This project is done as an Oneiric Studio project. The Studio is a meeting of minds that tries to find various people and resources to pursue unique projects that challenge the mental and cultural biases and limits on creativity. It is, at this point, operated solely by me, Mark Fairchild, although I am interested in finding other people to work with in the immediate vicinity of Lincoln, Nebraska.
The Collaborative Linked Poetry Project is intended to be a loosely knit group of poets who are either interested in or curious about writing collaborative linked poetry. To some degree it is a communal activity, but it can also be (or lead to) more one-on-one type activity.
This is NOT a group that requires membership or even regular attendance, unless some project is cooked up among individual poets who want to participate in that project in a more intense fashion. That is up to those people.
On a larger scale, there are several objects for this project:
To interest poets in writing more collaborative linked verse.
To explore poetic (and so cultural) perception, such as the Japanese do in the renga. This inherently expects varied participation.
For my (Mark Fairchild's) part I want:
1. To create a list of Nebraska "kigo" (seasonal images and references), images we can use to express, natural and cultural things Nebraskans associate with the various seasons. That is, to explore what types of seasons exist in Nebraska: natural (plants & animals, celestial, geographical, etc.), and cultural (agricultural, urban, school, construction, sports, tourist, types of holidays, types of shopping, etc).
2. To encourage poets in their studying and experimenting with poetry, much as actors, directors, and playwrights would in a studio theatre. A focus is provided and the participants take it from there, learning and developing as comes naturally to inquisitive and creative minds. You can think of this as studio work, workshop, seminar, or whatever works for you; it is all of those, and I hope more. If anyone wants to discuss this concept further, we can.
3. To keep this relaxed and low key, kind of a way of relaxing by doing. There is a community component to it. More serious things might come out of this, but this, in and of itself, should be a comfortable place to be creative “with the medium” as opposed to “in the medium.” Additionally, it is a place to be creative both “with the culture” and “in the culture.
4. At some point I would like to investigate methods of collaborating with poets spread across larger geographic distances, both with internet access and with out it.
But my expectations are not yours. Enjoy it for what it is worth. Larger objectives, if any, will evolve naturally. N o one will think the less of you if you check it out and it is not for you!
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