by William Boden

SPC and Plume Poetry proudly present acclaimed American poet, essayist and short story writer Tess Gallagher and her fellow Northwest poet Lawrence Matsuda for a series of readings and signings at the Palladium Theater and two SPC Campuses. On April 21, the poets can be heard reading (with an informal question-and-answer session) in the library at SPC’s Clearwater Campus, and at the Palladium later that same evening. The former is from noon till 1:30 PM, and the latter begins at 7PM. The next day, April 22, from 12:30 – 1:45 PM, the poets will read at SPC’s Gibbs Campus Music Center, followed by a book signing.

Born in Port Angeles, Washington, in 1943, Tess Gallagher has traveled around the world in pursuit of her literary truths. She has taught at Syracuse University and Bucknell University, to name just two, and lives part-time in West Ireland with her partner, the painter and storyteller Josie Gray (with whom she collaborated on the book Barnacle Soup: Stories From the West of Ireland). Ms. Gallagher translated, with Alan Sorkin, the work of Romanian poet Liliana Ursu, and she has also published her conversations with Japanese novelist and Buddhist nun Jakucho Setouchi. In the midst of her pursuits she has won fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation as well as the National Endowment for the Arts. Married to the short story master and poet Raymond Carver from 1977 until the time of his death, Gallagher remains a champion for his legacy and continues living in the home they shared in Port Angeles.

She has authored twelve volumes of poetry, three collections of short fiction, A Concert of Tenses, Essays on Poetry, and an assortment of screenplays.

Lawrence Matsuda was born in Idaho’s Minidoka Internment Camp in 1945, and grew up in the Japanese American community of Seattle. His life-long pursuit of social justice and equality informs his poetry, and his illustrious career in education will help him be quite comfortable in our academic settings. He will read from his poetry collection A Cold Wind from Idaho. He and his wife make their home in Seattle.

Matsuda and Gallagher have been long-time friends, and will appear together at the three functions. All events, including the Palladium Theater, are free for SPC staff, faculty and students. For the general public, the Plume Poetry Series event at the Palladium is $10.