Reception Honoring Poet Laureate Gwynn O'Gara

Join previous Poets Laureate Terry Ehret, Mike Tuggle and Geri Digiorno at a reception to honor Gwynn O'Gara as she nears the end of her term as Sonoma County Poet Laureate. The event will be hosted by Sebastopol Center for the Arts, 6780 Depot Street on Saturday, November 19, at 7pm. A donation at the door is requested.

Consistent with tradition, the Sonoma County Poet Laureate does not have a formal job description but devotes an intense two-year term traveling throughout the county promoting poetry and the literary arts. Because there is no stipend or compensation for this position, proceeds from this event will help to reimburse Gwynn for expenses incurred during her term.

Nominations Open for Sonoma County's Seventh Poet Laureate now closed.

The Poet Laureate is a resident of Sonoma County, whose poetry manifests a high degree of excellence, who has produced a critically acclaimed body of work, and who has demonstrated a commitment to the literary arts in Sonoma County. If chosen, the Poet Laureate must agree to participate from time to time in the official ceremonies and poetry readings of Sonoma County.

The Selection Committee is composed of representatives from each of the five County Supervisory Districts, and from Sonoma State University, Santa Rosa Junior College,  Sebastopol Center for the Arts, the Arts Council Sonoma County and the previous poets laureate. Each member of this panel has demonstrated a profound knowledge of and an active commitment to, the life of poetry in our county.

The new Poet Laureate will be announced in December.

Consistent with tradition, the Sonoma County Poet Laureate will not have a formal job description but will be encouraged to develop an agenda promoting poetry and the literary arts in Sonoma County. Organizers of various community events in Sonoma County may invite the poet laureate to participate in their events. There is no stipend or compensation for this position.

 

 

Gwynn O'Gara, Sonoma County Poet Laureate for 2010-2011.

Gwynn is a lifetime poet, and has been a teacher for California Poets in the Schools since 1989. She is the author of three chapbooks of poetry, Winter at Green Haven, Word Temple Press 2008, Fixer Upper, dPress 2007, and Snake Woman Poems, Beatitude Press, 1983 as well as co-author of Fruit of Life, Poems of Passion and Politics, dPress 2006. Currently she is completing a full length poetry collection titled, House of the World. Gwynn O'Gara is also known as a writing teacher, most recently at the popular series, The Writer's Sampler sponsored by Sebastopol Center for the Arts, and The Sitting Room in Cotati. The Poet Laureate Selection Committee chooses the Poet Laureate based on the nominees’ work, their demonstrated efforts in the community in the literary arts, and on statements from the nominees about the role of the Poet Laureate. The committee includes representatives from each of the five supervisorial districts, Sonoma State University, Santa Rosa Junior College, the Sonoma County Library, Sebastopol Center for the Arts and the previous Poets Laureate.

Previous Poets Laureate:

Don Emblen,  2000-2001

David Bromige,  2002-2003

Terry Ehret,  2004 - 2005

Geri Digiorno, 2006-2007

Mike Tuggle,  2008-2009

Gwynn O'Gara, 2010 - 2011