This week, I submitted our proposal to the Quad City Times for consideration. If all goes well, the QCT will be printing our little magazine. I have had the cover art/logo made into a .jpg so we will be able to finish the flyers and submission forms this week in time for the scheduled March 1st distribution.
LaWanda Roudebush, the director of the Davenport Public Library called and is working on the final approval for the library to serve as a drop-off point. I applied for some funding through Western Illinois University to cover printing costs for the flyers and submission forms, and other miscellaneous expenses.
I also met with both John Turner and Ruth Ann Gallagher at Scott Community, who have agreed to be judges for the submissions. Ruth Ann also gave me some contact names for one of the shelters and the Career Assistance Center about distributing flyers.
Later this week, I hope to contact the folks at various homeless shelters and feeding locations about posting the flyers and distributing submission forms. I also need to write a press release—Kate King promised to send me her latest media list.
Every day, we move a little closer, and things are beginning to get exciting!
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Planning and Paperwork
I spent most of today sketching the vision I had of the front cover of the final Poetry Street Project magazine. I envisioned a street sign on a white cover, but I was also concerned about the logistical details, like making the image on 8 1/2 x 11 inch paper so it could easily be scanned and made into a .jpg for use in publication. So, I started with a regular size sketchbook page and my drawing pencils, but that only led to 4 or 5 false starts. I had taken a photo of a Davenport street sign to help me get the perspective right, but even that did not translate onto the page the way I saw it in my mind's eye.
Finally, I threw all logistical concerns to the four winds, brought out my easel and large sketch pad and my charcoal drawing kit and tools. Thus suddenly freed, I seized my soft charcoal, applied it to the page and the image began to emerge within minutes--the image I had seen that first morning the Poetry Street Project came to me.
I spent the next five or six hours intensely sketching, outlining, applying layer after layer of charcoal to draw the image from the page. It was exhilarating.
It has been months since I've sat and indulged myself in any artistic pursuit besides writing and photography. Today's session at the easel was like a homecoming.
Tomorrow I hope to get the oversize sketch reduced and copied at Kinko's.
I also called and left a message for the director of the Davenport library this morning and sent her a follow-up email this afternoon. As soon as I get approval (or not) for the library to be a drop-off point, we will be ready to print the flyers, posters, and submission forms.
My oldest daughter, Mary Ellen, applied her graphic arts skills this week to design those forms for me. She, too, has experienced homelessness briefly and it is gratifying that she is eager to help on this project.
Finally, I threw all logistical concerns to the four winds, brought out my easel and large sketch pad and my charcoal drawing kit and tools. Thus suddenly freed, I seized my soft charcoal, applied it to the page and the image began to emerge within minutes--the image I had seen that first morning the Poetry Street Project came to me.
I spent the next five or six hours intensely sketching, outlining, applying layer after layer of charcoal to draw the image from the page. It was exhilarating.
It has been months since I've sat and indulged myself in any artistic pursuit besides writing and photography. Today's session at the easel was like a homecoming.
Tomorrow I hope to get the oversize sketch reduced and copied at Kinko's.
I also called and left a message for the director of the Davenport library this morning and sent her a follow-up email this afternoon. As soon as I get approval (or not) for the library to be a drop-off point, we will be ready to print the flyers, posters, and submission forms.
My oldest daughter, Mary Ellen, applied her graphic arts skills this week to design those forms for me. She, too, has experienced homelessness briefly and it is gratifying that she is eager to help on this project.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Moving along....
I met with Kate King of the Midwest Writing Center on Sunday morning and received her enthusiastic approval and support of the Poetry Street Project. The Midwest Writing Center will serve as a drop off point for submissions, and one lucky contributor will receive a free year's membership to the Midwest Writing Center. Kate also mentioned that she could make three computers available to any participants who wish to type up their submissions. She also agreed to send me her latest media list, so I could send a press release announcing the Project.
The Midwest Writing Center will also host our launch party in the conference room on the second floor of Bucktown Center for the Arts. Kate has also agreed to be one of our judges.
I met today with Ruth Ann Gallagher at Scott Community College, who also expressed excitement at the Project. She suggested that I contact Peggy Quilty at John Lewis, as well as Peg Garrison at the Career Assistance Center. In fact, Ruth Ann was so excited, she called Peg herself while I was there and left her a message.
I've also written the Welcome Letter for the inside front page of the final magazine, but you'll have to wait until publication to read it.
The Midwest Writing Center will also host our launch party in the conference room on the second floor of Bucktown Center for the Arts. Kate has also agreed to be one of our judges.
I met today with Ruth Ann Gallagher at Scott Community College, who also expressed excitement at the Project. She suggested that I contact Peggy Quilty at John Lewis, as well as Peg Garrison at the Career Assistance Center. In fact, Ruth Ann was so excited, she called Peg herself while I was there and left her a message.
I've also written the Welcome Letter for the inside front page of the final magazine, but you'll have to wait until publication to read it.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Well, I have spoken with Kate King at the Midwest Writing Center and we are meeting this Sunday to discuss the project. I mailed a letter to the director of the Davenport Public Library about being a drop-off point for submissions and about being a potential display location of final works. I am involved in a dialogue with John Turner and Ruth Ann Gallagher at Scott Community College, whose advice and service as judges is greatly appreciated. Jennifer Nesahkluah, a student at Scott is also a participant in the Humility of Mary Housing program that provides housing and life coaching and other support for homeless single parents. She has agreed to help distribute flyers through this program. I am hoping the Quad City Times will agree to donate the printing for the magazine. I am also working on the magazine cover art.
Thanks for your support of the Poetry Street Project!
Thanks for your support of the Poetry Street Project!
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
About Catt Foy
Catt Foy is a freelance writer and graduate student at Western Illinois University, and expects to complete her MA in English in May of 2008. Catt experienced homelessness in the 1990s, an experience that deeply affected her understanding of our modern culture. She currently lives in Davenport, Iowa. To learn more about Catt, visit her Web site located at http://www.cattfoy.com.
Poetry Street Project
The Poetry Street Project was created to gather the poetry, essays, stories, photos, and artwork of homeless people in Davenport, Iowa.
The idea arose out of a graduate school project for a course on public writing, and is designed to give a voice and a place for creative expression for those who are often invisible and unheard in our culture.
The project has only one ambition--to allow individuals who are now or who have been homeless to express their creativity, finding hope in the process.
If you would like to contribute your work, your time or your money to the Poetry Street Project, please contact Catt Foy via email cattfoy at earthlink dot net.
The idea arose out of a graduate school project for a course on public writing, and is designed to give a voice and a place for creative expression for those who are often invisible and unheard in our culture.
The project has only one ambition--to allow individuals who are now or who have been homeless to express their creativity, finding hope in the process.
If you would like to contribute your work, your time or your money to the Poetry Street Project, please contact Catt Foy via email cattfoy at earthlink dot net.
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