Are We Asking the Right Questions to Our Stories? – Julie Feng

March 22, 2023

Julie Feng’s project for the 2022 Jack Straw Writers Program is a collection of poems in the framework of the Hakka hill song that layer themes of love, labor, and leisure with themes of deeper cultural contexts. In her conversation with curator Michael Schmeltzer, they delve into Hakka hill songs, centering people’s desires versus centering […]

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MANtrio – It’s Simply a Matter of Work

March 15, 2023

“It’s Simply a Matter of Work” will be included on MANtrio‘s forthcoming album, produced through the Artist Support Program. About it, drummer Melanie Sehman writes, “‘It’s Simply a Matter of Work’ was not something we had planned on recording when we came to record at Jack Straw. While in the studio, we needed a quick […]

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Entropy – Danielle Hayden

March 8, 2023

Danielle Hayden’s project for the 2022 Jack Straw Writers Program is an essay collection titled Entropy that delves into both the different identities that she holds and the identities that are trying to find her. In her conversation with curator Michael Schmeltzer, they talk about the challenges of witnessing oneself, the beautiful and ugly truths […]

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Common Work, Episode 4: Sustainability for the Future

March 1, 2023

“Common Work: Learnings for the Future from Common Field” is a podcast and writing series exploring the history of our field, Common Field’s organizational journey, and the work that is shaping the future today. This four-part series pairs podcast episodes with commissioned essays around four themes: Foundations, Common Field in Practice, Community Building Is Culture, […]

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Common Work, Episode 3: Community Building Is Culture

March 1, 2023

“Common Work: Learnings for the Future from Common Field” is a podcast and writing series exploring the history of our field, Common Field’s organizational journey, and the work that is shaping the future today. This four-part series pairs podcast episodes with commissioned essays around four themes: Foundations, Common Field in Practice, Community Building Is Culture, […]

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LaVon Hardison – Walks with Robert

March 1, 2023

“Walks with Robert” is a selection from LaVon Hardison‘s new album Brown Girls Dream, produced through the Jack Straw Artist Support Program. Catch LaVon live, and pick up a copy of the CD, at our spring artist showcase on April 1st at Jack Straw. About this song, LaVon writes, “I wrote ‘Walks with Robert’ in […]

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Every Poem Is Its Own Kind of Music – Jory Mickelson

February 22, 2023

2022 Jack Straw Writer Jory Mickelson’s ekphrastic poetry project deals with queerness, art history, and the imaginative connections between things. In his conversation with curator Michael Schmeltzer, they discuss Jory’s process for researching art pieces, a photograph of genderplay from 1891, and the challenges that come with writing ekphrastic work. “I want to think about, […]

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Artscape – Kofi Anang

February 15, 2023

This Artscapes radio piece was produced by Jack Straw in 1995 as part of a series highlighting the work of Jack Straw’s resident artists. Jack Straw artist Kofi Anang talks about growing up in Ghana and the inspiration behind his music and performance.

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Everybody Is Redeemable – Katharine Strange

February 8, 2023

Katharine Strange’s project for the 2022 Jack Straw Writers Program is a snarky memoir that explores the PTSD that came with her decision to get married and move to the UK when she was 22. In her conversation with curator Michael Schmeltzer, they delve into Katherine’s comedic style of writing, the ways she stays motivated, […]

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