CLASSES & LECTURES
PAST EVENTS
Christine taught Calligraphy, Poetry, and Writing at the Multnomah Art Center from 2010 - 2020.
Christine died from Cancer in July 2021. Here is a list of her previous courses.
CHRISTINE'S PREVIOUS TOPICS at MAC:
Reading & Writing about the Earth (Winter 2020)
Reading & Writing about Portland's Historic Cemeteries (Fall 2019)
Reading & Writing about Gardens (Spring 2019)
Reading & Writing about Oregon (Winter 2019)
Reading & Writing about Survival (Fall 2018)
Reading & Writing about Art in Portland (Spring 2018)
Reading & Writing about Music (Winter 2018)
Reading & Writing about Autumn (Fall 2017)
Reading & Writing about Roses (June 2017 and 2018)
Reading & Writing about Birds (Spring 2017)
Reading & Writing about Water (Winter 2017)
Reading & Writing about Trees (Fall 2016)
Reading & Writing about Gardens (Spring 2016)
Reading & Writing about Mountains (Winter 2016)
Reading & Writing about Portland's Historic Cemeteries (Fall 2015)
Reading & Writing about Nature (Spring 2015)
Reading & Writing about Portland (Winter 2015)
Reading & Writing about Oregon (Fall 2014)
PREVIOUS EVENTS
May 11, 2020: Mount St. Helens Institute
Christine presented with USFS Archeologist Rick McClure and Cowlitz Spiritual Leader Tanna Engdahl on the theme of What Does Mount St. Helens Mean to You? This 1-hour event is viewable online on YouTube.
June 4, 2019: Windfall Spring 2019 Reading
Christine read with other poets published in the spring 2019 issue of Windfall at 7 pm on June 4 at Broadway Books in NE Portland. Free and open to the public.
September 13, 2019: Interview with Darryl Lloyd
To celebrate the launch of his book, Ever Wild, Christine interviewed mountaineer Darryl Lloyd at Powell's Books September 13 at 7:30 pm in SE Portland.
August 19, 2018: Explore the Toutle River Valley
Christine led a day-long field seminar for the Mount St. Helens Institute and read her poem, "Cascade Manifesto," a few miles from the volcano.
August 18, 2018: Reading of RAIN
As an invocation for rain, Christine read her chapbook, RAIN: A Song Cycle at Another Read Through Bookstore in N. Portland on August 18, 2018.
May 2018: Educational Events
To honor the eruption's 38th anniversary, Christine talked with students at Portland State University Honors College as well as at the Cannon Beach Academy in Cannon Beach, OR.
October 7, 2017: 40 Years of Change at Mount St. Helens
Christine's 1-hour talk at the Cannon Beach Library in Cannon Beach, OR was featured in the news: http://cannonbeachlibrary.org/events/christine-colasurdo/
August 17, 2017: History in the News
Christine discussed how humans relate to extreme natural events on a panel with astronomer Jay Pasachoff and anthropologist Jason Younker at the Willamette Heritage Center's Dye House, 1313 Mill Street SE, Salem, OR. From 5:30 to 7 pm.
April 20, 2017: Broadway Books Reading
Christine read and discussed her work with writer Melissa Madenski at Broadway Books in NE Portland, OR.
May 11, 2017: Lecture on Mount St. Helens
Christine gave a presentation about the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens and signed copies of Return to Spirit Lake at Another Read Through Bookstore in N. Portland, OR.
January 28-29, 2017: Authoring Your Art Workshop
Christine's writing workshop for visual artists. Offered through the Friends of Calligraphy (www.friendsofcalligraphy.org) in San Francisco, CA.
Monday, June 20, 2016: Poetry Performance Workshop
Christine taught a workshop to help poets practice performing their poems.
At the Multnomah Arts Center in Portland, OR.
March 6, 2016: Authoring Your Art Workshop
Christine's writing workshop for visual artists. Offered through the Portland Society for Calligraphy, in Portland, OR.
October 2 to 31, 2015: Rain: Lla Luvia Exhibit
Christine was one of eleven artists participating in "Rain," an exhibit at the Columbia Center for the Arts, 215 Cascade Avenue, Hood River, OR. Copies of Christine's chapbook celebrating rain are still for sale through her website.
July-August 2015: Calligraphic Journeys Exhibist
Christine and fellow lettering artists Lawrence Wheeler, Anita Bigelow and Ingrid Slezak exhibited a group show. Christine read her poems on artmaking July 11. At Glyph Cafe, 804 NW Couch St, Portland, OR.
May 19, 2015: Windfall Poetry Reading
Christine was one of two featured speakers in the Windfall Reading Series in Eugene. Sponsored by the Lane Literary Guild and the Eugene Public Library.
May 18, 2015: 35th Anniversary of the Eruption
Christine gave a presentation to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the Mount St. Helens eruption. Part of the Institute's Views and Brews series. At the Lucky Lab Beer Hall, 1945 NW Quimby St., Portland.
May 14, 2015: Presentation and Booksigning
Christine gave a talk about the 1980 eruption and signed copies of her book at Another Read Through Bookstore. 3932 North Mississippi Avenue, Portland.
March 31, 2015: Presentation and Booksigning
Christine presented about Mount St. Helens and signed copies of her book, Return to Spirit Lake at the Garden Home Community Library in SW Portland. www.wccls.org/libraries/gardenhome.
May 15, 2012: Three Monumental Decades: A 30th Anniversary Celebration of the Creation of the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument
Conservationist Susan Saul recounted how the MSHNVM was created. Christine Colasurdo hosted the evening with the question, "What does the monument mean to you?" This event supported the Mount St. Helens Institute and took place in Vancouver, WA.
July 15, 2012: A Journey up the Toutle: History and Nature at Mount St. Helens
Christine led a daylong field seminar up the Toutle River valley for the Mount St. Helens Institute.
October 7, 2011: Poetry Reading for "Trees" Exhibit
Christine read from her manuscript of tree poems to celebrate the opening of the fine-arts exhibit, “TREES,” at the Columbia Center for the Arts in Hood River, OR.
June 2, 2011 in Kelso, WA: Remembering Mount St. Helens
Christine hosted an evening of remembrances with presentations by photographer Darryl Lloyd and conservationist Susan Saul at the Cowlitz County Historical Museum in Kelso, WA.
May 7, 2011: Presentation and Booksigning
Christine gave a slide-illustrated lecture and booksigning of Return to Spirit Lake at Rowboat Gallery, 34950 Brooten Road, Pacific City, OR at 6:30 pm. Free.
November 4, 2010: Presentation and Booksigning
A slide-illustrated lecture and booksigning of Return to Spirit Lake. Cowlitz County Historical Museum, 405 Allen Street, Kelso, WA. Free.
November 21, 2010: Wild Arts Festival Booksigning
Booksigning with other authors from noon to 4 pm at the Wild Arts Festival in the Montgomery Park Bldg. in Portland to support the Audubon Society of Portland.
October 19, 2010: A Hike through Time: Decades of Change on the Harmony Trail
Christine's presentation was part of the institute's Views and Brews series at the Lucky Lab Brew Pub in Portland, OR.
October 20, 2010: Remembering Mount St. Helens: A Trek through Time
This 30th-anniversary event, hosted by Christine, was an evening of public remembrance sponsored by the Mazamas at 7 pm at the Mazamas Mountaineering Center, Portland. Guest presenters included photographer Darryl Lloyd, conservationist Susan Saul, and Mazama member Marianna Kearney. Free.
June 26, 2010: The Largest Landslide in Recorded History: The Day Mount St. Helens Collapsed
Christine led a field seminar for the Mount St. Helens Institute including a 2.5-mile hike on the Hummocks Trail.
May 4, 2010: Remembering Spirit Lake: A Public Gathering
Christine hosted this event at the Lucky Lab Brew Pub in Portland as part of the institute's Views and Brews series.
April 7, 2010: Presentation and Booksigning
The Odd and Haunting Transformation of Spirit Lake: A Contrast Between the Pre- and Post-eruption Landscape. Christine gave this talk at 7 pm at the Mazamas Mountaineering Center, Portland.