Portland Arts & Lectures 2020/21: Helen Macdonald

PORTLAND ARTS & LECTURES 2020/21

HELEN MACDONALD TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2020

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PORTLAND ARTS & LECTURES 2020/2021 THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

EVENT UNDERWRITERS Helen Macdonald Tuesday, October 13, 2020 Maybelle Clark Macdonald Fund

Joy Harjo Tuesday, April 20, 2021 Angeli Law Group

Madeline Miller Thursday, January 28, 2021 A to Z Wineworks

Yaa Gyasi Tuesday, May 18, 2021 (Rescheduled) The Eberwein Family

Ibram X. Kendi Thursday, February 18, 2021 ZGF Architects

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HELEN MACDONALD

Helen Macdonald image © Bill Johnson Jr.

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elen 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

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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

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.”

Elena Passarello image ©Wendy Madar

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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thank you celebrate you hope with you weep with you

To the writers, we...

cherish you trust you imagine with you count on you rejoice with you thank you thank you thank you

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

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Where ideas come to live.

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12/20/19 1:17 PM

THIS IS OUR STORY There 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 SOCIETY FIND 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 Alexander Jan Baross C. B. Bernard Rick W. Comandich Ginnie Cooper & Rick Bauman Joseph & Lydah DeBin

Jodi Delahunt Hubbell & Todd Hubbell Nancy & Ronald P. Gronowski Sara Guest Susan Hammer Ursula & Charles Le Guin Katherine O’Neil & Toby Graff

Diane Ponti Amy Prosenjak Halle M. Sadle Bob Scanlan Dennis Steinman Carl Wilson Tom & 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 LEGACY We 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 SUPPORTERS 108 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 Abere Beverly Aldinger & Kirk Gibson Brijesh & Ann Anand Sally & John Anderson Anonymous Elizabeth Ash & David Morganstern Joan Baldwin Danielle Beauvais Linda Berg Joe Blount Kim & Randy Boehm Larry & Jan Bruton Shelly & Paul Buchanan Kelley Burkett & Nicholas Kuhn Ellyn Bye Christine Carr Diane Cherry Connie Christopher Howard & Rosemary Cohen Janie and Richard Cohen Elizabeth Cook Joan Corcoran Marian Creamer Martin & Anne Davidson Sharon Dawson Terrence Dolan & Catherine Blosser Justin Dune & Carol Sanders

Tina Edlund & Sydney EdlundJermain Ann & Ron Emmerson David & Kendra Farris Bob Geddes Diana Gerding Thomas & Elizabeth Gewecke Michele Goodman Emily Groth Ken & Paula Hale Jon M. Hanifin Phil Harris Bianca Hart Debra Turner Hatcher Susan HathawayMarxer & Larry Marxer Mary Patt Hawthorne Molly Hiro Mary E. Hirsch & Yoshiaki Shimizu Lynette & Donald Houghton Antje Howard Sandra Jackson Steven Jacobson Susheela Jayapal Barbara Jennings & Richard Teutsch Teri Jensen Freeman Maurice & Dori King James Knoll Eva Kripalani

Paula Kurshner Ann Lanfri Robert & Susan Leeb Stacy Lewis Kathryn Madison & Jeffrey Wertz Kathryn Mahaffy Linda Maletis Phillip M. Margolin Robert Matheson Pete McDowell Lora & Jim Meyer Justice Adrienne Nelson Barry & Jane Newman Barbara Niedermeyer Amy O’Neill & Larry Staver Corrine Oishi & Lindley Morton Jan & Steve Oliva Alfred & Eileen Ono Traci Parker Kelly Perlewitz Mari Margaret Piva Raaf & John Raaf David & Shirley Pollock Leslie Rennie-Hill & Ken Hill Rae Richen Debbie Rink Janine Robben Robin Roberts & John L. Backes Rosemarie F. Rosenfeld

Michele Roy Charlotte Rubin Barbara & Charles Ryberg Jane Sage & Tom Olbrich Bob Scanlan Kathleen Schmidt Janet Schultz & Dawn Lloyd Barb & Norm Sepenuk Mary Shaw Shirley Skidmore & Ron Quant Shauna Smith Leonie & Richard Smith Merri Souther Wyatt Ellen & Charles Stearns Bonnie Pomeroy Stern John & Sandra Swinmurn Alice Trower Kirk Ann & Tom Usher Vera H. Vacek Ellen Vanderslice & Scott Parker Stephanie & John Volkman Randi Wexler & Malcolm Campbell Kim Weyler Clif & Patty White Anne Woodbury Morton & Audrey Zalutsky

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ABOUT LITERARY ARTS Our 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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WHO WE ARE Literary Arts Staff Andrew Proctor, Executive Director Sophie Albanis Maggie Allen Amanda Bullock Lydah DeBin Alanna Faelan Jennifer Gurney Hunt Holman Olivia Jones-Hall Brandon Lenzi Allegra Lopez Jessica MezaTorres Susan Moore Jules Ohman Liz Olufson Emilly Prado Valeria I. Ramirez Jyoti Roy Literary Arts Board of Directors Amy Prosenjak, Chair Jill Abere David Angeli Joan Cirillo Ginnie Cooper Amy Donohue Ann Edlen Sarah Gibbon Betsy Henning Jonathan Hill Deidra Miner Anis Mojgani Justice Adrienne Nelson Corrine Oishi Katherine O’Neil Ramon Pagan Bob Speltz Dennis Steinman Chabre Vickers Amy Wayson

Strunk & White Society An honorary society of distinguished advisors Gwyneth Gamble Booth Nancy Bragdon Larry Colton Theo DownesLe Guin Bart Eberwein Brian Gard Diana Gerding Molly Gloss Carrie Hoops Jodi DelahuntHubbell Cecelia Huntington Susheela Jayapal Barry Lopez Julie Mancini Brenda Meltebeke Jessica Mozeico Diane Ponti Michael Powell Amy Prosenjak Per Ramfjord Halle Sadle Steven Taylor Jacqueline Willingham Steve Wynne Development Council Bob Speltz, Chair Jill Abere Ann Barden Joan Cirillo Ginnie Cooper Amy Donohue Ann Edlen Sara Guest Jan Oliva Andrew Proctor Amy Prosenjak Jon Raymond

Chabre Vickers Jacqueline Willingham Carl Wilson Thomas Wood Patron Advisory Council Katherine O’Neil, Chair Jill Abere Seth Alley Kim Bissell Marian Creamer Kieran Curley Rebecca DeCesaro Marilyn Epstein Sarah Gibbon Susan HathawayMarxer Earl Hines Kristi Wallace Knight Phillip M. Margolin Katherine McCoy Carolyn McKinney Vanessa McLaughlin Lora Meyer Nancy Ponzi Anna Raman Jim Reinhart Barbara Sepenuk Roslyn Sutherland Kate Tuominen Kim Weyler Marcia Wood Oregon Book Awards & Fellowships Advisory Council Anis Mojgani, Chair Tom Booth Nancy Boutin Julie Dixon

Abbey Gaterud Betsy Henning Rhonda Hughes Cecelia Huntington Linda Leslie Meghan Moran Jyothi Natarajan Corrine Oishi Dennis Steinman Armin Tolentino Youth Programs Advisory Council Jonathan Hill, Chair Carmen Bernier-Grand Sandra Childs Jacque Dixon Bob Geddes Andre Goodlow Mary Hirsch Briana Linden Andre Middleton Deidra Miner Anis Mojgani Karena Salmond Claudia Savage Catherine Theriault Amy Wayson Tracey Wyatt Sharon Wynde Portland Book Festival Advisory Council Jon Raymond, Chair Edward Ash-Milby Kathi Inman Berens Katie Boland Julie Bunker Joan Cirillo Liz Crain

Sarah Gibbon Elina Lim Josha Nathan Justice Adrienne Nelson Olivia Olivia Katherine O’Neil Steph Opitz Craig Popelars Sarah Rothenfluch Heidi Schulz Rob Spillman Alicia Tate Sage Van Wing Lidia Yuknavitch Gail Zuro Brian Booth Writers’ Fund Endowment Campaign Task Force Gwyneth Gamble Booth Tom Booth Bart Eberwein Barnes Ellis Sr. Jim Faville Brian Gard Judy Hummelt Cecelia Huntington Susheela Jayapal Sen. Betsy Johnson Theo DownesLeGuin Julie Mancini Jim Meyer Suzanne Storms Millis Carole Morse Corrine Oishi Tom Palmer John Russell Bob Scanlan Gary White Jacqueline Willingham

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

Literary Arts is supported in part by:

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literary-arts.org/PBF literary-arts.org/PBF 100+ authors, writing workshops, book events in all genres for kids, teens, and literary-arts.org/PBF 100+ authors, writing workshops, book adults. All online and free to all! events in all genres for kids, teens, and literary-arts.org/PBF adults. All online and free to all!

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

+ many more! + many more!

+ many more! + many more!

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