#37 — Here and Now

COMPOSED BY SOPHIE MATHIEU & PREMIERED BY BAROQUE CELLIST MADELEINE BOUISSOU, INSPIRED BY MARTHA TALBURT’S “HERE AND NOW”

“I had a stroke in late 2018 – which I now call my “Stroke of Good Fortune” because it got me off a very busy schedule of teaching, painting, writing, and, in general, riding a runaway train. I loved the busy-ness, was immersed in it, but my body (and the universe) told me it was time to rest. DON’T JUST DO SOMETHING, SIT THERE became my mantra and today my recovery has been almost complete – with few impediments. I’m fully retired, with occasional private students. My life is small and wonder-full. I have been an artist and a poet for most of my adult life – but it’s taken me years to dare call myself such. The stroke, the work to recover, the gift of time - on top of which has come a year of sheltering in with the pandemic - has been illuminating and precious for me. HERE & NOW, like most of my poetry, burbled up as I was not “just doing something.” I pay attention to the burbling, craft the words, and the poem emerges. I love this quote from Mary Oliver – Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it. This is what I am trying to do in HERE AND NOW – and in all of my poetry.”

—Martha Talburt

EXTENDED CONVERSATION

Join us for an extended conversation with Sophie Mathieu, Madeleine Bouissou and Martha Talburt regarding their virtual collaboration for the "Stay-at-Home Symposium." Moderated by Musaics of the Bay Artistic Director Audrey Vardanega, Sophie Mathieu, Madeleine Bouissou and Martha Talburt discuss their artistic backgrounds and their collaborative process.