Word. 2022

We’re back from a delightful weekend of celebrating Word, the Blue Hill Literary Arts Festival.

It’s back in person after two years of virtual programs. I am still pinching myself that I was part of the schedule. It began Thursday night, October 20, with a Star Party led by Dwight Lanpher, a member of both Dark Sky Maine and the International Dark Sky Association as well as thirteen other astronomical organizations. An electrical engineer by day, this guy knows his galaxy!

The clear night allowed Dwight to give an incredible tour of the visible constellations with a running banter about light years and Greek mythology woven seamlessly together. First he demonstrated the “astronomer’s salute” which is: turning your back on any offending headlights approaching. Because it takes a good fifteen minutes for your eyes to adjust to the darkness. Don’t mess with that.

As it got darker, more stars glittered. Dwight had set up his telescope so everyone could take turns viewing Jupiter, the first planet visible. He had a totally cool device: a laser pointer that can reach a mile into the sky, locating each star in the constellations we could observe with our naked eyes. He pointed out Ursa Major, Polaris, Ursa Minor, Vega, Pegasus, Cepheus, Cassiopeia, Arcturus, Drago. I learned so much! Part of my impetus to write Skywatcher was to understand all I could about why the dark matters.

He also operated Stellina, a smart telescope that could detect and photograph super distant objects with GPS. It would take a few minutes for the image to clearly emerge, as the telescope captured layers of data, which we could see on a screen.

Say hello to the Lagoon Nebula, a vast interstellar cloud in the constellation Sagittarius that is 4000 light years away and an active stellar nursery.

Between the technology and the Milky Way arching overhead, I was blown away. Thank you, Dwight and Word.

On October 21 I visited the Blue Hill Consolidated School, where librarian Tracy Gandy had my presentation ready to go. Her bat print skirt and my moon phase dress were simpatico for this season of long nights.

Before meeting the third grade and second grade classes, I had lunch from the cafeteria with Music Specialist, Audrey Albert, and Visual Art Specialist, Penny Ricker. Small world moment: Penny’s sister, Karyl Hayes, once did a painting of our house! After my warm welcome, I read Skywatcher to each class, followed by a short back story on the making of the book. I emphasized that it takes plenty of research, writing, drawing, drawing, and more drawing to make a picture book.

Then each student plucked a small animal toy from my grab bag for some observational drawing with colored pencils. I loved what details they captured!

This artist did what I love to do: combine observation with imagination. They drew the loon decoy and then added an environment of frothy waves and yellow sunshine.

This artist, a fan of blue, created a color contrast for the red octopus.

I met Nora Bradford, a second grade teacher, who had recently taken delivery of a Welcoming Library, which we transported on behalf of our heroines at I’m Your Neighbor Books. Hooray for diverse literature for young readers!

She also had a copy of Bear and the Oxbow Island Gang, which I signed. (Shhhh, I’m about to begin illustrating the fourth book in this fun environmental series by my island neighbor, Rae Chalmers.)

After the classes impressed me with their curiosity and fresh drawings, Tracy gave me a tour of the school. I caught Penny Ricker, the Visual Arts Specialist, in action amidst the high energy of eighth grade artists. I consider the art classroom a haven where kids can be themselves, and clearly Penny makes a space for this.

This sign outside her door sums it all up.

Thank you, Blue Hill Consolidated School and Word for a stellar visit!

We headed back to our guest cottage in Brooklin, near the Wooden Boat School. I couldn’t resist stopping to admire this fellow skywatcher, always looking up. I could find no credit or signage, help me out if you know the artist.

We had Friday night plans to attend a Word reception and also a talk with author Lily King. But I lost steam for the drive back into Blue Hill:( and instead we walked to the shore at dusk. Later we spied some shooting stars from the Orionid meteor shower and a pair of startled deer, before a long night of deep rest.

On Saturday morning, I presented Stardust and Sketching at the venerable Blue Hill Public Library. Here’s the intrepid Word crew who gave support, including award-winning author Ellen Booraem on the top left, who invited me and coordinated my programs and itinerary.

Drawing with everyone is the best part.

This drawing by Lincoln was a fun surprise. He drew a reindeer and added an ecosystem on it’s back, pine tree legs, and roots that reach underground. Is that not a profound illustration? These encounters with young artists are a shot in the arm!

After the program, Marty and I wandered through the library, chock full of art and curious objects. Go check out the Midcoast Maine Book Arts exhibit on display in the Howard Room.

I recently discovered Francis Hamabe, thanks to his work in the just opened Great State of Maine Illustration show at the Brick Store Museum in Kennebunk. His graphic illustrations of local settings are still so fresh.

We stopped at Blue Hill Books, a sweet temple to literary arts and supporter of the Word Festival.

We returned to the field where the star party happened, across the road from the trail up Blue Hill Mountain. After a sunny picnic, we hiked up a ways for the view, feeling on top of the world.

Next we stopped at the First Congregational Church where poetry readings were underway. Jason Grundstrom-Whitney read works full of archetypes like Bear, Coyote, and Raven. Plus he played a mean blues harmonica:)

We ducked out to see the exhibit of Word. Art. at the Cynthia Winings Gallery nearby, a terrific ode to text in art.

We rode around East Blue Hill and found this spot. (I drew this pastel study after returning to Peaks.)

After a quick bite at Marlintini’s we attended the conversation at the church between Phuc Tran and Samantha Haskell.

Phuc did live storytelling around the Portland area, and also a Ted talk in 2012 that led him to an agent. He declared, “Words are inherently slippery,” and talked about his porous creative process, love of puns, and punk rock. He said the writing of his memoir, Sigh, Gone was like getting to the top of Mt. Everest. But to get back down, there was editing.

He revealed that he’s working on a children’s book series about a cranky crane!

The whole exchange was informative, humorous, and audience questions were deep. We had much to distill as we drove back to Brooklin, taking in the local sights.

On Sunday morning we packed up and joined the festival folks at Humblebee Cafe, where Phuc told us he took every art class in high school, which helped him become a legendary tattoo artist.

From there, we had to head home. So absolutely full of Word love! Many thanks to all those who labored to bring this together, and especially to Sherry Streeter and Jon Wilson, our generous hosts. Our Blue Hill adventures will provide inspiration for a long time.