Eco-Surrealism, Silvina Ocampo, and Earth Day with Poet Julie Howd

In this episode, we had the pleasure of talking again with poet, Julie Howd. 

Julie defines her term "Eco-Surrealism" in this episode, and we discuss the intersection of avant-garde poetry and the ever-pressing fight for the health of our planet. 

In this context, we discuss the work of Argentinian poet, Silvina Ocampo, specifically her selected poems published by NYRB.

Julie's Eco-Surrealist Recommended Reading List:

Whale and Vapor by Kim Kyung Ju

The Collected Poems of Chika Sagawa

Whale in the Woods by Blueberry Elizabeth Morningsnow

Sea Summit by Yi Lu

Ill Nature: Rants and Reflections on Humanity and Other Animals by Joy Williams

Beasts of Burden by Sanaura Taylor

Aphro-ism: Essays on Pop Culture, Feminism and Black Veganism from Two Sisters by Aph Ko and Syl Ko

The Random House Book of Twentieth Century French Poetry edited by Paul Auster  

Quantum weirdness and surrealism Ball, P. Quantum weirdness and surrealism. Nature 453, 983–984 (2008)

 

Book, Film and Exhibit References in this Episode:

 

Las Dîners de Gala by Salvador Dalí

The Doors of Perception by Aldous Huxley 

How to Change Your Mind by Michael Pollan

Exhibit: "Garden City Mega City"

Film: Queen of Diamonds by Nina Menkes

 

Ways to Get Involved for Earth Day

In Austin: 

• Check out Austin's Zero Waste Resource Recovery Program
• The Trail Foundation - Weekly Volunteer Opportunities: Ecological Restoration and Trash Clean-up

• Join the Citizens’ Climate Lobby Austin Chapter to build relationships with elected officials, the media and your local community

• Donate to the Austin Bat Refuge to help conserve the Austin bat population, vital to our local ecosystem
• Volunteer or Donate to Austin Wildlife Refuge (You can also support them by buying merch from their online store!)
• Volunteer or Intern with Environment Texas to protect Texas natural areas from development, to improve enforcement of our clean air laws, and to bring more wind and solar energy to Texas
•  

Nationally:

• Donate to the Rainforest Foundation or check out their list of 10 Things You Can Do to Save the Rainforest
• Donate to the National Park Foundation
• Donate to World Animal Protection
• Donate to 350.org to stand up to the fossil fuel industry to stop all new coal, oil and gas projects and build a clean energy future for all
• Join the Good Food Institute community or Donate to their cause to accelerate alternative protein innovation
• Check out the Coral Restoration Foundation and all the amazing ways to get involved, including hands-on Dive Programs 
• Donate or Volunteer with Sea Shepherd Global to help conserve and protect our oceans **Julie's disclaimer: "These guys might be pirates" 

 

Julie Howd is a poet and educator from Massachusetts. She is the author of Threshold (Host Publications, 2020), winner of the Host Publications Chapbook prize, and Talking from the Knees Up (dancing girl press, 2018). She holds an MFA from the University of Texas, Austin, and has received fellowships from the Juniper Summer Writing Institute and the James A. Michener Center. Her work can be found in Sixth Finch, The Spectacle, Deluge, and elsewhere. She lives in Amherst, MA.