Pieced Together: The Tor House and Hawk Tower in Carmel are among the many venues that will host Big Read events. Nic Coury
the Big Read
The Poetry of Robinson Jeffers
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Robinson Jeffers has left nearly as big and deep an imprint on Monterey County as Steinbeck and Henry Miller. There are differences, though. Steinbeck’s work has conquered readership and critical plateaus; Miller’s books are erotic, subversive and hip. So where does that leave nature’s champion poet, whose work is as native to the Central Coast as anyone’s, who loved this place as only a person who grew up elsewhere can, who once wrote “I’d sooner, except the penalties, kill a man than a hawk”?
“Jeffers is a very contemporary poet,” says local poet Elliot Ruchowitz-Roberts.“What he says about human nature, about human conflict, about our relationship to the natural world– all these and more ring true today.” This month is devoted to discovering more about Jeffers and his legacy through a bounty of events, readings, gatherings and art.
SATURDAY 10-04
Jeffers & Steinbeck: Habitat of Thought at Steinbeck CenterKicking off the weeks-long The Big Read: The Poetry of Robinson Jeffers, this exhibition compares and contrasts Steinbeck’s and Jeffers’ reflections on religion, love, writing and “the landscape of California’s Central Coast,” through words, photographs and paintings. Runs through Nov. 30. (See story, pg. 20)
10am-5pm. National Steinbeck Center, 1 Main St., Salinas. Included with regular admission. 775-4721.FRIDAY 10-10
Sunset Celebration at Tor House GardensA musical performance by MaryClare Martin, readings of Jeffers by Taelen Thomas, wine and appetizers. RSVP.
5-7pm. Tor House and Hawk Tower, 26304 Ocean View Ave., Carmel. $15. 624-1813, 624-1840.SATURDAY 10-11
“Robinson Jeffers in These Times” At Highlands InnProfessors from Santa Clara University, Harvard and CSU Chico expound on Jeffers; gourmet lunch by Pacific’s Edge.
10am-2:15pm. Highlands Inn, 120 Highlands Dr., Hwy. 1., Carmel. $90 Sat talks and lunch. 624-1813. big read kick-off At Highlands InnRep. Sam Farr and NEA Chairman Dana Gioia speak.
2:30-3:30pm. Highlands Inn, Surf Room, 120 Highlands Dr., Hwy. 1., Carmel. Free. 624-1813.SUNDAY 10-12
Jeffers Poetry Walk at Carmel River BeachBring poems, lunch and beverages to this daytime picnic, departing from Carmel River Beach parking lot. RSVP.
8:45am depart parking lot. Carmel River Lagoon, end of Carmel River, Carmel. Free. 624-1813.WEDNESDAY 10-15
“Jeffers in These Times” at MPCTor House president Alex Vardamis discusses Jeffers, courtesy of Gentrain Society.
1:30-2:30pm. Monterey Peninsula College Lecture Forum 103, 980 Fremont St., Monterey. Free. 646-4224.FRIDAY 10-17
Tours of Tor House and Hawk TowerFriday and Saturday tours led by docents. RSVP.
10am-3pm Fri-Sat. Tor House and Hawk Tower, 26304 Ocean View Ave., Carmel. $2-$7. 624-1813. An Homage to Robinson Jeffers at Winfield GalleryOpening reception of David Ligare’s Jeffers homage, A Sense of Place. Runs Oct. 10 to Nov. 9.
5-7pm. Winfield Gallery, Dolores between Ocean and Seventh, Carmel. Free. 624-3369.SATURDAY 10-18
A Day with Kim Weston at Wildcat CanyonPhotographs by the Westons, field trip and picnic at Point Lobos, Jeffers reading. Later, dinner with Gina and Kim Weston, Jeffers reading by Elliot Ruchowitz-Roberts. Benefits scholarship fund. RSVP.
9am-4pm day events; 6-8:30pm dinner. Wildcat Canyon, Hwy. 1, Carmel Highlands. Carmel. $75 day events; $250 dinner. 624-8111, gina@kimweston.com. “The Poetry of Robinson Jeffers” at Seaside LibraryJeffers reading and discussion by Elliot Ruchowitz-Roberts; The Selected Poems of Robinson Jeffers distributed free. RSVP.
11am-noon. Seaside Library, 550 Harcourt Ave., Seaside. Free. 883-7542.SUNDAY 10-19
Bird Walk and Poetry Reading at Point LobosBird walk, picnic, readings of Jeffers’ poetry with poets John Dotson, Simon Hunt, Katherine Petruccelli, park ranger Matt Buonaguidi and docent Carol Marquart at Bird Rock Picnic Area.
3:30-6pm. Point Lobos State Reserve, two miles south of Rio Road, Hwy. 1, Carmel. $10 admission to Reserve. 375-2235.WEDNESDAY 10-22
Pablo Soler Frost on Jeffers and Poetry at MIISMexican poet, novelist and translator Pablo Soler Frost talks about Jeffers and poetry, with Monterey Institute of International Studies students translating into four languages.
6:30pm. James Irvine Auditorium, 499 Pierce St., McCone Building at MIIS, Monterey.Free. 624-6499.THURSDAY 10-23
“The Poetry of Robinson Jeffers” at Carmel Valley LibraryJeffers poetry readings by Carmel Valley poets; The Selected Poems of Robinson Jeffers distributed free.
5:30-7pm. Carmel Valley Library, 65 W. Carmel Valley Road, Carmel Valley. 883-7542. Free.FRIDAY 10-24
In Conversation with Robinson Jeffers at Center for Photographic ArtOpening reception of local photographs on the poetry of Jeffers. Runs Oct. 10 to Jan. 4.
6-8pm. Center for Photographic Art, San Carlos and Ninth, Carmel. Free. 625-5181. “Beyond Jeffers” Spoken Word at Steinbeck CenterEmceed by P.G. Poet-in-Residence Garland Thompson, spoken word artists from Youth Speaks in San Francisco and Salinas’ Marc Cabrera of Baktun 12 perform; an open mic follows.
6-8pm. National Steinbeck Center, 1 Main St., Salinas. 775-4721. Free. Jeffers Reading in Santa CruzPoets Adrienne Rich, Li Young Lee, Mark Jarman and Gary Young read Jeffers’ and their own poetry, concluding with dramatic reading of Jeffers’ adaptation of Euripides’ Medea.
7-10pm. Veterans Memorial Building, 846 Front St., Santa Cruz. Free. 459-1536.SUNDAY 10-26
The Irish Connection at Carl CherryIrish fiddler John Weed and guitarist Stuart Mason perform while Elliot Ruchowitz-Roberts reads Jeffers and Yeats. The Selected Poems of Robinson Jeffers distributed free.
2pm. Carl Cherry Center for the Arts, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel. Free. 624-7491.TUESDAY 10-28
The Irish Connection at King City LibraryIrish fiddler John Weed and guitarist Stuart Mason perform while Elliot Ruchowitz-Roberts reads Jeffers and Yeats. The Selected Poems of Robinson Jeffers distributed free.
6pm. King City Library, 402 Broadway, King City. Free. 385-3677.
WEDNESDAY 10-29
Robinson Jeffers by Taelen Thomas at Monterey Public LibraryThe Selected Poems of Robinson Jeffers distributed free at this poetry performance.
7pm. Monterey Public Library, 625 Pacific St., Monterey. Free. 646-3949.SATURDAY 11-01
Poetry Workshop by Patrice Vecchione at Monterey LibraryPoetry workshop; The Selected Poems of Robinson Jeffers distributed free. Must RSVP.
1:30-3:30pm. Monterey Public Library, 625 Pacific St. Monterey. Free. 646-3949. Bi-lingual Poetry Writing Workshop at Salinas LibraryWorkshop on Jeffers and Pablo Neruda by Elliot Ruchowitz-Roberts and Diana Garcia. The Selected Poems of Robinson Jeffers distributed free. RSVP.
2-4pm. Cesar Chavez Public Library, 615 Williams Road, Salinas. Free. 758-7345.THURSDAY 11-06
“The Poetry of Robinson Jeffers” at P.G. LibraryTaelen Thomas performs Jeffers’ poems. The Selected Poems of Robinson Jeffers distributed free.
7pm. Pacific Grove Public Library, 550 Central Ave., Pacific Grove. Free. 648-5760.FRI-SAT | 11-07 / 11-08
Robinson Jeffers Dance Concert at MPCMPC’s Dance Department performs “Natural Music” Jeffers program.
8pm Fri-Sat. Morgan Stock Stage at MPC, 980 Fremont St., Monterey. $10; $8/seniors, students. 646-4220.SATURDAY 11-08
Poetry Workshop at Monterey LibraryElliot Ruchowitz-Roberts workshop titled “Mi Vida/Mi Pueblo.” The Selected Poems of Robinson Jeffers distributed free. RSVP.
1:30-3:30pm. Monterey Public Library, 625 Pacific St., Monterey. Free. 646-3949.SUNDAY 11-09
Poetry Reading at East Village Coffee LoungeCharles Atkinson and Elliot Ruchowitz-Roberts poetry reading, “The Honey of Peace.”
7pm. East Village Coffee Lounge, 498 Washington St., Monterey. $5. 684-0854.
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