Beyond The Page: A Faculty Reading & Conversation
On Wednesday, Oct. 18 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Wignall Museum Patio located at Chaffey College, I had the privilege of interviewing authors and writers of their work.
BY Jess Rodrigo
All writers had a chance to read a short passage of their published pieces and gave opportunities for students to ask questions and learn about the writing process, what to write, and the freedom to choose what you want for publication processing.
The featured writers were Chaffey’s loved professors from all around campus, such as,
Michelle Dowd, Adam D. Martinez, Laura Picklesimer, Arthur Kayzakian, Ryan Falcioni and Angela Cardinale.
Michelle Dowd, a creative writing and journalism professor, talked about her recent book “Forager: Field Notes for Surviving a Family Cult, A Memoir.” This book was an opportunity to tell her story in a way she never could.
Dowd expressed that she always had the feeling to quit just like all writers do. However, pushing through to show others her story is how she found closure through that season of her life.
Adam D. Martinez, an english and creative writing professor, dissected his award-winning debut poetry collection, “Remyth: A Postmodernist Ritual.” Martinez stated that, “Being from a Hip-Hop background, the idea of sampling and repurposing is embedded in my ethos.”
Martinez described his piece as a baptism and an exorcism. It's Hip-Hop and Punk. It's high art meeting low art at the church altar. The collection of Martinez’ poetry is influenced by his past involvement with music. While using social media to represent his love of music and the art of free verse, Martinez was able to use his thesis statement for his final paper to create a book filled with experiences, love and therapy.
Laura Picklesimer, an english and creative writing professor, explained the reasoning and process of her book, “Kill for Love.” Picklesimer aimed to capture the complexity of women's emotions in challenging situations, whether real or fictional, through her dark comedy and psychologically intense book.
Picklesimer stated that she always has hard times figuring out a title for books and usually leaves that for the last priority. But the title, “Kill for Love,” was so easy for her to pick because Picklesmier loved the intimidating strong, sound of it, so it was meant to be.
Arthur Kayzakian, an english, creative writing professor and poet, presented his award-winning poetry collection “The Book of Redacted Paintings.” He professed how writing poetry saved his life and wanted others to interpret his work by finding a way to connect with art and poetry.
Kayzakian, followed up his description on how everyone has emotions and the way we interact with them is through reading, writing and through art. Talking about the whole mix of emotion, Kayzakian urged all writers to use your experience and your emotions to write a story, for at least one person will be influenced by it.
Ryan Falcioni, a Philosophy professor, talked about his love for both of his written pieces, “Punk Rock and Philosophy” and “Anthony Bourdain and Philosophy.” He would love for readers to see their own connection between cultures and philosophy through these readings. The amount of importance and structure both books contain is information healthy for all ages and mindsets to be questioning all things while learning something new.
Lastly, Angela Cardinale, an online education coordinator and creative writing professor, walked us through her feelings when writing parts of the book of essays, “Wanting.”
Cardinale expressed that she was shocked at how open she came to be with writing, however she was glad that many could read her story and learn from it. The way she was able to write was being alone and to allow herself a judgment free zone to open up and express the hardships she was facing.