Loose Leaf Notes

-The following first appeared in the May 12, 2016 issue of The Floyd Press.

“Art is essential. It heals us and keeps what life is all about real. It gives us hope,” said Jeri Rogers at the launch of the new Artemis Journal, the regional literary and art journal that she founded.

Rogers – a Floyd resident, professional photographer and editor of Artemis – thanked the Roanoke Arts Commission and the Taubman Museum of Art for their collaboration in hosting the special event, which began with a wine and cheese reception and featured a talk by Virginia Poet Laureate Ron Smith.

Smith –a writer in residence at St. Christopher’s School in Richmond with several published poetry collections – has three poems in the current journal. From the Taubman theater podium, he read those and others and engaged the audience with questions and answers, giving insight into the writing process.

In a poem titled “The Assisi Poem, Finally,” about being in Rome and being robbed of six months of un-typed poems and the best travel journal he’d ever kept, Smith read: Memory’s a liar, we all know it. My notebooks / could have given you the textures and flavors, spices / and liqueurs, foot pain and shivers, shadow and whispers / slick paving stones, gusty grievings in the Stevensy rain, / lichens, sacred caresses, hip bones, so much tasted / with reverence, touched / with love.

Esteemed Roanoke artist Betty Branch was honored at the event. An image of her pink marble sculpture “The Dancer” graces the cover of the current journal. Several Floyd Countains, including artists, poets, photographers and potters, are represented in the journal.

Artemis 2016 is the 23rd publication of the journal that began in 1977 and had a 14 year hiatus before re-emerging in 2014. With a mission of fostering the arts in the Blue Ridge Mountains and beyond, the journal is rooted in social activism, beginning when Rogers facilitated writing workshops with women at a Women’s Resource Center in the late ‘70s. Rogers and Artemis design editor, Virginia Lepley mentored students at Floyd’s Springhouse Community high school with the production of the 2014 issue.

The new issue features full page colored photos and over 90 contributors, including some debut contributors appearing alongside well-established and prize winning writers and artists. Renowned poet Nikki Giovanni was the featured poet in 2014 and Beth Macy, author of Factory Man, was the featured guest in 2015.

Copies of the journal can be purchased at The Jacksonville Center for the Arts. For more information contact Artemis Journal, P.O. Box 505, Floyd, VA 24091 – artemisjournal@gmail. com, or visit the artemisjournal.org. _______Colleen Redman