WORDS         STRUCTURES         STRATEGIES        IDENTITIES          


2013-2020
SMOKE FARM

A confluence of writers at Smoke Farm in Arlington, WA.


Till was a writers’ residency and writing event series that produced an annual chapbook. Founded in 2013 through a collaboration between Arne Pihl and Chelsea Werner-Jatzke, Till offered scalable and affordable programs to writers of all genres at all stages of their career.



Till was created to increase access to the literary world through writing practices, feedback forums, workspaces, literary readings, and publication opportunities.

Organized around an annual alternative writing residency at Smoke Farm in Arlington, WA, Till cultivated a space for diverse voices and an opening where writers could create, inspire, and grow their craft.

By decreasing barriers through flexible and affordable attendance, Till supported hundreds of underserved literary artists over its 6 years. Residencies included writing workshops, and through the years we gained insight into the writing craft from 21 authors from a wide spectrum of perspectives.

Each residency produced the publication of a hand-bound chapbook. Covers were letterpress printed in collaboration with Kate Fernandez at Abactors’ Hideout, a printing studio at Smoke Farm, as well as at Fogland Studios in Seattle. Letterpress and bookbinding workshops facilitated creative collaboration and community building into DIY publication. Writing was contributed by residents, workshop leaders, and Till staff to create a capsule of the community that reached the wider literary community. Chapbooks were released in Seattle in the fall with free public readings.

Till Tonight, a monthly writing event, took place in Seattle as a generative space for all writers. Till Tonight was hosted in partnership with cultural organizations around Seattle including Common Area Maintenance, Canoe Social Club, Mount Analogue, and King Street Station.

In the wake of the COVID pandemic, Chelsea and Arne shifted focus and Till came to a close. The best testaments to the community that grew from Till are the writing groups, reading series, and manuscripts that sprung from it.

Till logo by Shaun Kardinal. Till Patch by Max Kraushaar. Till video by Rachael Lang.







PERSONAL

A writer and curator exploring the liminal spaces of the literary arts. I am the author of two chapbooks and have fiction, reviews, and poetry published widely. My interest in how words can be experienced has led to solo work and collaborations to create installations, music performances, broadsides, karaoke, and video poetry. I founded and directed Till, a literary organization that offered an annual writing residency, and am currently co-director of Cadence Video Poetry Festival at Northwest Film Forum.

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PROFESSIONAL

Approaching communications and creative direction with a storyteller’s craft and a poet’s ear. I have more than a decade of experience increasing engagement with meaningful brand experiences through creative approaches. My unique blend of marketing, programming, and writing skills allows me to understand and connect with a wide spectrum of audiences. I have defined and produced end-to-end experiences for artists, businesses, consumers, and stakeholders while growing followings and margins across industries.

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