ArtsLinks
This page was most recently updated Saturday, August 22, 2009.
Your connection to arts activities in Central Illinois and beyond.
ARTS LINKS HALL OF FAME
SPECIAL THANKS TO
Siobhan Pitchford Ken Sibley Pam & Jim Miller
Mark and Cheryl Pence Katherine Pauley Delinda Chapman
Corrine Frisch & Ethan Lewis Aspasia Sonia Lang
Academy of American Poets
- www.poets.org
There
are at last count 1.37 gazillion poetry websites. One of the best is this one. It has
examples of poetry and bios of many . . . American Poets.
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Remembering the Coffee Houses
--- Pictures are gone for the moment; will be reposted ASAP
In 1967, Job Conger was a folksinger who spent every Thursday, Friday and
Saturday night of his life for several months at a place called The Something Else Coffee
House at Forth at Capitol in lyrical downtown Springfield. This site contains pictures he
took one night and the stories of other coffee houses in the days when Puff the Magic
Dragon lived by the sea. Visit the site by clicking here
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The Poems of Job
Job Conger - Poetry & Songs here
This is the page to visit for ordering information for my books, links to
stories and selected poems, an unprinted essay about poetry and -- as though all
that weren't enough -- early drafts of recent poems. I will use this page as a
sounding board for poems as they leap from my pen and invite your feedback.
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Fortunes of Cookies -- Since
1991 I've kept every fortune cookie fortune I've found after eating Chinese takeout or
eat-in. At my former address, I taped each fortune to the side of my refrigerator. When I
moved to my present abode, I read each fortune aloud into a recorder and transcribed them
(all 38) onto a single sheet of paper before removing them and leaving that refrigerator
behind. On arrival here, I taped that sheet to the side of my new 'frig' and started
adding new fortunes beside it. Now that I have been given a better 'ator and am giving the
older one away, I have transcribed all the fortunes into five sheets of paper -- in
alphabetical order -- and a file posted into a new page here called Fortunes of Cookies.
You may read them here
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"H" is the
"name" of a poet, Down but not OUT. During a major SNAFU, the file was
misplaced.
When I find it, all H will break loose, once again!
originally from Scotland, who lived in Springfield, Illinois during Abe Lincoln's
time in the city. John Hallwas wrote a fascinating book about the poet which I
chronicle in my essay, A Consideration of The Poems of H. The
essay was published in PenChant, the newsletter of Poets & Writers Literary
Forum of Springfield, and is shared at a new page
here
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Illinois
Poet Laureate Kevin Stein Web Site
http://www.poetlaureate.il.gov/about.cfm
An engaging site that focuses on a talented poet and
has links to several poetry sites, a featured poet,
youth poetry, video poetry and much more. BEWARE: when you bookmark this page, don't look
for anything about poetry in the title you see in your bookmark list! All I see is
"State of Illinois Ron Blag..."
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Illinois State Poetry
Society http://www.illinoispoets.org/index.htm
Okay, I don't know a
lot about these people, but they seem to have their heads on straght, they have a decent
web site, and offer an opportunity for aspiring poets who have convinced their friends but
few others of their qualifications to serve on St. Peter's editorial board that their
crafted art will serve the ages -- and if not the ages, for the next new months, at least.
They are professional with their web correspondence, and until you hear differntly (as
friends down Texas way like to say) from me, the site and organization are worth your
consideration.
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Illinois Writers
Directory http://www.litline.org/IWD
Great site to connect with writers in Illinois. The directory is indexed by
category of writing and by name of writer. Pictures, email addresses and web sites of most
are included.
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Vachel Lindsay Pages here
The is the "portal page" I created as the home page
with links to several web pages I've created to tell you and the rest of the world about
Springfield, Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay. It shares the story with many pictures, my
favorite Lindsay poems with additional comments and information about my reciting his
poetry to audiences.
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Vachel Linday Association blog
Larry Stevens is moderating this effort, posting news regarding contemporary media
coverage of the Prairie Troubadour, historic anniversaries, how to join VLA and more. http://vachel.blogspot.com
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Literature for Sale --
To help pay for the cost of his web site, I am selling books I can live without, but
hope you can't. To view that page click here
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My Town Miscellany --
People and places dear to my soul, encountered
in the place I like to call Springfield, Illinoise. Visit my clicking here
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Poets & Writers
Literary Forum http://www.pwlf.com
Based in Springfield, Illinois, the organization publishes a newsletter distributed to
members, meets regularly to discuss fiction writing and presents poetry and theatrical
readings at various venues.
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Prairie Art Alliance
niLocated at Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth
Street in beautiful downtown Springfield, Illinois, this organization's H.D. Smith
Gallery, with its focus on major local area artists and an impressive schedule of
opening receptions, is just part of its presence in central Illinois. It also offers
a great variety of arts instruction for students of all ages, and a great place to be
welcomed to "the club" by its many members. Their newly upgraded web site is at www.prairieart.org lHIGHLY
RECOMMENDED!
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Recommended Reading -
Thanks to Janet Desaulniers for launching a new Arts Links
page by sending over a copy of her new book of short stories What You've Been Missing,
a co-winner of the 2004 John Simmons Short Fiction Award. I have read the book, and
have posted a review that will serve readers as well as the author.
Just added - a review of poet Marita Brake's new book Untamed
Hearts.
Visit Recommended Reading by clicking here
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Springfield Classical
Guitar Society
This organization of enthusiasts of all
classical music played on classical guitar, it has no dues, but is maintained by
volunteers, ann friends and fans of founder Russell Brazzel, a nationally renowned
classical guitarist himself. They bring national and world-famous guitarists to
Springfield regularly, and they welcome your attendance and support. To learn more about
this terrific organization click here
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Springfield Theatre
Center http://www.springfieldtheater.com
This outstanding organization stages
plays thoughout the year at Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth Street in lyrical
downtown Springfield. If you want to get involved with theatrical arts, this is the
organization for you.
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Honey and Quinine: Job Conger's
Blog -- http://.jobconger.wordpress.com
You care about reading this much, and if
you care to follow the story of my life, visit Honey and Quinine
To Arts Round Table home here