Ghost Town Poetry Open Mic Featuring Joshua Bauscher at Art At The Cave on December 14, 2023

November 18, 2023

Ghost Town Poetry Open Mic

Featuring Joshua Bauscher

Hosted by Christopher Luna and Morgan Paige

7 pm

Thursday, December 14

Art at the Cave

108 E Evergreen Blvd

Vancouver, WA 98660

https://artatthecave.com

LGBTQ+ FRIENDLY, PRO-SCIENCE, ANTI-FASCIST, PRO-CHOICE,

ALL AGES, AND UNCENSORED SINCE 2004

$5 Suggested donation

No one will be turned away for lack of funds

Donations can be made in person or through Christopher Luna’s PayPal account (christopherjluna@gmail.com). Include a memo stating that the money is for Ghost Town Poetry. The suggested donation is five dollars.

Joshua Bauscher is a poet, photographer, adventurer, digital artist, herbalist, wizard, lyricist, and organizer. He is also the author of four self-published poetry collections, former coach of the SUNY Geneseo Slam Poetry Team, and a Nitty Gritty Slam, Albany Regional Poetry Slam, and Slamlandia Champion. Joshua is on a self-appointed quest to release all fear and limiting beliefs, to come into alignment with Love and higher self, and to help humanity rise to our full and unhindered potential.

The Ghost Town Poetry community respectfully encourages you to support Niche Wine Bar, whose owner, Leah Jackson, provided a home for the reading series from 2015-2020. Stop by their new location at 900 Washington, Suite 130 Vancouver, WA 98660: https://nichewinebar.com. UPDATED Statement on Healthy Spaces from Art at the Cave: We want to provide a healthy space to enjoy art. We have been practicing safety precautions such as regular cleaning, social distancing and mask wearing. As a result of the removal of the mask mandate effective March 12, 2022, we will no longer require the wearing of masks. We encourage you to continue to wear a mask if it makes you feel more comfortable, and we will supply masks and hand sanitizer at the door. As social distancing has become a norm, please be mindful some will still need a bit of personal space while inside the gallery.

“Cement-Crack Sunflower” by Joann Renee Boswell collage broadside by Christopher Luna

November 8, 2023

Thank you to Joann Boswell for allowing me to create a broadside of her poem “Cement-Crack Sunflower,” which she presented at Ghost Town Poetry Open Mic on October 12, 2023. To learn more about Joann’s poetry and photography, or to order her books, visit https://joannrenee.com/.

Ghost Town Poetry Open Mic Featuring Marc Janssen at Art At The Cave on November 9, 2023

October 28, 2023

Ghost Town Poetry Open Mic

Featuring Marc Janssen

Hosted by Christopher Luna and Morgan Paige

7 pm

Thursday, November 9

Art at the Cave

108 E Evergreen Blvd

Vancouver, WA 98660

https://artatthecave.com

LGBTQ+ FRIENDLY, PRO-SCIENCE, ANTI-FASCIST, PRO-CHOICE,

ALL AGES, AND UNCENSORED SINCE 2004

$5 Suggested donation

No one will be turned away for lack of funds

Donations can be made in person or through Christopher Luna’s PayPal account (christopherjluna@gmail.com). Include a memo stating that the money is for Ghost Town Poetry. The suggested donation is five dollars.

Marc Janssen has been writing poems since around 1980. Some people would say that was a long time but not a dinosaur. Early decrepitude has not slowed him down much; his verse can be found scattered around the world in places like Pinyon, Slant, Cirque Journal, Off the Coast, and Poetry Salzburg as well as in his book November Reconsidered. Janssen coordinates the weekly Salem Poetry Project reading, the Salem Poetry Festival, and was a nominee for Oregon Poet Laureate. For more information visit marcjanssenpoet.com.

The Ghost Town Poetry community respectfully encourages you to support Niche Wine Bar, whose owner, Leah Jackson, provided a home for the reading series from 2015-2020. Stop by their new location at 900 Washington, Suite 130 Vancouver, WA 98660: https://nichewinebar.com.

UPDATED Statement on Healthy Spaces from Art at the Cave: We want to provide a healthy space to enjoy art. We have been practicing safety precautions such as regular cleaning, social distancing and mask wearing. As a result of the removal of the mask mandate effective March 12, 2022, we will no longer require the wearing of masks. We encourage you to continue to wear a mask if it makes you feel more comfortable, and we will supply masks and hand sanitizer at the door. As social distancing has become a norm, please be mindful some will still need a bit of personal space while inside the gallery.

Ghost Town Poetry Open Mic Featuring Greg Bee at Art At The Cave October 12, 2023

September 20, 2023

Ghost Town Poetry Open Mic

Featuring Greg Bee

Hosted by Christopher Luna and Morgan Paige

7 pm

Thursday, October 12

Art at the Cave

108 E Evergreen Blvd

Vancouver, WA 98660

https://artatthecave.com

LGBTQ+ FRIENDLY, PRO-SCIENCE, ANTI-FASCIST, PRO-CHOICE,

ALL AGES, AND UNCENSORED SINCE 2004

$5 Suggested donation

Donations can be made in person or through Christopher Luna’s PayPal account (christopherjluna@gmail.com). Include a memo stating that the money is for Ghost Town Poetry. The suggested donation is five dollars.

Greg Bee is magic, art and kindness. Their books include the poetry chapbooks My Favorite Poems to Scream Onstage and Being Gender-Fluid Confuses Me More Than It Confuses You. They use the medium of love to help people connect. The words they speak on stage are a vehicle for this journey. Enjoy the ride! Learn more at http://www.gregbeepoetry.com/

The Ghost Town Poetry community respectfully encourages you to support Niche Wine Bar, whose owner, Leah Jackson, provided a home for the reading series from 2015-2020. Stop by their new location at 900 Washington, Suite 130 Vancouver, WA 98660: https://nichewinebar.com.

UPDATED Statement on Healthy Spaces from Art at the Cave: We want to provide a healthy space to enjoy art. We have been practicing safety precautions such as regular cleaning, social distancing and mask wearing. As a result of the removal of the mask mandate effective March 12, 2022, we will no longer require the wearing of masks. We encourage you to continue to wear a mask if it makes you feel more comfortable, and we will supply masks and hand sanitizer at the door. As social distancing has become a norm, please be mindful some will still need a bit of personal space while inside the gallery.

Ghost Town Poetry Open Mic Featuring Tommy Gaffney at Art At The Cave on September 14, 2023

August 28, 2023

Ghost Town Poetry Open Mic
Featuring Tommy Gaffney
Hosted by Christopher Luna and Morgan Paige

7 pm
Thursday, September 14

Art at the Cave
108 E Evergreen Blvd
Vancouver, WA 98660
https://artatthecave.com

LGBTQ+ FRIENDLY, PRO-SCIENCE, ANTI-FASCIST, PRO-CHOICE,
ALL AGES, AND UNCENSORED SINCE 2004
$5 Suggested donation

Donations can be made in person or through Christopher Luna’s PayPal account (christopherjluna@gmail.com). Include a memo stating that the money is for Ghost Town Poetry. The suggested donation is five dollars.

Tommy Gaffney was born and raised in Kentucky, somewhere between the trailer park and the projects. He is the author of two books of poetry: Three Beers from Oblivion (2006) and Whiskey Days (2010), which was nominated for the Oregon Book Award for Poetry. His favorite colors are John Deere Green and Joey Ramone Black.

The Ghost Town Poetry community respectfully encourages you to support Niche Wine Bar, whose owner, Leah Jackson, provided a home for the reading series from 2015-2020. Stop by their new location at 900 Washington, Suite 130 Vancouver, WA 98660: https://nichewinebar.com.

UPDATED Statement on Healthy Spaces from Art at the Cave: We want to provide a healthy space to enjoy art. We have been practicing safety precautions such as regular cleaning, social distancing and mask wearing. As a result of the removal of the mask mandate effective March 12, 2022, we will no longer require the wearing of masks. We encourage you to continue to wear a mask if it makes you feel more comfortable, and we will supply masks and hand sanitizer at the door. As social distancing has become a norm, please be mindful some will still need a bit of personal space while inside the gallery.

Photos from Summer Fest Open Mic at the Howard House Featuring DC Klein and Joann Renee Boswell

August 6, 2023
Toni Lumbrazo Luna, DC Klein, Christopher Luna, and Joann Renee Boswell by Denise Campbell

Many thanks to everyone who attended the open mic at The Howard House on July 30 sponsored by The Historic Trust and hosted by Printed Matter Vancouver co-founders Christopher Luna and Toni Lumbrazo Luna. The open mic included dynamic readings by Lucas Gubala, Drew Morse, Papasquatch, Denise Campbell, Christopher Diaz, and two of Joann’s children. We were also joined by members of the Southwest Washington Watercolor Society, who worked on their paintings while listening. Christopher and Toni would like to thank Mindy Wilkins and Temple Lentz of The Historic Trust for inviting us to participate in this fun, family-friendly afternoon of poetry in the sun.

Photos by Christopher Luna and Madilynn Klein.

Toni Lumbrazo Luna introduces one of the open mic readers.
Joann Renee Boswell reads from breath so hungry (The Poetry Box, 2022)
Joann Renee Boswell reads from Cosmic Pockets (Barclay Press, 2020)
Christopher Luna by Madilynn Klein
DC Klein’s tribute to Christopher Luna and his poetry workshops.
Christopher Luna proudly displays DC’s tribute poem.
Christopher Luna reacts to hearing DC’s tribute.

Summer Fest Open Mic Poetry Featuring DC Klein and Joann Renee Boswell at The Howard House on July 30

July 24, 2023

Open Mic Poetry Reading

Featuring Clark County Authors Joann Renee Boswell and DC Klein

Hosted by Christopher Luna and Toni Lumbrazo Luna

1-3pm

July 30, 2023

General O.O. Howard House

750 Anderson St

Vancouver, WA 98661

The Historic Trust and Printed Matter Vancouver co-founders Christopher Luna and Toni Lumbrazo Luna present an afternoon of family-friendly open mic poetry on the patio at The Howard House in Vancouver, WA. Everyone in the community is invited to share a poem or just listen. We are also proud to present featured readings by two Clark County poets, Joann Renee Boswell and D.C. Klein. Bring a picnic, blanket, or folding chair.

Joann Renee Boswell is a poet, photographer, teacher, director, mystic, mother who lives in Camas, WA with her husband (a Quaker minister) and her three young children. Joann’s first book, Cosmic Pockets (Fernwood Press, 2020), is a full-length collection of poetry and photography. Her chapbook, breath so hungry (The Poetry Box, 2022), is a love letter. Her second full-length collection is a coloring poetry book in collaboration with two illustrators called Meta-Verse! (Fernwood Press, 2023). Joann has been a poetry editor for Untold Volumes and VoiceCatcher. She has been published in CIRQUE, otoliths, VoiceCatcher, Tiny Seed Literary Journal, Not a Pipe Publishing, and Soul Forte. You can read more at joannrenee.com.

DC Klein is a poet looking out a window. He has been published in Residual Believers and Body Fluids, among others. His first chapbook Half a Martyr, was self-published in 2021.

Printed Matter Vancouver is a small press focused on Southwest Washington poets founded by Christopher Luna and Toni Lumbrazo Luna in 2011. To learn more about their publications, Ghost Town Poetry Open Mic, workshops, editing, or coaching, visit printedmattervancouver.com.

Ghost Town Poetry Open Mic Featuring Julia Gaskill at Art at the Cave on August 10, 2023

July 19, 2023

Ghost Town Poetry Open Mic

Featuring Julia Gaskill

Hosted by Christopher Luna and Morgan Paige

7 pm

Thursday, August 10

Art at the Cave

108 E Evergreen Blvd

Vancouver, WA 98660

https://artatthecave.com

LGBTQ+ FRIENDLY, PRO-SCIENCE, ANTI-FASCIST, PRO-CHOICE,

ALL AGES, AND UNCENSORED SINCE 2004

$5 Suggested donation

Donations can be made in person or through Christopher Luna’s PayPal account (christopherjluna@gmail.com). Include a memo stating that the money is for Ghost Town Poetry. The suggested donation is five dollars.

Julia Gaskill (she/her) is a professional daydreamer hailing from Portland, Oregon. She’s competed multiple times on national stages and toured with her poetry across North America. Julia’s work has been featured through Pile Press, Vagabond City Lit, Nailed Magazine, Button Poetry, and more. Her debut full length collection, weirdo, was published by Game Over Books in October 2022. She was included in the anthologies In Absentia (Bicycle Comics) and Excelsior! (FreezeRay Poetry), and will be included in great weather for MEDIA’s forthcoming 2023 anthology. Julia is also the author of four chapbooks, runs the poetry mic Slamlandia, co-founded the Bigfoot Poetry Festival, and is the creator of the spoken word album, Stouthearted Bitch.  Find Julia at @geekgirlgrownup or juliagaskill.com.

The Ghost Town Poetry community respectfully encourages you to support Niche Wine Bar, whose owner, Leah Jackson, provided a home for the reading series from 2015-2020. Stop by their new location at 900 Washington, Suite 130 Vancouver, WA 98660: https://nichewinebar.com.

UPDATED Statement on Healthy Spaces from Art at the Cave: We want to provide a healthy space to enjoy art. We have been practicing safety precautions such as regular cleaning, social distancing and mask wearing. As a result of the removal of the mask mandate effective March 12, 2022, we will no longer require the wearing of masks. We encourage you to continue to wear a mask if it makes you feel more comfortable, and we will supply masks and hand sanitizer at the door. As social distancing has become a norm, please be mindful some will still need a bit of personal space while inside the gallery.

Ghost Town Poetry Open Mic Featuring Josh Gaines at Art At The Cave July 13, 2023

June 17, 2023

Ghost Town Poetry Open Mic

Featuring Josh Gaines

Hosted by Christopher Luna and Morgan Paige

7 pm

Thursday, July 13

Art at the Cave

108 E Evergreen Blvd

Vancouver, WA 98660

https://artatthecave.com

LGBTQ+ FRIENDLY, PRO-SCIENCE, ANTI-FASCIST, PRO-CHOICE,

ALL AGES, AND UNCENSORED SINCE 2004

$5 Suggested donation

Donations can be made in person or through Christopher Luna’s PayPal account (christopherjluna@gmail.com). Include a memo stating that the money is for Ghost Town Poetry. The suggested donation is five dollars.

Josh Gaines ditched a promising military career to write books, run a profitless press, and build blanket forts with his daughter. He earned his writing MFA from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. His poetry and short fiction appears in numerous anthologies and journals, as well as in his own books of poetry and flash fiction: Cigarette Sonatas and little bones from Thoughtcrime Press (https://thoughtcrimepress.com/). His latest chapbook is Day of the New Windows.

The Ghost Town Poetry community respectfully encourages you to support Niche Wine Bar, whose owner, Leah Jackson, provided a home for the reading series from 2015-2020. Stop by their new location at 900 Washington, Suite 130 Vancouver, WA 98660: https://nichewinebar.com.

UPDATED Statement on Healthy Spaces from Art at the Cave: We want to provide a healthy space to enjoy art. We have been practicing safety precautions such as regular cleaning, social distancing and mask wearing. As a result of the removal of the mask mandate effective March 12, 2022, we will no longer require the wearing of masks. We encourage you to continue to wear a mask if it makes you feel more comfortable, and we will supply masks and hand sanitizer at the door. As social distancing has become a norm, please be mindful some will still need a bit of personal space while inside the gallery.

Pictures from a magical evening at Ghost Town Poetry Open Mic with Joann Renee Boswell May 11, 2023

May 27, 2023

Our thanks to Joann Renee Boswell for her warm, thought-provoking, witty set earlier this month at Art At The Cave. According to Joann, “I had so much fun, felt so celebrated, loved the whole energy in the room. It was magic.” She even handed out colored pencils and coloring sheets featuring illustrations by Jay Williams and Joey Hartmann-Dow from Joann’s new book Meta-Verse, now available from Fernwood Press:

Meta-Verse!

Here is the blurb I wrote for Joann: In her latest collection, Joann Renee Boswell invites us to leap with her into the “multidimensional wormhole” of the metaverse, a choose-your-own-adventure coloring book version of this life in which “we are / magnificent. / complex.” A fearless, capable guide, Boswell believes in our ability to stay with her as she careens from parenting to self-love to quantum physics, from the injustices of racism, sexism, fascism, and religious hypocrisy to the liberatory mysticism of art and magic. We are even encouraged to draw on the pages without illustrations, for “there’s always space for more creative chaos.” Prepare yourself for a fun, engaging, and transformative dive into this poet’s multitudinous and ever-expanding consciousness. You’ll be glad you played along. Christopher Luna, Clark County Poet Laureate (2013-2017), author of Voracity

Joann Renee Boswell reads from Cosmic Pockets at Ghost Town Poetry Open Mic on May 11, 2023.
Brittany Braswell reads her poetry to the crowd at Art At The Cave on May 11, 2023.