O’NeilRamon PaganBob SpeltzDennis SteinmanChabre VickersAmy Wayson

Strunk & White Society

An honorary society of distinguished advisors

Gwyneth Gamble Booth

Nancy BragdonLarry ColtonTheo Downes-

Le GuinBart EberweinBrian GardDiana GerdingMolly GlossCarrie HoopsJodi Delahunt-

HubbellCecelia

HuntingtonSusheela JayapalBarry LopezJulie ManciniBrenda MeltebekeJessica MozeicoDiane PontiMichael PowellAmy ProsenjakPer RamfjordHalle SadleSteven TaylorJacqueline

WillinghamSteve Wynne

Development Council

Bob Speltz, ChairJill AbereAnn BardenJoan CirilloGinnie CooperAmy DonohueAnn EdlenSara GuestJan OlivaAndrew ProctorAmy ProsenjakJon Raymond

Chabre VickersJacqueline

WillinghamCarl WilsonThomas Wood

Patron Advisory Council

Katherine O’Neil, Chair

Jill AbereSeth AlleyKim BissellMarian CreamerKieran CurleyRebecca DeCesaroMarilyn EpsteinSarah GibbonSusan Hathaway-

MarxerEarl HinesKristi Wallace

KnightPhillip M.

MargolinKatherine McCoyCarolyn McKinneyVanessa

McLaughlinLora MeyerNancy PonziAnna RamanJim ReinhartBarbara SepenukRoslyn SutherlandKate TuominenKim WeylerMarcia Wood

Oregon Book Awards & Fellowships Advisory Council

Anis Mojgani, Chair

Tom BoothNancy BoutinJulie Dixon

Abbey GaterudBetsy HenningRhonda HughesCecelia

HuntingtonLinda LeslieMeghan MoranJyothi NatarajanCorrine OishiDennis SteinmanArmin Tolentino

Youth Programs Advisory Council

Jonathan Hill, Chair

Carmen Bernier-Grand

Sandra ChildsJacque DixonBob GeddesAndre GoodlowMary HirschBriana LindenAndre MiddletonDeidra MinerAnis MojganiKarena SalmondClaudia SavageCatherine

TheriaultAmy WaysonTracey WyattSharon Wynde

Portland Book Festival Advisory Council

Jon Raymond, Chair

Edward Ash-MilbyKathi Inman

BerensKatie BolandJulie BunkerJoan Cirillo Liz Crain

Sarah GibbonElina LimJosha NathanJustice Adrienne

NelsonOlivia OliviaKatherine O’NeilSteph OpitzCraig PopelarsSarah RothenfluchHeidi SchulzRob SpillmanAlicia TateSage Van WingLidia YuknavitchGail Zuro

Brian Booth Writers’ Fund Endowment Campaign Task ForceGwyneth Gamble

BoothTom BoothBart EberweinBarnes Ellis Sr.Jim FavilleBrian GardJudy HummeltCecelia

HuntingtonSusheela JayapalSen. Betsy JohnsonTheo Downes-

LeGuinJulie ManciniJim MeyerSuzanne Storms

MillisCarole MorseCorrine OishiTom PalmerJohn RussellBob ScanlanGary WhiteJacqueline

Willingham

Literary Arts is supported in part by:

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+ many more!

literary-arts.org/PBF

100+ authors, writing workshops, book events in all genres for kids, teens, and adults. All online and free to all!

+ many more!

literary-arts.org/PBF

100+ authors, writing workshops, book events in all genres for kids, teens, and adults. All online and free to all!

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+ many more!

literary-arts.org/PBF

100+ authors, writing workshops, book events in all genres for kids, teens, and adults. All online and free to all!

+ many more!

literary-arts.org/PBF

100+ authors, writing workshops, book events in all genres for kids, teens, and adults. All online and free to all!