I have, on occasion, been called a literary activist. I have to admit I’ve never been entirely certain what that is, or whether I really deserve this moniker. In so far as I feel that art can create a space for positive change, and in so far as I’m always excited about being involved in those efforts, perhaps the label does fit me. On the other hand, I feel that polemic should remain separate from art, which has its own aesthetic, often far more subtle and complex than politics. That in itself is perhaps a kind of activism: the notion that art can open us up, allowing us to think more deeply, and see one another as utterly connected - so when someone in this world is hurt, we also are hurt.
People like Janette Hoppe and her
Papatuanuku Press provide literary activism of the best kind. The not-for-profit press exists to provide support for indigenous writers, for making silence and pain heard, and as a catalyst for healing. The press has done all sorts of powerful activities this year including Poetry Bombs, Free Art Fridays, Books on the Rails, and the Women of Words poetry happenings to name a few. I was lucky enough to participate in Women of Words, and I have to say that the five events were managed superbly, engaging a large number of local poets (boy do we have some talent in this area), and raising over $700 for the Hunter Women’s Centre and the White Ribbon Organisation, both great causes. But wait, there’s more. One of the outputs from those events was a print book called
Women of Words: eat, stray’d, love, a collection of poetry. The cost of the book is $20, with the profits split equally (and entirely) between
The Hunter Women’s Centre and the
White Ribbon Organisation. If you’re looking for a unique, ethical present for someone, this might well be it. To order a copy, just Paypal $20 to Janette Hoppe at hoponin@bigpond.net.au, or visit her
Facebook page and send a direct message if you have questions or special instructions for sending.
