APPROACHING TOTALITY For John Furniss

APPROACHING TOTALITY

For John Furniss

a ghostly veil is draped

over the entirety

blankets the house,

grass, & trees

stellar jays

aieennh! aiennh!

in warning

as the world goes dark

everything quiets down

& a million anxieties

suddenly recede as

a thousand gleaming crescents

fan across the patio and lawn

Christopher Luna

August 21, 2017

Written at the request of my dear friend Anni Becker Furniss: 

https://www.facebook.com/events/1809045995789948/ 

 

Photos by Christopher Luna and Toni Partington

Here is an article from the Columbian about Anni's request:

http://www.columbian.com/news/2017/aug/26/washougal-blind-man-sees-eclipse-through-others-words/

Bid on a poetry trading card by Niche Poet Laureate Christopher Luna to benefit VSAA's jazz program

Update, February 22: Congratulations to Jennifer Pratt-Walter ($20) and Peggy Bird ($25) for their winning bids on the poetry trading cards I created to benefit VSAA's jazz program. I would also like to thank Jamie Lutz and Amy Horstman for participating in the  auction. Keep supporting the arts.   

Christopher Luna working on poetry trading cards at Niche 

Wednesday, February 15, 2012 Photograph by Daniel Wickwire

I had a great time at Niche Wine and Art bar Wednesday night, listening to some very talented young jazz musicians from the Vancouver School of Arts and Academics. Every Wednesday this month, Niche will present jazz performances to benefit the school's musicians. Here is the announcement from Niche's Facebook page: "During the entire month of February a selection of wines and sodas will be supporting the Vancouver School of Arts and Academics jazz program. Profits from these items will be donated to the VSAA jazz students for travel. Enjoy a great restaurant while supporting great jazz! Every Wednesday for the rest of the month the actual jazz performers from VSAA will be here (with special guests)!!"

I occasionally create poetry trading cards and postcards while hanging out at the bar. I created three new cards that night, and while one is spoken for, I am offering up two of the cards to the highest bidder. I will donate all of the money raised to the VSAA Jazz program. Please contact me on Facebook or via email (christopherjluna@gmail.com) no later than 5pm Wednesday, February 22 if you would like to bid.

  RE-EMERGENCE

poetry trading card by Christopher Luna

February 15, 2012

 EQUINOX

poetry trading card by Christopher Luna

February 15, 2012

Opening bid: $5 Jamie Lutz

Finally, here is the third card I created that evening, which is not available for auction because I gave it to young bandleader and bassist Stu Jackson: 

a dirty word, but it comes out clean (Jack Kerouac)

for Stu Jackson

poetry trading card by Christopher Luna

February 15, 2012

I will be posting more examples of these trading cards soon.

Thank you for supporting art, poetry, and jazz in the 'Couve.

Christopher Luna

Niche/Angst Poet Laureate

Poet Emmett Wheatfall's Cascade AIDS Project Fundraiser Friday, September 17

From Carolyn Lee and Emmett Wheatfall:

There Stood I: The Poetry of Emmett Wheatfall
Cheatham Hall
4033 SW Canyon Road
Portland, OR 97221

Performances by:
Mario DePriest
Lindy Fisker
Ronault “Polo” Catalani
T. Allen Bethel
Dorothy Elmore 
Jana Cole
David OrnetteCherry 
Lynn Darroch
Lawrence Howard
Richard Wingard
Sunshine Dixon
Paula Small
Lynne Duddy
Anderson Duboise

Capacity is Limited ‐Please RSVP by September 15, 2010:
cascadeaidsprojectfundraiser@yahoo.com

Thank You to Our Generous Sponsors: Elephants Delicatessen and Quick Stop Photo

Friday, September 17, 2010

6:30p –7:00p
Reception

7:00p –7:45p
Silent auction

8:00p –10:00p
Poetry readings

Hors d’ oeuvres will be provided
No‐host refreshments
will be available

A Charity Fundraiser For
Cascade AIDS Project

This is an amazing fundraiser for Cascade AIDS Project (CAP) involving poetry, photography and dignitaries (200+ guests). The event will be held on Friday, September 17, 2010 from 6:30p – 10:00p at the World Forestry Center’s Cheatham Hall in Portland.

We chose to partner with Cascade AIDS Project because of Emmett Wheatfall's personal connection with AIDS - his sister passed years ago of AIDS related complications and he wrote a poem about it. As a result, CAP was the perfect charity to benefit from this fundraiser and we named the event after his poem.

The event itself consists of an intimate reception then a performance piece. The reception will involve music, photography/poetry, a silent auction/raffle, hors d’ oeuvres, and beverages. Guests will have the opportunity to bid on the artwork consisting of Emmett Wheatfall’s poetry incorporating professional photography by local photographer Tony Sibley. All proceeds will go to charity.
The performance part involves dignitaries and community leaders reading Emmett’s poems that are specifically chosen for them.
 
Please RSVP by September 15th to cascadeaidsprojectfundraiser@yahoo.com.

Emmett Wheatfall: http://emmettwheatfall.com/

Cascade AIDS Project: http://www.cascadeaids.org/

Christopher Luna and Toni Partington's contributions to Vancouver's Community Constellation, a collaborative art piece

I am very proud to have been among those invited to contribute to the Community Constellation, a collaborative art project in which several artists were gicven a small, round wooden circle upon which to create a piece on the theme of "community." These circles were then connected together and displayed at the Brickhouse Bar and Grill (109 W 15th St, http://www.vancouverbrickhouse.com/) and later at The Space (2315.5 Main St., behind One World Merchants, http://thespaceartcollective.blogspot.com/). Here is a photograph that I took of the piece as it appeared in The Space:

Colleen Lindsay, who is one of the founding members of The Space, wrote a great article about the project: http://www.vanvoice.com/article/20686-art+goes+round

Christopher Luna with the

"Community Constellation"

at The Space

Vancouver, WA

"Time Traveling"

Toni Partington's piece for

"Community Constellation"

Photo by Christopher Luna

"GHOST TOWN, USA"

Christopher Luna's contribution to

"Community Constellation"

Photograph by Christopher Luna

The "Community Constellation" was first displayed at the Red, White, and Black Ball, an event that took place at Brickhouse Bar and Grill in Vancouver, WA on Friday, February 5, 2010.

"Community Constellation"

at Brickhouse Bar and Grill

Photo by Anni Becker

To see more of Anni Becker's wonderful photographs of the Red White and Black Ball, go to: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kermitlover/sets/72157623366627994/

My thanks to Colleen Lindsay for inviting me to contribute to this unique project. Her role as  a local muse and mentor has inspired all of us. I would also like to thank those in Vancouver who continue to support my work. I am very proud to be a part of this growing community of artists. Art is happening in the 'Couve!