Writer Rebecca Swanberg

Date: June 20, 2013
Contact: Sean Denniston, [phone]

The National Park Service and the Friends of Whiskeytown have invited Artist-in-Residence Rebecca Swanberg of New York, to meet the public at Brandy Creek Beach on Saturday, June 29, 2013, at 11:00 a.m. Ms. Swanberg will offer an hour long writer’s workshop on the beach in the shade of Brandy Creek’s oak forest. People interested in creative nature writing can discuss writing techniques and their personal experiences of inter-acting with nature in the park.

Rebecca Swanberg is from Annandale-on-Hudson, New York, and is a Written Arts Major in her senior year attending Bard College. Rebecca serves as Editor-in-Chief of The Bard Free Press. Ms. Swanberg was one of nine artists selected to participate in Whiskeytown’s Artist in Residence Program 2013. Rebecca is the first writer to participate in the park’s Artist in Residence Program. As part of the Artist-in-Residence Program, selected participants will offer public workshops in their craft.

“The public has an opportunity to meet a published writer and discuss with Rebecca the beauty and experiences they have had at Whiskeytown National Recreation,” stated Jim Milestone, Superintendent. “It is always fun to listen to a new person’s first impressions of Whiskeytown and hear from them what stands out,” Milestone said.

Rebecca Swanberg has been exploring the forest trails and waterfalls of Whiskeytown National Recreation Area since her arrival on June 15. Rebecca has explored the lake on extended kayak tours at various times of the day and experienced an exciting sailboat ride during a high-wind evening sail.

"In my limited time at Whiskeytown, I have utilized every resource available at the park, in hopes that my explorations will serve as fodder for my writing," Ms. Swanberg said. "I have searched for the intricacies of the land here, and have done my best to portray them through my writing on Whiskeytown. I hope this workshop will open opportunities for you to reexamine the way we represent nature in art."

The writer’s workshop will begin on Friday morning at 11:00 a.m. near the snack bar and life guard stand on Brandy Creek Beach. Paper and pens will be available at the writer’s workshop. Both adults and children are welcome to participate. For more information call 530-242-3410.

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