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Five area poets were chosen in December 2021 to be part of “The Big Read St. Croix” under the guidance of Art Reach-St Croix in Stillwater.  The poets volunteer to play a public role in bringing people of the river valley together and getting them to think about the connection between place and poetry.

Heidi Barr, rural Lindstrom resident, is one of these five.  Come enjoy her reading and presentation at the St Croix Riverway National Park Service headquarters, April 27, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Coincidentally, just as The 2022 Big Read events and outreach programs pick up speed this springtime, Barr’s newest book is being released this week.  Emily Anderson,  from Marine,  provides the artwork in the book titled,  Slouching Toward Radiance.

If radiance has been an all too infrequent vistor in your life— this collection will put you on the path towards recognizing it daily.  

“The St. Croix watershed has informed my writing and poetry so much, calling this area home is one of the reasons I am a poet,” said Barr.
No stranger to publications, Barr lays claim to a number of audio and paperback releases in the past few years. Find these on Amazon, or at Barnes and Noble, Target, and Slouching is at Gladje in Lindstrom and The Staple in Osceola.

Barr commented, “I’m excited for the potential opportunity to interact with the community in a way that shares my love of this art form (poetry) and landbase.”

Her reason for being on earth is to write and offer it to others, “...cultivating ways of being that are life-giving and sustainable,” as she puts it.

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The other poets in the ArtReach-St Croix program this year are Rosetta Peters, River Urke, Lee Kisling and Mike Forecki.  You’ll meet them at the National Park Service event as well.

Or, mark your calendar for Thursday, May 5.  There is a book release party at the gallery space maintained by Art Reach St Croix, at 224 North Fourth Street, Stillwater.  The party runs from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

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