In her groundbreaking book Composing a Life cultural anthropologist Mary Catherine Bateson profiled four woman who constructed meaningful writing lives while juggling multiple commitments to others. Taking their prompt from Bateson’s idea of “life as an improvisatory art” Merle and Jonathan will look back over their own long writing histories to explore how they first took shape and evolved over time. Although their outward circumstances are different, they share a passionate determination to find meaning in and among the seemingly conflicting elements of their lives. Working across and between traditional genres, Merle and Jonathan each cleared unique writing spaces to find and give voice to their untold stories.

Discussion follows Kabbalat Shabbat at 6 pm. Community dinner following.