FEATURE AUTHOR
Mary Menduk
Gathering inspiration from her
community and environment, Mary
Menduk recently published her first
collection of poetry Not Even the Artist
Knows the Words. Youthful efforts
in writing had been laid aside when
the demands of family and career
took precedence, painting courses
and a weekly art group satisfying the
desire for creativity. When asked by a
writer “Are you interested in writing
about Fernie?” a spark was ignited, and
Mary began to write again.
Initially intended as a collection of
family history essays to share with
family members, Mary felt a strong
need to record the story of her parent’s
journey from Czechoslovakia to Canada
in search of democracy during the
Great Depression.
For six years, Mary carefully learned to
craft language in a weekly supportive
writing group guided by a local writer,
Keith Liggett, and attending three
expansive writers’ conferences hosted
in Fernie. Her poetry was selected
for publication in the Fernie Fix. A
monthly open mic session held at the
Central Hotel offered the chance
to read pieces for an audience; the
experience was so positive that it was
extended to an ongoing weekly writers
group at Infinitea, where visiting writers
provide inspiration to aspiring scribes.
Mary’s collected works were published
in May 2016 with the assistance of local
professionals, including Michael Hepher,
printmaker at Clawhammer Press, who
designed and printed the striking red
and black cover. Subjects include the
local landscape, pastimes, historical
events, and political pieces portraying
her father’s early involvement in politics
in Czechoslovakia.
Falling Apart
Listen
hear the ache
of unattached leaves
separated in loneliness
falling
in primal surrender
to a familiar
welcoming earth
encouraging regeneration
fading
into a new life.
Mary’s artwork can be seen on the
downtown banners. Her book is available
from Polar Peek Books and Treasures.
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