Hello to everyone. I like this blog.

I purchased two "Inanna" books: 1) "Inanna, Queen of Heaven and Earth" by Diane Wolkstein and Samuel Noah Kramer and 2) "Innana: From the Myths of Ancient Sumer" by Kim Echlin. The latter is written simply, rather like a children's poem. I read it first and I could then quickly follow the story of Inanna before I began the more erudite Wolkstein/Kramer version. I also found a wonderful sculptural piece of jewelry called "Astarte" by the Arroyo Seco artist, Claire Haye. I will wear it to our performance.When I asked myself today, "What do I think of Inanna?" another question immediately emerged as my initial response, "What would it mean to be a woman without fear? I ask this question both as an individual woman, and on behalf of all women.I have not seen Carol's poem. Would someone send a copy to me at kscordova@aol.comSamuel Noah Kramer also wrote a wonderful book that I believe is called "History Began at Sumer."

Kind thoughts to all....Karen

First-time blog to the "First"

Hi Everyone-I've been remembering of all you wonderful poets since last Fall at the Rane Gallery show and reading. I'm the potter/poet from Cedar Crest, NM. I've been wondering what the results of the survey that you sent out showed about everyone's ideas about first poems and Inana; I've been reading the Wolkenstein book. Also reading some other research about Enheduanna, first recorded woman poet of 2300BC and her poems in praise of Inana. Also read 1000 SPLENDID SUNS. What an amazing book. It is extraordinary that in just a few thousand years, women can go from priestesses to a beloved goddess to slaves without civil rights in a male dominated politico-religious culture, all in the same geography.

Thinking about ideas on language and art. Looking into cuneiform and, since I'm a potter, clay tablets. We would not know about Enheduanna if not for these.

Scanned a book by Lucien Polestron called BOOKS ON FIRE about lost libraries through time. He writes about the first Englishmen to find the ruin of the Assyrian King Ashurbanipal's library at Nineveh. The library had been purported to be 7 stories of clay and stone tablets, the collected writings of that time. All 7 stories had collapsed down into one large pile of rubble. The excited Englishmen walked over the "rubble" smashing tablets into dust in their zeal to reach a wall of friezes-the recognizable art work. They thought the clay and stone tablets were floor tiles and did not recognize the cuneiform designs as language or the tablets as books. I wonder what other "first things" may have been lost then.

So lots of things floating around in the haze here and very interested in seeing what objects and words solidify. Thanks for setting up this blog for us to talk through our ideas. What is everyone else thinking about or working on for July?-Kristin Thacher

first blog

I'm going to read the book as soon as I get back to Taos. Meanwhile, I'm hoping that the work I'm in the middle of can pertain... it always seems to be "the first" . But, maybe not. In which case, I will attempt to be more focused. For now, I'm glad to have blogged.

A daunting narrative

I hope all is well with everyone and that your muse is ever-present in all your creative endeavors!

I've never blogged before-- never even read a blog-- and I'm getting the sense that many of us are in the same place. I feel as if I've been thrown into this without a road map or compass, but hey! I'm giving it a go. Personally, I like email!

Whether or not you were present at the initial conversation last summer, never fear. We are all in this now, eh? One thing I remember was that a lot of our conversation centered on Iraq... on the war and Bagdad and its place in human history. That was almost a year ago and the war is continuing even as I write. Inanna came from that first, ancient civilization. I believe the layers of history and memory living in that place, that are written into the earth, present us with a daunting narrative. I ask myself, does it beckon me to listen or does it demand to be told? Inanna's story, the story of the land past and present; it's all woven of a piece to me.

I'd like to open our inspiration to that narrative. RESPONSE ANYONE?

Tricia

We Continue the Dialogue...

I am responding to Mary Ann's idea of "The First". I like the way in which the theme of the "first" could be interpreted in a wide range of genres, from art to poetry to music. I also like the idea of "The First Poem".

I hope that by continuing to respond to the blog, and to one another, we will be able to be ourselves, to tell our own stories, and to ultimately come together to create a theme and an exciting and dynamic show at RANE Gallery.

Andrea L. Watson

Be yourself please!

Thanks Mary Ann, the intent of the blog is to be yourself and see how we can create a unique show. We welcome your energy and honesty. This will be an exciting journey. Nancy

First Woman

I have enjoyed reading the blogs from everyone and especially intrigued by Carol's poem. Don't know if I am at a disadvantage or advantage in some way because of not being at the Rane Gallery and in on that discussion about Inanna and the First Poem. I think I was initially interested in the concept of "First"...being "First Woman" in my mind.

Following my own path of creativity this morning I opened a book by Paula Gunn Allen, THE SACRED HOOP, Recovering the Feminine in American Indian Traditions, and her first sentence was:

"In the beginning was thought, and her name was Woman."

My life's work is the empowerment of women. The same threads run through many cultures, old and new. I enjoy the possibility of reading other womens comments and being able to blogg about my own thoughts, and experiences. In a way it feels like communicating to a Feminine Collective Unconscious because I have not met most of you and blogging is new to me. It is like an anchor because I have to put my thoughts into concrete language, which seems like some form of energy I then send out into the universe and I in turn receive this energy back. 

My concern is "Do I need to fit in? Can I just be myself and not disturb the intention of this process?