*
jennifer
lothrigel
2021 / interview series / POETS & THE PANDEMIC
…
WHAT YOU WRITE?
Poetry
WHERE DO YOU CALL HOME?
Lafayette, CA
WHAT'S THE FIRST THING YOU DID TODAY?
I fed my dog Luna, then we cozied up with a blanket on the couch and I wrote down my dream to process it. I dreamt that someone had brought turtles to the land at my house for a party they were throwing. The turtles were part of the entertainment. I saw the turtles burrowing into the sandy cliff hillside. As they did, they changed the landscape. They were clearly out of place. This tricky secret turtle party was entirely distressing for me, the turtles and the land.
WHAT CREATIVE WORK WERE YOU DOING THIS TIME LAST YEAR?
I was in a rather productive creative place. I made a series of photos that were shown quite a bit before the pandemic. I was writing a lot of poems that had a sort of surreal yet physical quality to them which I really love. And I was painting quite a bit as well. Even pre-pandemic my life had arranged itself in such a way that I had more time for creative work. I think beginning that routine before the pandemic was helpful.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE HARDEST PART OF THIS YEAR REGARDING YOUR CREATIVE WORK?
In the early stages of the Pandemic I had a lot of anxiety about my health and the health of my loved ones and didn’t do much creative work at all during that time. I eventually alleviated myself of the pressure to make anything which helped allow creativity to flow again after a few months. I learned a valuable lesson about my creative practice. It didn’t work to persist against the anxiety in this case. I think it was hard in part because the anxiety was global and I could feel not only my own anxiety, but the collective anxiety. This made it much stronger and hard to work through. I think a lot of us felt this.
WHERE DO YOU SEE YOUR CREATIVE WORK THIS TIME NEXT YEAR?
I hope to have completed a book of poetry and photographs.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST STARTLING THING YOU'VE LEARNED OR EXPERIENCED SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN?
How adaptable we are as humans and how creativity is such an essential component of adaptability.
HAS THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AFFECTED YOUR ABILITY TO CREATE? HOW SO?
As I mentioned, it did initially but over the past few months I’ve been getting into a new rhythm. I am still struggling with language a bit because I took a writing break for much of the pandemic. But I am working on getting the words to flow back into my daily life by attempting a little writing each day, even though its still currently not producing anything.
…
HAS COVID-19 CHANGED HOW YOU VIEW AND/OR NAVIGATE THE WORLD? HOW SO?
I feel even more hyper sensitive to the way each person is dealing with what they are faced with. In some way, each of our lives has been completely upended. Yet the affects of the pandemic have touched each person in a completely different way. It has been utterly devastating for many and for others, a mere inconvenience. My heart has been opened so wide for those who are experiencing the worst of this. This heart opening has really deepened my appreciation of the moments, people and places that matter most in my life.
WHAT DO YOU THINK THE POST-PANDEMIC WORLD WILL LOOK LIKE 5 YEARS FROM NOW? 10 YEARS FROM NOW? HOW DO YOU THINK THAT WILL AFFECT CREATIVE FIELDS SUCH AS WRITERS, ARTISTS, AND THE LIKE…
I’ve been so hyper focused on one day at a time lately that looking into the future feels a little challenging. My hope is that globally we care more about our impact on the earth and each other and are working on ways to take better care of the earth and each other. I think creativity is one of the most valuable tools for doing that.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST REWARDING PART OF THIS YEAR?
Slowing down, more time in nature, more intimacy with the place I live and my home.
WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF / YOUR WORK IN 5 YEARS?
I hope to continue to grow as a writer and to deepen my relationship to both language and the earth. I hope my writing continues to reflect this. I would love to continue publishing my work.
WHAT NEW SELF-CARE HABITS OR PRACTICES HAVE YOU PICKED UP SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC?
A: The need for a daily hike has really shaped my days since the pandemic began. I think nature has saved so many of us, in so many ways from hiking trails to houseplants.
WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE WAY TO UNPLUG: BOOK: MOVIE: ETC.
Cuddling with my dog, walking in nature with my dog and my husband.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR MOST RECENT WORK AND WHERE PEOPLE CAN FIND IT..
My poem ‘Honey Devotional was recently published in Zone 3 Press and nominated for a Pushcart Prize.