THOM CARAWAY – Poet –
Bio:I write poems about where I am. The West Central neighborhood in Spokane is where I have been since 2008, and where I will probably always be. I teach creative writing, editing, and book design classes at Whitworth University. I also serve on the board of directors for Project Hope Spokane, an urban farm job-training program for West Central and Emerson-Garfield youth. In October 2013, I was appointed Spokane’s first Poet Laureate. So I do that. I also serve as editor-in-chief of Rock & Sling, a literary journal, and I’m the publisher of Sage Hill Press.
Talk to us a bit about community, about yourself as an artist, and about PorchFest, please…
I love things going on in West Central, especially things that encourage community with Kendall Yards. I’m in favor of anything that gets people out of their houses and walking around the entire neighborhood. I’d love it if people stopped thinking about them as two separate neighborhoods.
Every day! (I live in West Central.) I’m kind of an evangelist for West Central. I want everyone to live here. It’s too much for some people, but if you want to make a place better, you can do that here, sometimes just by moving in.
Community. Hm. A group of people who share something in common, in this case, proximity. And based on that shared experience, a community cooperates, and fosters an environment in which all of the members of the community can benefit and flourish.
We live on Bridge, across the street from all the new construction. We’ve hosted a summer block party the last three years to get people from both sides of the street in conversation with each other and sharing meals. Sharing a table is a big community-builder for us, and we have a regular community dinner (Thursday nights at 6; come over!). I’d love to see regular art events in West Central, and we have some great venues, with more on the way. It’s the kind of neighborhood you can just move into and if you want to do something, people will help you do it.
I’m going to read some of my West Central poems. I hope people like them.
Poetry and music on people’s porches? Why wouldn’t you come to that? It’s the end of summer, a perfect time to get to know some people and hang out in cool places.
thomcaraway.com
