We live our lives in a trance, constantly spinning, focused on our never-ending list of chores. More and more, I’ve been forcing myself to stop and take notice.
As we spin, spin, spin toward our special show the 2017 AWP Conference & Bookfair in Washington, D.C., thank goodness we took a moment to reach out to artist Letisia Cruz — who along with storyteller Heather Lang is one-half of the power duo behind Petite Hound Press — and request she create original artwork inspired by our upcoming theme “Deleted Scenes.”
You can’t help but stop and take notice of the result.
Read more about Letisia’s inspiration for this pause-worthy piece:
I’ve been thinking a lot about being present. Sometimes I drive to work and have no recollection of how I arrived. Or I drive home, park my car and walk into the kitchen before realizing I meant to stop at the grocery store. Sometimes I wake up startled in the middle of the night and ask myself: where am I? We live our lives in a trance, constantly spinning, focused on our never-ending list of chores. More and more, I’ve been forcing myself to stop and take notice. To breathe. To admire the chaos that is day-to-day life and not allow the constant parade of thoughts that the restless mind serves up to keep me from finding peace in the present moment. More and more I’ve been tearing up my to-do list, turning off my phone, and focusing on the here and now. There is beauty in the world, overwhelming, awe-inspiring beauty, and we must force ourselves to be present in order to fully appreciate it.
For more fantastic work from Letisia Cruz check out Petite Hound Press – a miniature press based out of Las Vegas and Miami run by two tattooed, poetry-writing, art-loving ladies. Visit petitehoundpress.com.
Going to #AWP17? Join us on Thursday, 2/9 at 12 noon (Marquis Salon 9 & 10, Marriott Marquis, Meeting Level Two) to hear switched-up stories inspired by the theme “Deleted Scenes” from Mike Dressel, Minna Proctor, Jessie Vail Aufiery, and Heather Lang. Hosted by Kelly Jean Fitzsimmons.
