We are delighted to introduce Karla Linn Merrifield, creator of 'Tangibility' the haiga on the cover of our Sending Nudes anthology. In this interview, Karla talks about why she's had nudes on her mind for a long time now. Really enjoyed this, and hope you do too. xx guts
Here are the interview questions:
Your interpretation of Sending Nudes is really different and wonderful. I’m interested to know first, before we talk about your pieces, how did you find out about Sending Nudes? What drew you in to submit?
‘Tangibility’, the piece on the cover of Sending Nudes, as well as the others you sent, are special forms of what is similar to a haiku. Can you tell us more about the haiga and what drew you to it?
What inspired you to use the nude paintings by John Sloan for your haigas?
In ‘Tangibility’ you seem to be speaking as the nude model, who gazes and asks if she meets John's desires. The connection between John, the model and the viewer becomes more and more tangible. What made you want to explore giving the female model the voice?
What are you currently reading?
Describe yourself in 3 words.
Sending Nudes, our third anthology, will be released on 15 January 2021. It's an intimate collection of fiction, nonfiction and poetry that uncovers the various reasons people send nudes. Pre-orders are available here: gutspublishing.com/sending-nudes
* * *
Karla Linn Merrifield is a nine-time Pushcart-Prize nominee and National Park Artist-in-Residence, has had 800+ poems appear in dozens of journals and anthologies. She has 14 books to her credit. Following her 2018 Psyche’s Scroll (Poetry Box Select) is the 2020 full-length book Athabaskan Fractal: Poems of the Far North from Cirque Press. She is currently at work on a poetry collection, My Body the Guitar, inspired by famous guitarists and their guitars (2021, Before Your Quiet Eyes NY). She is a frequent contributor to The Songs of Eretz Poetry Review, and assistant editor/poetry book reviewer emerita for The Centrifugal Eye.