3394 Aura Circle
Salt Lake City, UT 84124

(801) 277-3012

(Literary Arts)

Marilyn Bushman-Carlton is a native of Utah. She has authored two books of poems, on keeping things small, and Cheat Grass, and is published in such local and national? journals as Iris, Earth's Daughters, Ellipsis and Dialogue. She has received an award and a grant from the Utah Arts Council for her poetry and is the 1999 Utah State Poetry Society's Poet of the Year. Marilyn likes to undermine the mindset that poetry is esoteric and difficult to understand by sharing current published poetry by a wide range of poets.

The poems she uses incorporate humor, insight, and use of common objects (like cows and wind chimes) to address such broad subjects as love and nature. She demonstrates what poetry is, and how it can entertain, ferret out personal emotions and emphasize shared humanity.

Marilyn's presentations are geared to high school students, teacher and community workshops, and special older student and adult populations. The presentations range from one-time lecture demonstrations to more detailed classes over a two-week time period. Longer sessions allow adults and students an opportunity to try writing their own poems and to receive personal critiques. Teacher workshops teach how to encourage students to read and enjoy poetry, and then how to begin writing poems of their own.

Marilyn requires paper, pencils, and a copy machine so each student can have a copy of poems used in lessons.

Marilyn is available for residencies, teacher training, collaborations with other artists, and short-term activities.