Larry Goodell/Swingin'/ R.I.P. Jim Spitzer/ Colored Boy/ 2 Poems by Ed Coletti/

Substitute "poem" or "poetry collection" for the word "story."  And thanks, Sparky!)

Wisdom From Larry Goodell

I am never entering any "contest" again. I simply can't learn my lesson. All those years applying for the Poetry Grant from NEA and the huge disappointment when rejected. What I dislike is the resentments that well up - oh well my work is not worthy, certainly on any national scale. This cycle of rejection and resentment you have to work out of.

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 I don't want to ever have to compare a winner's work with mine wondering where did I go wrong. It's stupid unnecessary worry and temporary negativity about people you love, worthy fellow professionals. Contests only reflect the values of the judges and not necessarily the values of the work. I don't think poets or any artists should compete. Leave that to sports. It leaves winners celebrating and "losers" questioning rather than applauding the great endeavor of spending your life celebrating however you possibly can your own creative outflow. There's no comparison, there's only healthy diversity.

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James Spitzer

American Artist

1936-2018

My very good friend and mentor Jim Spitzer

was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1936. He studied at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, earning BS, MA, and MFA degrees under the tutelage of a variety of well-known artists Alfred Sessler, Dean Meeker and Warrington Colescott. Spitzer taught at Colleges and Universities in New York, Arizona and Wisconsin. He later turned to full-time drawing, painting, woodcut and sculpture. Spitzer exhibited extensively, and had his own solo shows at Carus gallery in New York City, New York University, Cornell College, Ithaca University, University of North Carolina, Southern Florida University, Sonoma State University. Spitzer moved to  Santa Rosa, California in the 19James Spitzer fused his woodcut murals into woodblock murals, while also working in acrylic. Currently, Spitzer is working in acrylic medium and his subjects are often abstractions, abstract landscapes and caricatured portraits.

 Jim Spitzer died on December 4, 2018 in Santa Rosa, California.

Jim gave me the permission to paint.  This was a gift that I never had given to myself.  Beyond this, Jim was my friend.  He was witty, very intelligent, quirky, and very very talented.  Right now, I'm feeling emotional and unable to continue eulogizing.  I'll let some of my favorite Spitzer's speak for themselves.

Jack Leissring Studio

622 Davis Street, Santa Rosa, CA 95401

SATURDAY, JANUARY 12, 1:00 PM- 4:00 PM

James A. Spitzer

Born: Milwaukee, Wi, December 19, 1937, Died: Santa Rosa, CA Dec. 3, 2018

A Memorium

The sons and families of James A. Spitzer invite you to a memorial gathering, during the hours 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM at the studio of Jack Leissring on January 12, 2019. Each of you has an experience of Jim that you can share with the gathering or amongst the gatherers. There is no agenda nor plan for this event: it is to be, like art, a spontaneous experience.

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Two Ed Coletti Poems

A Colored Boy

Apparently born enslaved

in the border state

Nebraska he was

Owned           by

Simon Wright

whose own death

freed Davey

transported at 8 years to

Santa Rosa

California

where the boy

died at 12

Don’t know much about

those 4 intervening years

romping freely

                       about my town

while men elsewhere were

falling on the fields of Shiloh

Antietam Bull Run and Gettysburg

                                    and

what we can read

on his tombstone

merely

                                    Colored boy

Rural Tombstone Notions

Modest marker compassionate caucasian placed

or by a destitute but proud black family grief struck

And in a future someone adds the white cherub bust

She or he who as me feeling

on an arid August morning

this grieving stone flowing tears so that

I have purchased and added this black resin angel

as symbol and tribute for an actual living child

 

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