Early 2024 Collages by Christopher Luna

I'LL LET YOU OUT WHEN YOU KNOW HOW TO BE DECENT

Longing and Joy Each in Measure

The Work Poetry Workshop
Featuring Sappho and Sanders

The Work poetry workshop by Christopher Luna takes place from 2-5 on the second Saturday of the month at Birdhouse Books (1001 Main Street basement Vancouver, WA 98660). We also meet from 9-12 on the fourth Saturday of every month.

There is also a Monday evening version of the workshop that takes place on Zoom on the second and fourth Monday of the month. Send me an email if you would like to receive an invitation.

You can learn about all of my workshops through the end of this year on the Creative Writing Workshops page of the Printed Matter Vancouver website: 

https://printedmattervancouver.com/creative-writing-workshops/

If you are looking for writing coaching, editing/manuscript review, or information about my poetry and memoir classes, send me an email at printedmattervancouver@gmail.com or visit printedmattervancouver.com. 

beautiful beguiling wonders

"Golden and Blue Hour" Poem by Maria Vara, Collage and lettering by Christopher Luna

 

Censored by Instagram: THE MOST GLORIOUS THING

A big fuck you to Instagram for censoring the following image because it violates community standards:

THE MOST GLORIOUS THING
By Christopher Luna

UPDATE: The image mysteriously appeared on my Instagram profile, and was also automatically shared to my Facebook profile, which did not censor it. Historically, censors are wildly incosnsistent, and unable to follow their own rules because they were arbitrary in the first place. 

FREE THE NIPPLE!

If you'd like to see more of my collage art, visit 

https://www.instagram.com/christopherjluna/

 

After Visions of Cody: A Poem and Collage for Jack Kerouac

I have been telling people for years that Visions of Cody is my favorite novel by Jack Kerouac, a brilliant, panoramic portrait of the American landscape that also contains pages and pages of transcribed conversations between Kerouac and his good friend Neal Cassady, both of whom were famous talkers.

In my opinion, the best poetry Kerouac produced can be found in Mexico City Blues. 

The following poem was inspired by Kerouac's life and work as well as my impressions of these two literary masterpieces.   

After Visions of Cody
Collage by Christopher Luna

After Visions of Cody

by Christopher Luna 

pages and pages of

oomp-pa-pi-dah

hip jive

& muzzy gobbledygook

 

            mid-Century mascu-line

Buddhist glossolalia

 

exophonic explorer’s

linguistic innovations

the gift of idetic recall

in panoramic

sweep across the soil

of the American landscape

 

a tale told by conquerors

conquerors’ sons

perpetrators of

genocide and

their filial beneficiaries

 

wild, joyful

not yet pickled

nor doomed

to descend

into boredom

 

not yet become

just another

reactionary

who moved back

in with Mom

 

to hide from the world

beat by capitalism

 

beatific

 

in spite of himself

 

visionary           free

Symbolically Potent / Existential Transcencence: A Poem and Collage for Angelo's Birthday, March 30, 2022

 

Angelo has loved skulls for as long as I can remember. This led to a tradition of creating skull-themed collages for him for his birthday and other special occasions. This year I also wrote a poem. Not sure why, but I had never spoken to him about my own obsession with skulls as a child and young adult. I drew them, and enjoyed images of skulls, because I thought they were cool. 

The poem I wrote for Angelo this year attempts to unpack our love of skulls and how this common interest connects to the different ways that we think about and perceive the universe.

  

Collages by Christopher Luna January 2021 including Postcards for Pobrecitos by Eileen Davis Elliott

My dear friend Eileen Elliott asked me to create some promotional postcards for her superb new book, Pobrecitos: https://www.eileendaviselliott.com/post-card-tradition

The book is a poignant and unflinching look at how poverty impacts lives. Eileen's powerful words are complemented by stunning illustrations by two talented student-artists: Ava Town and Lily Engblom-Stryker.

Email Pobrecitos2021@gmail.com to receive a Zoom invitation to her virtual book launch on February 5: https://www.eileendaviselliott.com/upcoming-events

I am also happy to announce that Eileen will help us celebrate National Poetry Month as the featured reader for Ghost Town Poetry Open Mic on April 8. 

EXISTENTIAL OPPORTUNITY

BRUTALIST ERASURE

Poetry and collage by Christopher Luna

BODHISATTVA SMILES for Morgan Paige

times like these 

for Erin Dengerink

Collages by Christopher Luna December 2020

 

For Tiffany Burba

August collages by Christopher Luna

 

Collages by Christopher Luna May 2020

Since we began staying home in order to slow the spread of the coronavirus, I have been making collages to ease my mind. If you would like to purchase an original or a print, contact me at christopherjluna@gmail.com.

You can find more collages and poems on Instagram: @christopherjluna

Universal Woman Power for Jeannie Luna May 21, 2020

#yourpresidentwantsyoudead

Poem and Collage for My Friend Tiffany Burba

Collages by Christopher Luna for Women Warriors at Angst Gallery March 1-23, 2019

"Don't wait." Artist Trading Card by Christopher Luna

Women Warriors Artist Trading Card: Emily Dickinson

Women Warriors ATC: For Aretha (poem by Christopher Luna)

Emergent Goddesses of the Frozen Wood by Christopher Luna

Women Warriors ATC: Jane Bowles by Christopher Luna

Women Warriors ATC: Sylvia Plath by Christopher Luna

Women Warriors ATC: "to speak. YES YES" by Christopher Luna

Women Warriors ATC: Venus by Christopher Luna

Women Warriors at Angst Gallery March 1-23, 2019

Angst Gallery recognizes that women have shaped society in ways for which they are not often enough acknowledged. For the month of March, Angst Gallery will celebrate Women Warriors in all their various incarnations.

Women Warriors at Angst Gallery March 1-23, 2019

Angst Gallery
1015 Main Street
Vancouver, WA 98660

Hours: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday 12-4.
Accessible via Niche Wine Bar (1013 Main Street) after 4pm Tuesday through Saturday.

Women warriors come in all shapes, sizes, and ages: Malala, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Florence Nightingale, Great Aunt Beatrice. So many women inspire us behind the scenes or in the public eye. What makes a woman warrior? Not all heroism involves violence. What drives such acts of heroism? What qualities or circumstances drive women to push back, protect, or change the world? Who are the women in your life who inspire you?

In 2018 the New York Times recognized that they had overlooked many important women in their obituary section and have been working to go back into the archives and feature those who were overlooked.

In Sweden, ancient Viking remains were discovered to actually belong to a female and not a male 100 years after they were found. Sometimes it is our tendency to incorrectly assume that remains from archaeological conform to stereotypical gender roles. What other assumptions have we made in history? What assumptions will be made when looking back 100 years from now?

“Wonder Woman lived: Viking warrior skeleton identified as female, 128 years after its discovery” By Amy Ellis Nutt September 14, 2017

For more information about National Women’s History Month, visit the National Women’s History Alliance website. 

International Women’s Day is March 8, 2019.

Since its opening in 2008, Angst Gallery has hosted solo and group shows featuring more than 300 local and national artists and cultural events including art shows, musical performances, book launch parties, art talks, classes, workshops, and the monthly Ghost Town Poetry Open Mic. More than just a place to show art, Angst Gallery is also a safe space for community discussion, where all people are respected for who they are. We donate the use of the space to organizations that work for human rights and progressive social change.

BINGE-WORTHY PROPHECIES Collage for Miles Hewitt January 1, 2019

Collage Art by Christopher Luna