Juddville, Wis. (September 8, 2022) – Write On, Door County will host their fall gala Thursday, Sept. 29 on the grounds of the Writing Center, celebrating where words meet nature and old friends unite with new. Tickets are $125 through Sept. 13, when fees increase to $150. Get yours before they’re sold out!
The evening borrows the title of keynote speaker Carrie Fountain’s newly released children’s book, The Poem Forest, for the theme. The book tells the tale of the former U.S. Poet Laureate W. S. Merwin who spent 40 years planting the world’s most comprehensive palm tree forest on a blighted piece of land in Hawaii – and then gave it all away.
While The Poem Forest is Fountain’s first children’s book, she was the 2019 Texas Poet Laureate and has published three books of poetry. Her work has appeared in Poetry Magazine, American Poetry Review, and The New Yorker, and she hosts “This Is Just to Say,” a radio show and podcast where she has intimate conversations on the writing life with other poets and writers.
“Writing gives voice to the voiceless things around us, and the environment is one of those things,” Fountain said in a recent interview leading up to the gala. In addition to hearing Fountain speak and read, attendees will be treated to a cocktail hour and lively conversation, a meal by Thyme Catering, and dessert donated by Fresh Personal Chefs.
Highlights of the evening on the beautiful grounds of the Writing Center include:
- Silent auction of “Forestscape” painting by Ginnie Cappaert used in promotional materials for the gala
- Recognition of the Volunteer of the Year
- Celebration of “Witalison Woods,” a 20-acre addition to the Write On campus
- Keynote address by Carrie Fountain, 2019 Texas Poet Laureate and author of young adult and children’s books
A slew of collaborative events will happen leading up to the event to extend the inspiration beyond one evening. The Friends of Gibraltar are bringing Fountain to Gibraltar Schools for school assemblies and have organized a half-day field trip to bring Gibraltar fifth graders to explore the woods and trails at the Writing Center with Sheryl Honig, environmental educator at The Ridges. Then they will create a book about those experiences with local author Ann Heyse.
The Door County Climate Coalition is hosting “Talking about Climate Change Effectively with Media and the Public” with Dominique Brossard, Ph.D., at the Kress Pavillion on Sept. 13th at 7pm. Brossard will address the need for clear, easy-to-understand communication to promote action about climate change. Gala attendees will also be able to take home a tree of their own donated by the Door County Climate Coalition.
Al Johnson’s Swedish Restaurant and Butik is the presenting sponsor of the 2022 fall gala. Their generous donation has allowed for the early bird deadline for attendees to be extended to September 13th. Ticket prices will remain $125 until then, when they increase to $150. Tickets are available online at writeondoorcounty.org.
Located in Juddville, Write On is home to a writer’s residence, the Writing Center, Norb Blei’s writing coop, and a network of trails where visitors can find solitude and inspiration. Additional sponsorship opportunities are still available for the gala by contacting Allison Vroman (allison.vroman@gmail.com or 906-362-3017).
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