‘Finding H.D.,’ a year’s look at poet Hilda Doolittle

DETAILS

A year-long celebration of the life and poetry of Bethlehemborn Hilda Doolittle (H.D.) that kicks off Wednesday with a community reading of her work had its genesis at the Women's March on Washington in February 2016.

Doug Roysdon, founder of Mock Turtle Marionette Theatre, decided his next work should reflect the spirit of the march and involve as many woman artists as possible. He thought about focusing on poet Emily Dickinson, but after talking with local artists and scholars, another, more locally relevant, candidate emerged.

Doolittle (1886-1961) is the Lehigh Valley's most important literary figure. Her innovative and experimental poetry and prose established her as a leading Modernist artist and pioneering voice in feminism in the early 20th century. She drew on her experiences of her hometown throughout her career. Doolittle's childhood home was on the same piece of land where the Bethlehem Area Public Library now stands.

“Finding H.D., A Community Exploration of the Life and Work of Hilda Doolittle” is a partnership among the Lehigh University English Department, the Bethlehem Area Public Library, Mock Turtle Marionette Theatre and the Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center in Allentown.

Organizers include Seth Moglen and Mary Foltz, cofounder and director, respectively, of Lehigh's South Side Inititative, devoted to collaborating with the local community to address issues and challenges relevant to residents. Moglen is an H.D. scholar and Foltz specializes in the connection of literature to the issues of our time, including feminism, gender identity and queer sexuality.

Other organizers are H.D. fans Josh Berk, executive director of the Bethlehem Area Public Library, and Liz Bradbury, director of the Training Center at the Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center.

The inaugural event is Wednesday's public reading 7-9 p.m. at Bethlehem City Hall's Rotunda Building. Readers will include local poets, professors and public servants — some experts and others new to the work of H.D. Among them are Bethlehem city officials, Lehigh University and Moravian College faculty, area poets and representatives of community organizations. Admission is free.

The project will culminate in fall 2019, with the unveiling of a commissioned portrait of H.D. and the premiere of a new multi-media production by Mock Turtle, directed by Jennie Gilrain at Touchstone Theatre.

Other events include include book discussions, film screenings

'Finding H.D.'

and walking tours.

Here's the schedule:

Jan. 30: Lecture: “How We Fell in Love with H.D. — and Why You Should Too: An Introduction to Hilda Doolittle” by Seth Moglen and Jenny Hyest, H.D. scholars, Bethlehem Area Public Library

Feb. 25-27, March 6, April 16: Book talks, Bethlehem Area Public Library

April 29: Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center Workshop: “Art History from a Queer Perspective: H.D. (Hilda Doolittle) and Emily Dickinson — Bisexual Women Poets Who Made History.” Led by Liz Bradbury, director of the training institute of the Bradbury-Sullivan Center in Allentown

June: South Side Film Festival screening of “Borderline,” 1930, an experimental Swiss film directed by Kenneth Macpherson and featuring Paul Robeson, Bryher and H.D.

September: H.D. Walking Tour by Seth Moglen

September: Exhibit of community H.D. portraits and unveiling of commissioned portrait, Bethlehem Area Pubic Library

September: “Forest Bathing with H.D.” The practice of Shinrin Yoku fused with readings of H.D.'s work by Anisa George, Little Pond Arts Retreat, Nazareth

September-October: H.D. Projection Mapping, Bethlehem Area Public Library

October: Premiere of play about H.D. by Mock Turtle Marionette Theatre by Doug Roysdon and Jennie Gilrain, Touchstone Theatre

jodi.duckett@mcall.com 610-820-6704