#marianchristie
DETAILS: Be sure to read the blog by author Marian Christie. In it, she lists some anthologies I have had the good fortune to be involved in: The Book of Penteract from Penteract Press, edited by Anthony Etherin and Clara Daneri and Pandemic Love and Other Affinities from IceFloe Press (lead editor Moira J. Saucer).

#YearInReview #2022 #Top20
DETAILS:
Each month of 2022 was action-packed, but here are my TOP 20 picks.
JANUARY:
1. Happy New Year starts off with poetry as Eat the Storms invites me on as a guest for Episode 5 of Season 4. Special thanks to host and producer, Damien B. Donnelly for invitation to read my poetry and "Stay bloody poetic."
2. The National Poetry Library added the entire catalogue of Steel Incisors Press including The Mouth of a Lion (Steel Incisors, 2021). Special thanks to EIC James Knight for including my ash poetry "Scapegoating in the Silver Age" to such a ferocious anthology.
FEBRUARY:
3. The City of Takoma Park, MD films a media package for Uniting Us Art Exhibitions at the Community Center. In the video, [11.00 - 13.35 of 16.18 mins] I discuss the ways Uniting Us benefits the veteran artist community. Special thanks to co-founder AnnMarie Halterman for organizing so many worthwhile arts initiatives. The Takoma Parks Art Exhibition was brillz.
MARCH:
4. The Book of Penteract launch [print anthology] by (Penteract Press, 2022). 200-page, casebound edition, full-color, hardback featuring 45 poets working in the fields of constrained, formal, and visual poetry. Special thanks to EIC Anthony Etherin for including 6 of my ash poems to this spectacular anthology. 
5. StAnza Scotland's International Poetry Festival invites Trickhouse Press. Special thanks to EIC Dan Power for including M.U.S.I.C. into the 2022 Annual. Thank you for adding my vispo/object poem and sharing the anthology with the public.
APRIL:
6. Ashes to Ashes my debut poetry booklet launches [spineless] by (Paper View Independent Publishing, 2022). Special thanks to Sal Nunkachov for making the booklet "burn."
7. The Tickle (Issue 43, 2022) launch of @inwarhol, an art magazine focused on TEZOS NFT artists and creative writers. Online magazine features WOMEN | ROBOT | DIALOGUES, my series of micro scripts initially developed on social media platforms. Special thanks to Anna Malina for inviting my art into the NFT space. Note: I still do not understand crypto.
MAY:
8. Archive of Using Arts to Heal [Season 3 | Podcast 4] of Leave No Veteran Behind [transcript]. Special thanks to host and producer Lauren Korshak of the Office of Health Equity at the Department of Veterans Affairs for inviting me onto the podcast to speak about my literary work.
9. Release of A Visual Work Poem [online] published by (Ice Floe Press, 2022). Special thanks to Moira Saucer and Robert Frede Kenter for including my Blake-inspired ash poetry piece.
JUNE:
10. Atelier 11 Art Exhibition presented by L’AiR Arts in Paris, France. Exhibition coincided with launch of in PLU 9 magazine. Special thanks to Malik Crumpler for featuring 2 of my ash poetry pieces in the issue and exhibition (Paris Lit Up, 2022).
11. Artist Showcase at Library of Congress hosted by the Veterans History Project to discuss From Conflict to Creativity: Presenting PTSD and Facing MST (Uniting Us, 2022). Special thanks to VHP for inviting veterans to discuss our anthologies and projects and chat with members of the public about personal experiences using the healing power of art. Bucket list!!
​JULY:
12. Launch of Issue 2 [print journal]. Special thanks to EIC Ali Nasir for featuring 5 of my calligrams (Handwritten and Co., 2022) alongside works by Kelli Russell Agodon & Diane Seuss, Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry.
AUGUST:
13. Launch of Bare Bones [print anthology] featuring my collage of Hepburn vispos (Fevers of the Mind, 2022). Special thanks to EIC David O'Nan for including my art experiments in so many Fevers of the Mind projects.
14. Once Upon a Blank Slate [flovel] published by (AngelHousePress, 2022). Special thanks to EIC Amanda Earl for including my voice to Experiment-O and for creating fun projects like Flash-A-Ganza for writers to contribute to.
SEPTEMBER: 
15. Wave 11 podcast released (Iamb: Poetry Seen and Heard, 2022). Special thanks to Mark Antony Owen for including my poetry dealing with in-the-moment themes and for making the process sound so crystal clear.
16. Launch of Pandemic Love and Other Affinities, anthology [print] published by (Ice Floe Press, 2022). Special thanks to Moira Saucer and EIC Robert Frede Kenter for including my 2 visual ash poems.
OCTOBER:
17. Portrait Gallery Fundraiser: Raising Awareness for homeless women veterans and their children [online event]. Special thanks to event organizer Ms. Veteran America Finalist Terace Garnier for including my poppy calligram in the silent auction. Additional thanks to sponsors Uniting Us and many others. 
​18. Release of "Broken Bits: A Mental Health Experiment" [poetry short film], published by (Ice Floe Cinema, 2022). Lots of thanks to Ice Floe for helping erase the stigma surrounding mental health matters.
NOVEMBER:
19. One Year Publishing Anniversary [event] for Paper View and launch of poet laureate Derek Beaulieu's book with a video featuring a 1 second teaser of Ashes to Ashes [.51 -.52 secs of 36.16 mins]. This in-person party included Ashes to Ashes (Paper View Independent Publishing, 2022). Special thanks to Sal Nunkochov for layout, publishing, branding, distribution, and events bringing all Paper View independent publishing collections to the public.
​DECEMBER:
20. Launch of Issue 2 [print and online] published by (Cutbow Quarterly, 2022). Special thanks to EIC Arden Hunter for including my calligram "Skull Diptera" [page 23 of 66].

That's a wrap on my Top 20 of 2022. What a Year!!! 2023 Resolutions starting here soon. Keep an eye on my blog for all things art, literature, music, drama, folklore, and more.
Blessings to you and yours,
Xx Maggs

#goodbyeberfrois
DETAILS:
Berfrois, says goodbye.
CONCLUSION:
Special thanks to Russell Bennetts for publishing my pieces and thank you for creating such a massive archive for artists for such an impressive duration.

#merryeverything
DETAILS:
We are a multicultural family and blend many holiday traditions as a result. On the islands, a similar scene plays out over the holidays as swimwear and twinkling lights blink near the beach. For this visual poem, I created several birdfeed letters to hand from the palm trees. The letters spell out the Hawaiian word for Merry Christmas. The process is described in other blog posts. 
CONCLUSION:
This project was more labor intensive than I imagined. The letter M required several attempts and many other recipe issues and temperature fluctuations added to the time of the overall project. If I'm honest, it was a humid, sticky, hot mess. I will be taking a holiday from holiday letter birdsongs. 

#graphicartist
DETAILS:
Last year, I provided a fun upgrade to the Bird King Image. This year, that photo graphic was used as James Knight's profile image. What makes graphic art so fun, is that I can make subtle changes for big impact. Also, because I'm not concerned over the finished product, it is just a fun way to make art and reach a flow state.
CONCLUSION:
So far, I've created several pieces for various indie presses. It's a fun way to connect with fellow artists and help with branding. 

#nuclearfusion
DETAILS:
Paradigm shift.
CONCLUSION:
A transformative day for physics and humankind. A gift. 

#astrapapachristodoulou
DETAILS:
I first saw the constellations in Papachristodoulou's debut collection Constellations (Guillemot Press, 2022). Basically, anything Astra Papachristodoulou publishes should be studied and taught in universities. Her project weaves together David Bowie songs, art, and the greater mysteries of the universe. The craftsmanship of the book itself is exactly what you'd expect from the stunning Guillemot Press (hint* it twinkles). 
CONCLUSION:
Check out Berfrois for all the latest in literary news and then rush to buy your very own copy of Constellations because it is an instant classic in literature. 

#elflore
DETAILS:
It's no secret that I am both a leprechaun and an Elf. I've written and shared the lore of my Irish family many times. What is maybe less known, however, is that elves like cycling. These hands sew together pointy felt hats atop bicycle helmets and pom pons to cycling shoes. Santa's workshop is loaded with cycling elves working diligently to spread some holiday cheer. Everyone wants a bicycle from Santa!  Cycling Elves are practically famous in the North Pole. #cyclingelves
CONCLUSION:
Build the toys, deliver the presents, and make your community festive. Special thanks to Representative Abigail Spamberger for donating energy to making communities bike-friendly and safe. 

#steelincisors
DETAILS: 
Shopping for books is easy. Shopping for visual poetry books by indie presses is even better. Why allow a cent to go to a chainstore? Instead, check out an untamed Indie press like Steel Incisors. Don't let the fact that the National Poetry Library carries their titles fool you... these are edgy vispo books. P.S. I've contributed an object poem to an upcoming anthology (2023). 
CONCLUSION:
Follow Steel Incisors Press and buy some books for your holiday reading moments. Better yet, purchase a title, check out a title at the NatPo Library, or go Bah Humbug and wait for Krampus to toss you into a stocking. 

#SKULL
DETAILS:
Process: Calligram using the words Skull and fly repeatedly to form their images. 
CONCLUSION:
​See this work inside Issue 2 of Cutbow Quarterly: OUT NOW. 

#SANTA
DETAILS:
Ingredients: Wild bird seed, honey, flour, boxed Knor vegan gelatin, twine. Process: hand-roll mixed ingredients into letters. 
CONCLUSION:
This is a continuation of the bird song object poem I am creating this holiday season based on inspiration provided from Astra Papachristodoulou's The Poetry Birdbox Project teased in her Poem Atlas Instagram post. I have no idea what Astra has planned, but am certain it will be enjoyed by all the artists in her constellations. 

#BIRDSONG
DETAILS:
This idea was hatched after viewing a tiny bird house that was built and showcased on the Poem Atlas Instagram account. Process involves stirring together wild bird seed, vegan gelatin, flour, and honey. Each letter is hand-shaped and hangs on twine. As the wind rustles through the palms and the birds chip away their tasty treats, the melody changes. 
CONCLUSION:
Follow this site for more birdsong object poems. 

#STICKERPOEMS
DETAILS:
Inspo for this project was from a book by SJ Fowler entitled Sticker Poems (Trickhouse Press, 2022). In his visual poetry collection, Fowler uses bits of stickers he's collected since childhood. For this image, I used the stickers from various house moves and blended them into mishmash designs. The moving companies (which pack houses) use the stickers to track boxes within shipments. Each box gets a sticker which tracks the lot number and batch numbers. The boxes are placed inside wooden crates which then get transported to a much larger metal shipping container. These metal containers are eventually moved with a crane and boarded onto a huge shipping vessel for transport across the ocean. Once they reach their port of destination, the containers are offloaded and then stored at the seaport awaiting multiple pickups via semitrucks. These lorry vehicles travel cross-country and deliver the containers to various suburbs where a crew of movers offloads wooded crates from inside the lorry. Each crate is opened, and then movers bring cardboard boxes from the crate inside the home. Tracking sheets are used to determine all the precious items made it safely to their final destination. Stickers are used to organize and account for each box listed on the tracking sheet. Much like Fowler, I have saved some different colored stickers which were peeled from boxes and furniture during various moves.
CONCLUSION:
Follow along with my art experiments on the blog.

#LAUNCHISSUE2
DETAILS:
Issue 2 has launched.
CONCLUSION:
Download or Purchase a copy! LINK