notes on memory

 

taking notes on memory.

how does the brain work?

spring forward

experiments from missoula. 

experiments

as mentioned, I'm experimenting with maps & images & thinking on ways to incorporate them into the structure of my graduate thesis memoir... I did some interesting things with illustrator this evening, this basic digital collage being one of them:

The US Geological Survey awesomely allows you to download some of their incredible collection of cartography. This particular map is an 1897 rendition of Portland, which I combined with a digital scan of my hands. I was testing out opacity levels, & overlay techniques (I'm still very much an illustrator novice). 

I was able to build a few more interesting pieces, but I think I'll keep those to myself for now... best to retain some mystery. 

geography

found this interesting & brightly coloured map of the scablands caused by the Missoula Floods... part of my research surrounding my graduate thesis. I think it's quite beautiful.

I'm also fairly stoked to have discovered that the US Geological Survey allows you to view &/or order historical maps online. I'm currently working out how to use cartography within my project, & how to expand/juxtapose the uses of image & text in my work. 

Since the text of a memoir is a map in another (more esoteric) way, I'm curious how I can add physical maps, & physical landscapes to a text largely about the interior landscape. As I mentioned in my blurb, the missoula project is about shaping. Shaping of children into adulthood & shaping of geography by catastrophe. I'm wondering how cartography can play a role in the shaping of the project. 

Experiments to follow I'm sure. I've already tried a few things with anatomical drawings... another increased interest of mine is the idea of the physical body as receptacle of language. & really, anatomical drawings are merely maps of another kind.  

missoula

 Currently in the wilds of snowy Vermont, I'm enjoying my second graduate school residency so far. Today I was in a workshop about writing a blurb for your book, & this is what I came up with.....

Through expanding the intersection of science and emotion, missoula traces the ice-age floods responsible for the geography of the Pacific Northwest, and outlines a woman’s struggle with identity after an abusive childhood. Juxtaposing the findings of J Harlen Bretz—the rebel geologist whose 1928 explorations led to the development of a catastrophic flood theory—with stunning moments of sparse imagistic poetry missoula asks how fathers can shape their daughters in the same way these catastrophic natural disasters once carved the physical landscape. 

floods/fathers

special sneak peak audio of a piece I'm working on for my graduate thesis, missoula.

floods/fathers from Natalie Raymond on Vimeo.

back in bk after the wilderness

I've returned successfully to brooklyn after living a week in the wilds of vermont. Honestly, I wish I was still there on many levels... someone to cook for me, clean, only talking about poetry & writing, & art. Spending time with good & interesting people. No real job. Just reading & reading & reading.

Now I have to return to the "real" world. Work on monday, & I have to sink into this system of working in packets to send to my advisor every few weeks. This is going to be the hard part... remembering I'm in school. (Even though I'm sure it will be over before I know it, & I'll have an MFA & I'll be trying to do something with that).

I started the missoula. project while I was away. one single glistening poem composed in half an hour & workshopped the next day. I see the roots, & I think this is going to work out, make itself.

photos:

puddle jumper.

walk to the dorms.

campus & the haunted martin manor.

fire.

the long walk to the library.

outside.

campus & the clockhouse.