SEQUIM — To celebrate local talent and the love of poetry, Olympic Theatre Arts will be the venue for a gala gathering of writers age 12 to 90 this Sunday afternoon, and the public is invited.
Admission is free to the 2 p.m. event at the theater, 414 N. Sequim Ave.
This is the culmination of the inaugural Rainshadow Poetry Competition begun earlier this year.
56 chosen
Of 97 contest entrants, 56 poets were chosen to have their work included in the competition anthology.
The book, whose cover bears an abstract painting donated by local artist Deborah Sterk, will be available at Sunday’s gala for $9.95.
“We definitely have a cross-section of our community participating in this poetry event,” said Ruth Marcus, co-organizer of the gala.
Many of the selected poets, from all over the North Olympic Peninsula, will read their verse Sunday.
Gail Elliott, 90, from Sequim; local historian Doug McInnes; Five Acre School co-founder Juanita Ramsey-Jevne; Peninsula College professor Janet Lucas; and father-daughter duo Scott and Mia Underwood are all expected.
So are Deborah Wiese and Nancy Fowler of Port Townsend and well-known Port Angeles poet Sally Albiso.
The death of writer and teacher Jim Fisher last year was the impetus for the Rainshadow Poetry Competition, Marcus noted.
Fisher, who taught writing at Peninsula College, also published four books in the final years of his life: Happy Valley, USA; Granny May Have Been a Vampire; The Adventures of J.R. Engels in the Great Pacific Northwest; and Genesis of Love.
Collaborations
In addition, he collaborated with seven poets to publish Last Wednesday: A Pacific Northwest Anthology of Poetry.
Fisher died Nov. 2 at age 72, and shortly afterward, Marcus and Judy Duncan made the decision to create the competition in his memory.
“Jim has contributed amazing support to writers in our community,” said Marcus, adding that Fisher also brought his trademark wit wherever he went.
When Fisher was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer in September 2013, he announced his intention to write poems and share his cancer experience. The plan was to complete one final book.
Fisher finished his last poem two days before his death. His book The Big Casino: Posthumorous Poems was published two weeks later.
Friends of Fisher will read a few of his poems at Sunday’s gathering. And The Big Casino will be available for $11.95.
For more information about the Rainshadow Poetry Competition event and anthology, contact Marcus at 360-681-2205 or Rmarcus@olypen.com.
