December 2003, Volume 1, Number 6 A Farewell Message From Haiga Editor Erin Harte "Sunny" Haiga is the successful and, ideally, harmonious pairing of haiku, senryu or tanka with art in a way that brings further enlightenment to a captured moment in time. Simply Haiku is the successful and harmonious pairing of talented haijin, artists and editors in a way that brings further enlightenment to the Asian form community. Ray Rasmussen is a successful photographer, artist and haijin who makes it all look easy. He is also the ideal choice to take over the reins as haiga editor here at Simply Haiku, which is why I walk away from my time with the publication content in the knowledge that our readers, as well as the art of haiga, can only benefit from this change. We in the Asian form community know that haiga is the product of evolution. While traditionalists argue that haiga can only be haiku paired with hand painted, calligraphic art in the style of the masters, we can also see that a renewed interest in the form will undoubtedly bring about great change, largely in the form of mixed media variations. Photography, digital imagery/manipulation, mixed media painting/sketching and abstractions are all creeping in as variants of haiga. Ray respects the traditions of the form yet keeps an open mind in regards to what’s on the horizon. My time at Simply Haiku was invaluable. The experience and knowledge I received from my fellow editors and, of course, the wonderful haijin, photographers and artists I had the pleasure of working with, will stay with me always. I look forward to seeing the publication expand and evolve with Ray on board and wish everyone on the team, as well as our readers, the very best in all that you do.. --Erin Harte
Erin is the owner and editor of Haiku Sun, an electronic 'zine' featuring the works of both aspiring and established haijin/poets. She was haiga editor for Simply Haiku for the better part of 2003 and currently delights in her role as a contributing editor for Short Stuff, a journal of short form poetry. She also co-moderates the Visual Arts forum at Haiku Hut, her home away from home. Erin's work has been published in Flash!point, Short Stuff, Buddha's Temple, Amaze, Danaho Muse, Simply Haiku and Haiga Online. Her work has appeared in River Man Publishing House's Sakura, as well as Peshekee River Poetry's Old Fedora. She was a winner in the 2003 Tanka Splendor awards as well as the 8th WHA haiga contest. Erin is a member of the WHC, WHA and the Seacoast Writers' Association. |
Erin
Harte resides in New Hampshire where she writes short form Asian
poetry and short fiction. She enjoys
photography, sketching and painting, each of which she employs in
creating her haiga.