“If we are to preserve culture we must continue to create it”

— Johan Huizinga

Written Word Eryn Shrader Written Word Eryn Shrader

Come Alive

“I want to sing a song into your bones
Until they hum in harmony with the roots of the mountains.
I want to breathe fire into your blood
Until it is molten potential like the iron in the forge.
I want to dance your feet into a frenzy
Of ecstatic revelation…”

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Three to Read Jim McClure Three to Read Jim McClure

Three to Read: Jim McClure on Bringing York’s History to Light

“I immediately thought about “Almost Forgotten” and then two other books on Black history that bookended that work.

Those other two books — John V. Jezierski’s “Enterprising Images,” about York’s three Goodridge brothers who became pioneering Black photographers, and Daisy Myers’ autobiography “Sticks ’n Stones” — had a national scope. All three books — Jezierski’s, Myers’ and “Almost Forgotten” — tell about the Black experience in York County in three literary forms: biography, autobiography and general history, respectively.”

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Three to Read Dixie Brillhart Three to Read Dixie Brillhart

Three to Read: Dixie Brillhart

“A young man visits the area of her home during summer vacation, discovering her and the beautiful coast of her home. He is looking for artistic inspiration and enters her world. She finds in him love, companionship, hope, and the desire to reach beyond her self-made limitations.

Andrew Wyeth is the man's name, an Artist.”

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Three to Read Anna Corbin Three to Read Anna Corbin

Three to Read: Anna Corbin

These novels give readers hope that their next best friend or love of their life is waiting for them somewhere - maybe in a hospital hallway, in the English countryside, or even on a magical island… there are no deeper relationships than those forged in fate and driven by destiny, in spite of and against the odds.

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Written Word Matthew Jackson Written Word Matthew Jackson

The Beloved Community

“The weather report is in. There’s been a long drought of prophetic vision and public moral courage. The situation is dire.

Your divining rods for compassionate justice and Beloved Community can transform the forecast.”

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Three to Read Barbara Eisenhart Three to Read Barbara Eisenhart

Three to Read: Barbara Eisenhart

“Ever since I was a young girl, I’ve loved reading books about strong women. Beginning in elementary school, I remember the library books on the shelf: Joan of Arc, Marie Curie, Amelia Earhart, Anne Frank, Eleanor Roosevelt, Pearl Buck, Helen Keller. These books were biographies, but in recent years, I’ve discovered the “memoir,” which is a collection of personal memories written by the women themselves.”

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Three to Read Tiffani Spangler Three to Read Tiffani Spangler

Three to Read: Tiffani Spangler

“As much as culture gives us sayings like 'time is merely a construct' or the capitalist view of 'time is money'; I've often wondered - is there any other way that I can understand what time is? Of course, my go-to thought is to find an answer in a book. Did I find one singular answer? No, but I did find a beautiful unfolding of why I'm more settled than ever to continue journeying through time.”

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Three to Read Brian Shea Three to Read Brian Shea

Three to Read: Brian Shea

“Not only do I wonder how people can exist without a constant stream of thoughts running through their heads, but I will one-up things here. I don't know how people survive without constant musical accompaniment inside their heads.”

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Written Word Andrew Smith Written Word Andrew Smith

Your Path

“And even though I can see you there, we aren’t in the same spot. Our paths crossed but never merged. I may see my resting place while yours is too far in the distance. We are different because we are and were shaped differently.”

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Written Word Andrew Smith Written Word Andrew Smith

Sharing Words With Tiffani Spangler

Artists whose tools are pencils, pens, and keyboards rather than brushes and paints rarely have the opportunity to display their literary thoughts unless they have a publishing deal. And even then — where and how to share shorter written works?

Downtown York's The Grotto will provide that space, at least for the duration of the "Simple Pleasures" exhibition on written works.

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Written Word Ikysha Jones Written Word Ikysha Jones

Rubbing Stones

I noticed when life got dark... so did the light in my eyes

Dreams of searching, didn't realize me I'd find

Rubbing stones to spark my divine

It's an equation to divide…

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Written Word Lisa Ann Spalding Deeter Written Word Lisa Ann Spalding Deeter

Autumn Reflections

“In my spiritual tradition, Mabon is celebrated on the Autumnal Equinox and marks the second harvest. While the first harvest was celebrated in August with the gathering of grapes, berries, corn, wheat and grain, Mabon marks harvesting and feasting on the last of the corn, beans, squash, apples, pumpkins, root vegetables and pomegranates.”

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