{"id":204,"date":"2020-09-11T17:11:40","date_gmt":"2020-09-11T17:11:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theliteraryarts.com\/?page_id=204"},"modified":"2025-12-28T12:03:06","modified_gmt":"2025-12-28T20:03:06","slug":"about","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/theliteraryarts.com\/fr\/about\/","title":{"rendered":"\u00c0 propos de"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”About” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_image=”https:\/\/theliteraryarts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/art-gallery-55.jpg” background_size=”initial” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”-7px|||||” custom_padding=”10px||12px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row custom_padding_last_edited=”off|phone” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_position=”bottom_center” custom_padding_tablet=”17vw||17vw||false” use_custom_width=”on” width_unit=”off” custom_width_percent=”100%” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Title – About us” _builder_version=”4.17.6″ text_font=”||||||||” header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”Prata|500|||||||” header_2_text_align=”left” header_2_font_size=”56px” header_2_line_height=”1.3em” transform_translate_linked=”off” max_width=”100%” max_width_tablet=”70%” max_width_last_edited=”off|phone” custom_padding=”||0px|||” header_2_font_size_tablet=”40px” header_2_font_size_phone=”26px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

North American Section Meetings<\/h2>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_5,3_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ max_width=”1280px” custom_padding=”5px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/theliteraryarts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/image1-3.jpeg” title_text=”image1-3″ _builder_version=”4.25.0″ background_image=”https:\/\/theliteraryarts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/art-gallery-56.png” background_size=”initial” background_position=”bottom_left” max_width_tablet=”560px” max_width_last_edited=”off|tablet” module_alignment=”right” custom_margin=”-2px|-200px|||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”|0px||” custom_margin_phone=”” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|tablet” custom_padding=”10px||40px|50px|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”40px|30px|0px|0px” custom_padding_phone=”” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|tablet” background_last_edited=”on|desktop” background_position_tablet=”top_right” border_radii=”on|10px|10px|10px|10px” box_shadow_style=”preset1″ box_shadow_blur=”68px” box_shadow_spread=”-24px” box_shadow_color=”#0c71c3″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”EDIT – additional text matter” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ text_font=”Open Sans||||||||” header_font=”|700|||||||” header_font_size=”20px” header_line_height=”1.3em” header_2_font=”||||||||” header_2_line_height=”1.7em” header_3_font=”|700|||||||” header_3_font_size=”20px” header_3_line_height=”1.3em” background_color=”#ffffff” custom_margin=”150px||” custom_margin_tablet=”0px|||” custom_margin_phone=”” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|tablet” custom_padding=”40px|40px|40px|40px|true|true” hover_enabled=”0″ header_font_size_tablet=”” header_font_size_phone=”” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” border_radii=”on|10px|10px|10px|10px” box_shadow_style=”preset3″ box_shadow_horizontal=”-70px” box_shadow_vertical=”70px” box_shadow_blur=”80px” box_shadow_spread=”0px” box_shadow_color=”rgba(67,58,122,0.1)” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n

Bruce Donehower PhD facilitates the ongoing Section meetings that originate in Northern California. He is the Section representative to the Goetheanum for the Section for the Literary Arts & Humanities in North America.<\/b><\/h2>\n

Bruce Donehower, PhD (UC Davis) has been a continuous member of the North American Section for the Literary Arts and Humanities leadership team with Marguerite and Douglas Miller since 2001 until the Millers’ retirement in 2019. From 2019 \u2013 2020 he actively chartered the reorganization of the North\u00a0American Literary Arts and Humanities Section<\/a> <\/strong>in partnership\u00a0with Section members from Canada and the\u00a0United States, with other Section leaders in North America, and in close collaboration\u00a0with Dr. Christiane Haid, who heads the\u00a0Section for Beautiful Sciences<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>(Literary Arts & Humanities) and\u00a0the\u00a0Visual Arts Section (Sektion f\u00fcr\u00a0Bildende K\u00fcnste<\/span><\/a><\/strong>) at the Goetheanum. In addition to the regular ongoing Section meetings that originate in Northern California, Dr. Donehower facilitates monthly meetings of the North American Section leadership team and coordinates the work of this team with the Goetheanum. He \u00a0is a frequent contributor to the magazine\u00a0Stil<\/i><\/span><\/a><\/strong>, a joint publication of Section for Literary Arts & Humanities and the Section for the Visual Arts of the School for Spiritual Science at the Goetheanum, Dornach, Switzerland. Both Sections are under the leadership of Dr. Haid.<\/p>\n

Other members of the leadership team of the North American Section are: Fred Dennehy (USA), Gayle Davis (USA), Arie van Amerigen (Canada), Robert McKay (Canada), Herbert Hagens (USA), Susan Koppersmith (Canada), Clifford Venho (USA), Robert McDermott (USA), Philip Thatcher (Canada), Rachael Staudt (USA), Jeffrey Hipolito (USA), Marion Donehower (USA), Joan Caldarera (USA).<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dr. Donehower is a scholar of British and German Romanticism with a special interest in Novalis<\/span><\/a> <\/strong>and the early romantic era. He is a poet, novelist, essayist, musician, storyteller, and translator. In addition to a Doctorate in English Literature (UC Davis) he has a Masters in German literature (UC Davis) and a Masters in English with emphasis on creative writing from California State University in Sacramento. He studied the craft of poetry with poets such as Dennis Schmitz, Gary Snyder, Sandra MacPherson, and Mary Oliver. He is a graduate of Rudolf Steiner College in Fair Oaks, where he studied with Rene Querido. He did his BA in English Literature at Hamilton College, Clinton, NY.<\/p>\n

Dr. Donehower’s original books include: The Birth of Novalis: Friedrich von Hardenberg\u2019s Journal of 1797, with Selected Letters and Documents;\\The Singing Tree: An Alchemical Fable; SancXtuary: A Fairytale; The Hymns to the Night by Novalis: A Performance Text. <\/strong><\/i>And others.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Since\u00a0retiring from lectureship at UC Davis in 2014, Dr. Donehower has devoted his energies to\u00a0the Literary Arts and Humanities Section meetings and Section-related activities, and to music (classical guitar and composition), and\u00a0to creative and scholarly writing. He recently established the imprint Sage Cabin Publishers<\/span><\/strong>.<\/a><\/p>\n

Dr. Donehower has facilitated regular meetings of the Literary Arts and Humanities Section since 2010. These meetings occur in Northern California. They began as a collaborative partnership with Jane Hipolito and Southern California Section friends and members. These ongoing Zoom meetings are open to all Section friends and members \u00a0in North America and elsewhere.<\/p>\n

Bruce and his wife Marion sponsor Salons. These Section-inspired New Moon Salons are in-person events and are open to local Section friends and members and to friends and members elsewhere who want to use Zoom.\u00a0 <\/span>Salons are nights of original poetry, fiction, art, music, fairytale, and conversation.<\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

Fairytale Group<\/strong><\/p>\n

For the past several years, Marion has facilitated a Fairytale Group<\/a><\/span><\/strong> that meets for reading and discussion on a bi-weekly rhythm spring through autumn. These meetings are in-person, and attendance is limited. If the weather cooperates, the group meets in the garden. The Fairytale Group is inspired by similar work that has occured over many years at the Goetheanum. Quite a few inter-Sectional artistic projects have arisen from the Group, along with live performances at various conferences<\/a><\/strong> and salons.<\/p>\n

Meditation & Movement Arts\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Bruce and Marion Donehower hold fourth dan black belt certificates in Aikido<\/a><\/strong>, and they taught and practiced Aikido regularly for twenty-five years prior to retirement from their dojo in January 2020. They also trained in Tai Chi in Boston under Master T.T. Liang<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>and have practiced this Taoist movement art continuously for a half century. Marion is a master teacher in Chi Kung and Tai Chi, an artist, a member of the Visual Arts Section, and retired Jungian sandplay therapist. Both Bruce and Marion have a special interest in the meeting of West and East (so-called), and they each have a half-century of sitting experience in a variety of meditation disciplines\u2014in addition to the techniques taught by Rudolf Steiner.<\/p>\n

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How Often Do You Meet?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Friends and members of the Section for the Literary Arts and Humanities in North America have met regularly and continuously in Northern California since 2010. \u00a0In March 2020, we opened our meetings to Section friends and members worldwide by use of Zoom. Livestreaming is used for some events.<\/p>\n

Our hope is that the meetings will inspire friends and members of the Section for the Literary Arts & Humanities throughout North America and the world to sponsor initiatives in their own locales and\u2014most especially!\u2014communicate the information and results of their activities to other friends and members of the Section. And to the world!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0Our regular meetings are open to anyone with an interest in the Literary Arts & Humanities.<\/p>\n

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What Do You Do and Talk About?<\/b><\/h2>\n

The local group in Fair Oaks works on literary topics and artistic projects of mutual interest to Section members and friends. Our meetings have a poetic, artistic, and musical emphasis.<\/p>\n

Salons<\/b><\/p>\n

For several years, in addition to discussion meetings, we have sponsored Salons. These New Moon Salons<\/b> are nights of music performance, original poetry and fiction, original art, and conversation. The group also hosts poetry readings several times a year.<\/p>\n

Fairytales \/ Fairytale Group<\/b><\/p>\n

We take seriously the words of the poet Novalis that fairytales (M\u00e4rchen) are among the highest forms of poetic expression. The Section Fairytale Group meets regularly to read, discuss, and perform fairytales.<\/p>\n

Poetry Nights \/ Writer Salons \/ Fiction Workshops<\/strong><\/p>\n

We place creative writing at the center of our Section work — a position that it had when the Section was founded by Rudolf Steiner in 1924 and placed under the direction of the Swiss poet, novelist, dramatist Albert Steffen.<\/p>\n

We host regular Poetry Nights where Poets & Writers can read their original work. Poetry lovers can also read and share favorite poems.<\/p>\n

We encourage and foster original creative writing.<\/p>\n

Translation & Scholarship<\/b><\/p>\n

As noted in the Meeting Summaries and elsewhere on the website, we devote serious attention to literary critical activities. This includes translation. We have a special interest in critical theory from Plato to Postmodernism. A list of Research Topics is included below. This list is constantly growing and changing.<\/p>\n

Section Conferences<\/strong><\/p>\n

Our North American Section for the Literary Arts and Humanties sponsors periodic in-person conferences. An eight-day North Americian Section Conference occured in San Francisco and Toronto in 2024. \u00a0<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0 A three-day North American Section Conference occurred in San Francisco in May 2025.<\/a><\/strong> \u00a0A Conference on the theme of “Novalis” will occur at Pentecost in Dornach, Switzerland in 2026.<\/p>\n

Field Trips to Galleries & Performances<\/b><\/p>\n

From time to time, as conditions permit, we sponsor Social Outings to concerts, plays, and art exhibitions \u2013 or to local sites of literary interest.<\/p>\n

Poets and Landscapes<\/b><\/p>\n

This initiative focuses on literatures of the Pacific Coast of North America and landscapes in which such literatures were imagined. The project hosts a close experiential look at <\/span>the play between nature, elementals, and the being human. <\/span><\/p>\n

Collaboration With Other Sections of the School<\/b><\/p>\n

Our Section group actively collaborates with artists from the Vidual Arts Section and Performing Arts Section. We embrace the idea of the School for Spiritual Science as a University — a zodiac of faculties and displines, outreaching to the world — a university that has as its center meditation and contemplative study and practices.<\/p>\n

You can view a recent project that involved artists from three Sections of the School: the Literary Arts, the Visual Arts, and the Performing Arts at this link Atlantis by Novalis.<\/a><\/strong><\/b><\/p>\n

Literary Videos<\/b><\/p>\n

The local Section group in Northern Calidornia includes artists and scholars dedicated to the study and performance of fairytales, myths and legends. They collaborate to produce performance videos, salon performances, artwork, original music, books, and recordings.<\/span><\/p>\n

Section Yearbook \/ Annual<\/strong><\/p>\n

A Section Yearbook is planned for for future years, but it depends on whether folks get interested. Likewise, discussions are moving forward with our European Section colleagues to make possible an English edition of the magazine Stil. Stil is a publication of the Sections for Literary Arts, Visual Arts, and Performing Arts. For more about Stil, click this sentence.\u00a0<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Section Newsletter<\/strong><\/p>\n

The previous printed newsletter of the Section<\/a><\/strong> has been superceded by this website and the Section YouTube Channel.<\/p>\n

Themes Arising from the nineteen lessons of the First Class <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

For Section members of the School for Spiritual Science.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Research Topics \/ Past, Present, & Ongoing <\/b><\/h2>\n

Here is a listing of topics and authors whom we have discussed over the past decade during our in-person and online meetings and events. More details are found in the meeting summaries on TheLiteraryArts.com website.<\/p>\n