Artist Initiative

I learned an enormous amount about my writing process and made great progress in my work through the focused writing time this grant afforded me. I have a complete chapbook manuscript I have submitted to 4 contests and will submit to others with reading periods in spring and summer. In creating the Little Poetry Library, I connected with writers I hadn't met before and built stronger relationships with some I already knew. I also connected with a local visual artist and worked with her to create the physical structure for the library. This interdisciplinary collaboration was very inspiring and great learning opportunity for both of us. 2: The Little Poetry Library is open for (free) business outside the Blue Moon Coffee Café at 39th Avenue and East Lake Street. About 25 adults and 6 children attended a grand opening event in September. Many attendees shared poetry aloud (including work by Minnesota poets) and/or brought books to donate to the initial collection. The work of 19+ Minnesota poets was represented in the library's initial collection. Over the months since the library has been open, at least 150 books have cycled through the library. I've visited at least every 2 weeks, refilling the shelf with books donated at the grand opening event. On each visit, I see that many books have been taken and some others have appeared. The Library's Facebook page (littlepoetrylibrary.org) has not been as successful as I'd hoped at cluing me in about the specifics of who is using the library, but the page has 114 fans, and I take that, and the consistent turnover of books, as signs that the library is being used.