Comments on: Woodrat Podcast 13: Christina Pacosz, chronicler of an at-risk society

By: Christina Pacosz

Christina Pacosz — Tue, 04 May 2010 17:13:04 +0000

That’s great news BG!! But those Visiting Artist gigs were full time employment with benefits, retirement, etc. For up to two years at one college, 4 in total. A small amount of each college’s money was left after salaries for the VA to administer as he/she saw fit. Brochures, posters for advertising and travel, of course. Not all were poets/writers, but a goodly number were. The Community Colleges of the U.S. held their annual meeting in DC in 1989, the 25th year of the North Carolina VA program, and we did the entertainment at Kennedy Center, including three poets, one being myself. We collaborated with a composer for an original score to accompany our readings and individual musicians needed to pull it off. As in the way of the world, no community college tried to duplicate the program, and the big event in DC was the beginning of the end for the VA program. The state employee who had pulled it off was pink slipped shortly after. Go figure. But Jesse Helms was alive and nasty and that may have had something to do with the eventual demise for what should have been a program all community college systems would incorporate into their mandate to serve their consituency.

By: Bluegrass Poet

Bluegrass Poet — Tue, 04 May 2010 17:03:59 +0000

A very interesting interview that I just listened to for the 2nd time today. One thread I want to pick up on — community colleges. Here in Kentucky, the community colleges are doing great things to support poetry and fiction, publishing magazines, giving prizes, having readings. In many ways they seem more dynamic in this than do the four-year state universities.

By: Christina Pacosz

Christina Pacosz — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 19:00:44 +0000

The Olympic Peninsula is a very unique place but it too is experiencing the damage to the environment as seen elsewhere.

By: Dave

Dave — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 23:53:52 +0000

In reply to Christina Pacosz. Thanks for the background, Christina. Ah, to live on the Olympic Peninsula! One of the few places I could see myself relocating to.

By: Christina Pacosz

Christina Pacosz — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 14:13:29 +0000

All comments are most welcome, but I wanted to respond in particular to Ru Kirk.

Ru and I had just returned from a long weekend on Waldron Island in Washington state. This was 1982. I had been helping her move back to the Olympic Peninsula. When we pulled up in front of my little rental house and I opened the mailbox, I found an acceptance letter from Seal Press for my chapbook, Notes from the Red Zone. I remember some dancing and hugging on Sheridan Street that day!

Ru is a poet, too, though she is too modest to mention the fact.

By: Laurel Johnson

Laurel Johnson — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 12:28:57 +0000

What a great interview!! I’m privileged to converse with Christina on occasion. Been a fan of her poetry since reading the first word several years ago, and admire how she voices her strong beliefs.

By: James

James — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 23:38:23 +0000

Fascinating interview.

By: Kimberly

Kimberly — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 17:29:02 +0000

Wonderful conversation. I had the privilege of reviewing Notes from the Red Zone, as well (forthcoming in Pemmican). Good to hear her read aloud. Thanks for an edifying listen.

By: Dave

Dave — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 01:59:26 +0000

In reply to Ru Kirk. Thanks for the comment. That was very well put.

By: Ru Kirk

Ru Kirk — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 17:10:50 +0000

Christina Pacosz’s voice has been a touchstone for me for many years. With Notes from the Red Zone she names the categories of violence which as a culture we do not see because we cannot bear to see and thus do not name. At the time of publication it was outrage and prophecy. Now decades later returning to it again, it is accurate reportage. Thanks for the interview.