While many of us, worldwide and here in North Carolina, are being asked not to leave their homes unnecessarily,  people are looking for ways to nourish our human longing for connection, and sustain ourselves with beauty, hope, art, and perspective to find our way through difficult and uncertain times. 

In the coming weeks (at least while school is out here in North Carolina), I will be interviewing some friends of mine who are artists of one kind or another — poets, songwriters, visual artists, etc.   There are three primary reasons I'm doing this — 1) it's clear that we need a little extra inspiration in these strange and uncertain times;  2) a lot of professional artists, and many others in the 'gig economy', are suddenly and unexpectedly out of work, and can use some financial support (all of these videos will be free, and folks will have the opportunity to contribute to the interviewees 'tip jar' if they would like to); and 3) I want to invite and encourage folks to create their own art, as a tool for healing and resilience in a particularly stressful time.

My first guest is Laura Hope-Gill, Poet Laureate of the Blue Ridge Parkway, and founder of Asheville Wordfest and The Thomas Wolfe Center for Narrative at Lenoir-Rhyne University. Laura is an author, entrepreneur, sailor, and historian, with a particular interest in the intersection between story and health.  I hope you can join us for what promises to be a rich conversation (because it always is with Laura), and stay tuned for more conversations in the coming weeks with other artists who will nourish your spirit.

Sustaining our spirits — Laura Hope-Gill, poet