Hypatia-in-the-Woods

05/03/2026

Amie Thurber — “Knotted and Bound: Irving Reichert, Anti-Zionism, and the Contested Road to Jewish Safety

When: Friday, May 15, 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Where: Shelton Timberland Library, 710 W. Alder, Shelton, WA 98584

Dr. Amie Thurber will discuss a critical biography in-progress on Rabbi Irving F. Reichert, an ambitious, influential and controversial civic leader. Reichert served as Senior Rabbi of San Francisco’s Temple Emanu-El from 1930-1947, and his numerous civic roles brought him to Jewish communities throughout the West Coast. Rabbi Reichert’s stances on a variety of social justice issues— opposing Japanese internment, supporting the rights of striking Mexican migrant workers, and resisting the spread of Zionism through his work with the American Council on Judaism (ACJ) —were criticized during his life, leading to the loss of his pulpit and prominence.

Drawing from a wide array of archival and secondary sources, this presentation traces Reichert’s development as a civic leader; his contributions to—and ultimate departure from—the ACJ; and the qualities of character that propelled his successes and exacerbated his failings.

Dr. Amie Thurber is an Associate Professor in the Portland State University School of Social Work. Her research explores how communities, social movements, and policy makers respond to contested spaces: settings marked by social divisions, uneven distributions of power, and by political marginalization and erasure.

04/29/2026

Cynthia Giovagnoli — “Find Your Story’s Engine” writing workshop

When: Thursday, April 30, 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Where: Shelton Timberland Library, 710 W. Alder, Shelton, WA 98584

Find Your Story’s Engine is a 60-minute workshop that will help writers make sure that as they develop their stories, they not only create a compelling set of events and twists for their readers to follow, but also connect those readers to why it all matters.

We’ll discuss how to find the engine of your story and how to organize what you discover into a tool that will keep your story on track and resonating with your readers without stifling your creative discovery as the writing unfolds.

While this workshop is designed with long-form fiction in mind, it’s equally useful for those writing short fiction and memoir.

Cindy Giovagnoli is a lawyer-turned-writer and Author Accelerator-certified book coach from Olympia. When she’s not writing or helping other writers finish their books, she spends as much time as possible in the mountains of western Washington with her husband and two rescue dogs. Find her at mulberryandrange.com.

03/26/2026

2026

Jennifer Astion — Memory Collage Workshop

When: Friday, March 27, 2026, 4:00 pm

Where: Shelton Timberland Library, 710 W. Alder, Shelton, WA 98584

Astion, a cartoon artist and writer, will conduct a workshop on memory and art. Jennifer asks participants to explore a memory, and, with prompts, transform the memory into a pencil or ink sketch collage. Materials will be provided. The workshop is appropriate for teens and adults.

Participants are invited to bring old magazines, wrapping paper, and other types of paper to share with the group. Some might also want to bring more personal items on paper for their own collage.

Astion is from Seattle, where she is a yoga instructor. Long a fan of cartoons and comics, she began taking classes in comic illustration when she noted how much more her youngsters related to graphic novels than non-illustrated literature. She says graphic memoirs have shown her the capacity the medium has for self-discovery and healing as well as story-telling. She wrote about her love for walking near the beach In a comic called “Seattle Selkie,” featured in the zine “Hey, Neighbor,” which includes art and writing from northeast Seattle artists.

Astion also created a comic about picking wild blackberries called “The Very Forgiving Crumble.” She publishes under the name JenAster.

03/01/2026

Kathleen Woods -- Writing Workshop

Friday, March 6, 2026, 4:00 pm
St. David of Wales Episcopal Church, 324 W. Cedar St., Shelton, WA 98584

Woods will lead a workshop for writers, poets, and writers-to-be, in the church library. Attendees please use the door in the corner of the building by the parking lot. Space is limited: please preregister with Carolyn Maddux. [email protected]

Inspiration Through Emulation

In this workshop, you’ll break open a favorite short piece or passage to discover how and why it works, mapping the patterns and rhythm of effective craft. Then, in a supportive group of other writers, you’ll weave your own ideas through that outline, learning from a writing style by actively trying it on. We’ll also discuss ways to apply this process to other forms of art, like music and painting. Discover how mimicry can lead you to something completely new!

Please bring a short excerpt by another poet/writer–something you love and/or admire! We will be using these pieces as part of the workshop.

Kathleen Woods is the author of the novel White Wedding. She earned an M.F.A in Creative Writing from the University of Colorado at Boulder, where she served as Managing Editor for Timber Journal. She is an alum of SF Writers Grotto Fellowship, the Tin House Summer Writers Conference, and the Wellstone Center Residency. Her work has been featured in Electric Literature, Literary Hub, Pacifica Literary Review, Western Humanities Review, The Racket, and others. She lives, writes, and reads in the San Francisco Bay Area.

11/15/2025

Resident Alexis Clements' film presentation and reading at Marmo Gallery and Caffè on Friday, November 14.

09/17/2025

07/06/2025

July 15, 2025, 4:00 pm, Shelton Timberland Library: poetry workshop.

07/03/2025

Jennifer MacKenzie -- Poetry Writing Workshop
July 15, 2025, 4:00 pm
Shelton Timberland Library

06/27/2025

https://hypatiainthewoods.org/events/

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06/09/2025

Covid is still around, and it means a change of presenters for a Hypatia-in-the-Woods sponsored workshop on memory and art Friday morning at the Shelton library..
Seattle cartoonist and writer Jennifer Astion has been sidelined with the illness, but Olympia area artist Maitri Sojourner will present the workshop on memory and art at the Shelton library Friday morning. Sojourner works in a variety of mediums, especially fabric.
The workshop will run from 10:30 to about noon at the Shelton Timberland Library, and will involve a short session of writing about a specific memory and continue with the creation of drawings and/or collage. Materials will be provided.
Maitri Sojourner grew up in a family where art was encouraged and anything was possible. She has taken art classes in mediums including clay, fabric, encaustic and paint. Fiber, she says, is her sweet spot, and she spins, knits, crochets, quilts, and creates pictures out of fabric. She loves color and the way light transforms objects, and considers the design elements of shapes and values when creating art.
A recent work, “The Game of Life,” is influenced by today’s challenging world and her Buddhist beliefs. Sojourner says she practices to explore her place in the universe. She believes Art Saves Lives, and encourages everyone to do something creative every day.
Friday’s presentation is sponsored by Hypatia-in-the-Woods. Sojourner is a past artist-in-residence at Hypatia, and has served on the local nonprofit’s board.

03/08/2025

Join us tomorrow from 2:00 to 4:00 at the Marmo Gallery (217 W. Cota Street, Shelton) for a Historical Character Workshop with Hypatia Resident Sally Bays.

Bays will teach a workshop about how to uncover historical characters and make them your own. Participants will learn how to take characters from history and turn them into literary inspiration. The workshop includes lecture, discussion, and writing components.