Blue Stars Blue Apples: Fiction, Poetry and Prints
May 28th, 7-10 pm, reading at 8pm sharp. Show runs for one night only

Curated by Vanessa Norton

A night of vibrant, emergent forms. Friday, May 28th. Poetry from
Eliza Rotterman. Fiction from Jeremy Simmons and Vanessa Norton.
Multimedia prints by luxurious Neal Pitak. For one night only.

 

image credit: Neal Pitak

Eliza Rotterman recently completed her MFA in poetry at the University of Oregon. Her work has been published in Phoebe Magazine and The Foundling Review, and she has written reviews for Zoland Poetry. Currently, she divides her time teaching writing at the University of Oregon and exploring the woods around her home, a small barn salvaged by members of a commune (failed) in the 70s called Wildwood. Though she's spent the last five years on the west coast, she grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio. In her poetry, she attempts to understand what Helene Cixous meant when she said, "to love a world, we must lose a world."

J.S. Simmons was born in Boston in 1969. He spent his young manhood in the market research industry, learning how to asphyxiate his humanity, and live without principles. Now J.S. lives in someone else's Eugene, Oregon apartment, writes stories, and teaches at a community college. J.S. stole twenty dollars from his last girlfriend's purse. They didn't love each other, so it was okay. He's from Boston. His fiction has appeared in A Capella Zoo.

Vanessa Norton grew up in Buffalo, NY. She spent years working with a whip and bottle of wine before moving to Spain to teach and write. Since completing her MFA in Fiction at the University of Oregon, she has moved to Pacifica, CA and presently divides her time between teaching English, making soap, and attempting to brave the salty waters in front of her home. She has held several residencies around the country and one in France, and has published in South Dakota Review and the short story anthology Sex for America. Her stories often deal with perilous quests for passion.

Neal Anthony Pitak is an MFA candidate in Printmaking at Indiana University. He is currently creating album and poster art for Chicago-based band, Sunsplitters, and illustrating a collaborative story with the Chicago-based artist Anthony Dun. Originally from Cleveland, he now lives in Bloomington, Indiana with his girlfriend, Keira, and lovely kitty, Orhanj Pig.