Council for Wisconsin Writers

Supporting Wisconsin writers from 1964 to 2022

Wisconsin poet laureate

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Prolific, Award-Winning Poet Named State Poet Laureate

The Council for Wisconsin Writers is so pleased and excited to share the great news that CWW board member and poet extraordinaire Karla Huston has been named Wisconsin’s new Poet Laureate. The Wisconsin Academy of Sciences Arts & Letters made the announcement today in the news release below. CWW joins the entire Wisconsin writing community in congratulating Karla and wishing her the very best during her 2017-2018 term. She is so deserving and will represent the state’s poets, writers and literary community well.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jason A. Smith, Wisconsin Academy communications director
Ronnie Hess, Wisconsin Poet Laureate Commission chair

Wisconsin Academy Announces the New Wisconsin Poet Laureate for 2017–2018
MADISON—The Wisconsin Poet Laureate Commission has selected Karla Huston of Appleton, Wisconsin, as the Wisconsin Poet Laureate for 2017–2018. The commission praised Huston for her longstanding devotion to poetry, and a large body of work acclaimed for its elegance, imagination, humor, and scope, ranging from Greek myths to Hollywood stars.

“Karla Huston has that rare ability to tackle just about any issue—large or small—and plumb its meaning for us, telling us why we should care,” says Ronnie Hess, the incoming chair of the Wisconsin Poet Laureate Commission. “Her words are lustrous and luminous, fairly gliding off the page while also carrying a powerful, unforgettable punch.”

Speaking about her selection as Wisconsin Poet Laureate, Huston says, “[it’s] a tremendous honor to bring my love of poetry to the residents of the state. I am looking forward to getting out there, to meeting people and to implementing my Memory Café plan.” Beyond giving readings at festivals, conferences and other events, Huston plans to nurture the growth of poetry-reading and poetry-writing among Wisconsin’s elderly and memory-impaired, as part of the Memory Café movement, which is associated with the Alzheimer’s & Dementia Alliance of Wisconsin.

Huston will receive funding, marketing and other support from the Wisconsin Poet Laureate Commission under the active stewardship of the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters. The Wisconsin Poet Laureate Commission consists of poets and lovers of poetry from across the state, including member organization representatives from the Wisconsin Arts Board, Wisconsin Center for the Book, Wisconsin Humanities Council, Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets, Council for Wisconsin Writers, and Wisconsin Academy. Each year as Wisconsin Poet Laureate, Huston will receive a $2,500 stipend and week-long residency at Shake Rag Alley School for Arts and Crafts in Mineral Point, in addition to a commemorative broadside and other recognition opportunities.

Huston fills the position vacated by Kimberly Blaeser, the sixth Wisconsin Poet Laureate. During her two-year term, Blaeser traveled the state extensively, visiting scores of schools, libraries, bookstores, art galleries, community groups and organizations, as well as more formal festivals and conferences. She also initiated a poetry recitation project which literally put poetry on Wisconsin’s map—allowing individuals and groups to upload videos of readings to an online map of the state. Of Anishinaabe ancestry and a native of White Earth Reservation in northwestern Minnesota, Blaeser is Professor of English at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, and lives in rural Lyons Township. For more on the Blaeser’s recitation map project and future initiatives by incoming Wisconsin Poet Laureate Karla Huston, visit www.wisconsinpoetlaureate.org.
Members of the media can download high resolution images of Karla Huston, additional biographical materials, and a sample poem here. Please include proper acknowledgement for the poem and credit the photos as: Photo by Mike Roemer/roemerphoto.com.

About Karla Huston

The author of eight poetry chapbooks, the latest Grief Bone, (Five Oaks Press), and a full collection, A Theory of Lipstick (Main Street Rag Publications), Karla Huston has garnered many awards, including a Pushcart Prize for her poem “A Theory of Lipstick.” She received an Outstanding Achievement Award from the Wisconsin Library Association for her collection of the same title. Her writing has earned residencies at Ragdale Foundation as well as the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference. Her chapbook, Flight Patterns won the Main Street Rag Chapbook Contest in 2003. Huston has also been awarded three Jade Rings (one for fiction, two for poetry) from the Wisconsin Writers’ Association.

A lifelong resident of the state, Huston is a graduate of West Salem High School. She has earned two degrees from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh (BS-Education, MA-English, Creative Writing). She started writing poetry when she began teaching creative writing in the mid-nineties at Neenah High School where she worked for fifteen years.

Huston is active in the Wisconsin writing community. She has served on the board of directors for Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets as well as the Fox Valley Writing project, an offshoot the National Writing Project, which stresses teachers teaching teachers and encourages cross-curricular writing. Currently she is active on the board of the Council for Wisconsin Writers. In addition, Huston serves as vice president, membership coordinator, and teaching staff at The Mill: A Place for Writers, a Fox Cities venue which offers a creative environment to encourage the growth of the literary community and provides learning opportunities for writers at all levels. For several years she has contributed to the Fox Cities Book Festival helping to create poetry events during the festival.

About the Wisconsin Poet Laureate Commission

The Wisconsin Poet Laureate Commission is comprised of volunteers who perform several functions crucial to the maintenance of the Wisconsin Poet Laureate position.
The Wisconsin Poet Laureate program was originally created by an executive order of Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson in 2000. After the $2,000 annual budget for the laureateship was eliminated by Governor Scott Walker, the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters announced its stewardship of the program to ensure its survival. Today, the position of Wisconsin Poet Laureate is kept alive by individual donations, and by financial support from member organizations. Members of the commission include representatives from each of these organizations, along with at-large commission members from across the state.

 

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Applications for WI Poet Laureate to Open

Call for 2017–2018 Wisconsin Poet Laureate Opens on August 15   

MADISON—The Wisconsin Poet Laureate Commission, in partnership with the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters, is seeking applications for the new 2017–2018 Poet Laureate of Wisconsin.

Beginning August 15, 2016, applications are welcome from individual poets who are seeking the position. Applications may also be submitted by a person who is nominating a poet for the position of Wisconsin Poet Laureate. A complete application package must be sent to the Wisconsin Poet Laureate Commission at wipoetlaureate@gmail.com no later than October 14, 2016, for consideration. Application instructions are available on the Wisconsin Poet Laureate Commission website.
The Wisconsin Poet Laureate is the state’s leading poetic voice and an ambassador for poetry, encouraging the reading and writing of poetry across the state. The Poet Laureate engages a variety of Wisconsin constituencies, enriching the lives of residents by sharing and promoting poetry through conversation, readings, public appearances, workshops and digital and social media.
The Poet Laureate’s term of service is two years. The next term begins on January 1, 2017 and ends on December 31, 2018. The Poet Laureate is awarded a $2,500 stipend per year. Poets Laureate often see sales of their published works increase, and can also earn significant stipends for appearances.
The current Wisconsin Poet Laureate is Kimberly Blaeser. During her term, Blaeser has connected with thousands of Wisconsinites through public appearances and media events. As Wisconsin Poet Laureate, Blaeser also spearheaded a Poetry Recitation Project that features videos submitted by poetry fans—of all ages, from across the state—reciting a favorite poem. After review by the Poet Laureate Commission, videos are posted as “pins” to a map of Wisconsin. More information on the Poetry Recitation Project can be found here.
William Stobb, Chair of the Wisconsin Poet Laureate Commission, says that “Blaeser has been a great ambassador for the value of poetry and creativity. She works so well with audiences of all ages, and people really respond to her work.”  He adds, “We’re very proud of the success of our state laureate program, and of Kim’s work as our torch-bearer.”
The Poet Laureate is expected to contribute to the growth of poetry across Wisconsin, plan and attend statewide literary events and educational programs, visit each region of the state at least once during the two-year term, promote poetry and the Poet Laureate position via electronic social media, and participate in selecting the succeeding Poet Laureate and guide the transition into the role.
The Wisconsin Poet Laureate Commission embraces the diversity of human experience and identity. All applications are welcome, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, cultural heritage, socio-economic background, or physical ability.
About the Wisconsin Poet Laureate Commission
In May of 2011 the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters announced their stewardship of the Wisconsin Poet Laureate program, created by Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson in Executive Order 404 on July 31, 2000. The Wisconsin Poet Laureate Commission has as its purpose to conduct the Wisconsin Poet Laureate selection process, assign responsibilities to the selected Poet Laureate, and assist that individual in performing official duties. Members of the Commission include representatives from the Wisconsin Center for the Book, the Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets, the Wisconsin Humanities Council, the Wisconsin Arts Board, and the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters, as well as several at-large members.
For more information, visit wisconsinpoetlaureate.org.

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Poets Panel Part of Academy’s “Writing Wisconsin’s Future”

The Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters has issued this news release:

The stories and poems of Wisconsin writers shape our understanding of our natural areas and communities alike. But how can poetry and fiction change the ways in which we consider the future of our state? Wisconsin Poet Laureate Kimberly Blaeser leads a panel of poets from across the state in a discussion about how writers relate to their own communities, how writers feel about their stewardship over nearby places and people, and how creative writing can engage a community in ways the political process often fails to do.
Our featured panelists reflect a diversity of geography and experience:
  • Kimberly Blaeser — poet, scholar, and current Wisconsin Poet Laureate
  • Fabu — poet, community organizer, and former Madison Poet Laureate
  • Dion Kempthorne — poet, scholar, and dean emeritus of UW–Richland Center
  • Timothy Yu — poet and UW-Madison associate professor of English and Asian American studies
Writing Wisconsin’s Communities
Tuesday, May 3, from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm
Wisconsin Studio • Overture Center for the Arts
201 State Street • Madison
This spring, the Wisconsin Academy is looking at our state through the lens of writing. Under the theme “Writing Wisconsin’s Future,” we are hosting a series of talks and articles in Wisconsin People & Ideas by and about poets, fiction writers, scholars, administrators, and journalists whose writing can help us imagine a brighter future for Wisconsin.
Free with advance registration, this Academy Talk is brought to you by the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters. If you have any questions about the talk or registration, please contact Aaron Fai at 608-263-1692 ext. 14.

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Wisconsin Poets in Anthology

CWW board member and former Wisconsin poet laureate  Marilyn Taylor’s poem “Subject to Change” is among the works in the new anthology, Villanelles, being published by Random’s House’s “Everyman’s Library.”

Fellow Wisconsin writer and Ripon College Asst. Professor of English Kate Sontag’s work is also represented in the collection.

“Everyman’s Library” website blurb about the book (http://www.randomhouse.com/knopf/classics/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780307957863) says it’s, “The first of its kind–a comprehensive collection of the best of the villanelle, a delightful poetic form whose popularity ranks only behind that of the sonnet and the haiku.

And what is a villanelle? I had to look it up. Briefly, according to one online definition I read, it’s a 19-line poem with two repeating rhymes and two refrains.

Congratulations to Marilyn and Kate!