Manic Frustration “If I do not write to empty my mind, I go mad.” ~Lord Byron

This past weekend, the Scranton Zine Fest went on without a hitch, as far as I know. The skies had been opening up periodically all morning, but the rains held off for the crowd to collect and peruse the eclectic mix of zines that ranged in topics from music to the Gay community to bicycling.

Though the fest was of humble size for its birth, it has the potential to grow into a much larger gathering like that of the Philadelphia Zine Fest. Even the poetry reading, which I took part in with some very talented local poets/writers (more on them in later posts), gathered a good-sized crowd in the slowly-fading Anthology bookstore.

Much has been happening over the past weeks and the outdoors have been beckoning to me. Pulling me from the walls of the claustrophobic confines of my home and into the sweet rains and summer breezes. I'm also awaiting my publication in the Boston Literary Magazine where two of my pieces will be featured in their 5-year anniversary Summer issue. There will also be more on this when it comes out.

Robin Stratton, an editor for the Boston Literary Magazine, has recently had her novel On Air released from Blue Mustang Press. There is a copy floating around in the mail system making its way to my box at this very moment. Review to come on the book as soon as I finish it.

What I'm saying is, there's much to come. If this insomnia doesn't come to an end, I'll have to do something more productive with it than tossing and turning in bed. Work has ensued on some new poems and even some short stories. I've been trying to get back into writing some prose. Things are moving slowly at the moment, but the ideas are rolling through my mind quite nicely.

Cheers.

The skies over Tunkhannock, June 12th. A very fickle weather day.

What an incredibly filled weekend. Beginning with Scranton First Friday, a bad alternator, replacing said alternator, breakfast at Sky Haven airport this morning and ending with Bluegrass fiddles and banjos at the NEPA Bluegrass Festival. I've got some writing and other, less important things to do. But first, a treat.

Chip Forelli

There is one thing that I must mention about First Friday. Chip Forelli. Some of you may already know about him. Especially those with Apple computers. Chip Forelli, a photographer who's work spans 25 years, is the featured artist at Camera Work gallery in Scranton. He produces some of the most amazing black and white photographs I've seen in a while.

My creative quest is the discovery of visual gifts - those precious instances of unrevealed beauty that  we unknowingly encounter every day.  Much is to be gained by embracing these opportunities. 

That's not your average, artistic banter either. Chip's images range from mysterious and perplexing to absolutely beautiful and breathtaking. In a medium which is becoming over-saturated with bland, cliche and overly Photoshoped work, Chip's images are a breath of fresh air. His long exposures bring an ethereal, dream-like aura into the image captured. A moment in time, seemingly captured in the stillness of the print, begins to play out right before your eyes.

Chip Forelli

Although I didn't get a chance to speak with Chip, I overheard him talking about one of the pieces on display at Camera Work. The image is a frozen, snow-covered lake. Two sets of footprints begin in the foreground together before moving apart creating separate paths to destinations unknown. When asked if he had created the prints himself, Chip commented that the scene portrayed in the photo was found that way. "Two people had a disagreement and went their separate ways," said Chip. A much more insightful and interesting answer than "I don't know".

Chip Forelli

The gallery is on display until June 29th and is free to the public. Anyone heading to the Scranton Zine Fest, where myself and a few other writer/poets will be reading, will be able to check it out.

Chip Forelli

Recently, my poem "Legs, lips, sex & jazz" was published in issue #4 of Word Fountain, a publication from the Osterhout Free Library in Wilkes-Barre, PA. It's a free, local literary journal compiled and distributed by the staff of the library. Submissions for each issue are based around a central idea. Issue #4's focus was centered on music. Though I haven't had a chance to sit down and read the issue yet, you can read the online version here. If you're interested in submitting or obtaining a copy of the issue, contact information can be found here.

In June, two more of my poems will be appearing in the Boston Literary Magazine for the 2011 Summer issue. It will appear online first and in print shortly thereafter. You can read past issues and find out more information on this great journal at BostonLiteraryMagazine.com.

Lastly, if you live anywhere near Scranton, PA, myself and a few other poets/writers will be reading at the first ever Scranton Zine Fest on June 11th. For more information on that event, see my previous post and visit ScrantonZineFest.com.

Cheers,
Dale R. Wilsey Jr.

Zines have been a staple of the DIY community, music scenes, art scenes and they've carried the voices of rebellion and free thought for decades. On June 11th, the growing art community of Scranton will converge on Center Street to celebrate this diverse, pulp-filled art form.

Zine Fest is the creation of Jessica Meoni, a fourth-year, Graphic Design student at Marywood, who has been involved with past events such as Scranton Ladyfest. Recently, she has joined the design committee of the Pages & Places Book Festival and the Scranton Reads committee.

Jessica has brought together "zinesters" from all over to participate in the event. As an added bonus, she's invited a few poets to the mix for a reading to take place in what used to be the Anthology bookstore.

The Fest is fast approaching and Saturday evening, amidst a few beers (and one delicious bowl of chili) at Jack's Draft House, I met with Jessica and the other poets who I'll be reading with the day of. Among them are Brian Fanelli, a friend and poet from the area who's chapbook Frontman contains poems which traces the journey of a liberty-spiked punk rocker, Amy Archer, who's made 80's hair poetic (it can be done), Alexis Czencz Belluzi, Rachael Goetzke and Charlotte Lewis. The reading will take place at 4 p.m. and will be hosted by Brian Fanelli.

The Fest promises to be an eclectic mix of people and ideas which Jessica has ideas of continuing as an annual event. Tables will be arranged along Center Street and will feature art work, an array of zines and arts & crafts from varying sources. Even the poets have a table (they'll be selling everything from jewelry to souls). You can check out the Zine Fest site for more information on who will be there and what the fest will entail.

For more about the poets, you can visit these sites:
The Fat Girl Skinny - Amy Archer's blog
BrianFanelli.com

...and you're already reading mine.