Currently, echoes is about paths of change. Life is not a straight line down a flat road. There are twists and hills and forks that derail us on our journeys. Our games are inspired by poems that push back against the well-trodden paths and ponder the marks people leave on our hearts. This semester we echo the paths of poets.
John Roche is a poet located in New Mexico who has been heavily involved with the poetry scene in the Rochester/Finger Lakes region. An Emeritus Associate Professor at RIT, Roche taught Creative Writing and Literature classes for decades and was formerly President of Just Poets in Rochester, NY, a member of the board of BOA Editions, chief organizer of the Black Mountain North Symposium, and an instigator of the annual Cloudburst Council poets' retreat in the Finger Lakes.
Gail Hosking is a poet, memoirist, and retired RIT instructor located in Rochester, NY. She is the author of the memoir Snake’s Daughter, and three books of poems, Adieu, Retrieval, and The Tug. Her essays and poems have appeared in such places as Waxwing, South Dakota Review, Nimrod International, and Lillith Magazine. Some pieces have been anthologized. Gail has an MFA from Bennington Writing Seminars and several Pushcart nominations.
Paulette Swartzfager is a poet, freelance journalist, essayist, and activist originally from New Orleans who moved to Rochester, NY after Katrina. Now retired, she taught Writing and Creative Writing in New Orleans and Rochester: University of New Orleans, Loyola University of New Orleans, and Rochester Institute of Technology. Her poems have been included in various anthologies. Her work has also served as inspiration for various jazz and theater productions.
Dream Swimmer immerses you in the serene environment of your local indoor pool, where an extraordinary revelation awaits: every time you dive beneath the surface, you’re transported to the boundless expanse of the ocean. This hidden world beckons to you, filled with vibrant marine life and uncharted territories. Yet, your physical form presents a challenge. Each breath draws you back to the surface, tethering you to reality.
Inspired by The Myth of the Nutria by Paulette Swartzfager, Myth of Change follows you as you leave home, exploring the discomfort and anxiety associated with change. After you have your goodbyes with your father, you set out on a road trip towards your new life. While on the road, you'll speak with loved ones to help you process your feelings on this journey. And, in the end, you'll reach a point of acceptance with this change.
Explore emotions like nostalgia and childlike joy as you make your way through a boardwalk, collect items, and trade with people to achieve your goal of obtaining the most amazing thing you can imagine: a jelly donut!
Play as a curious child in the 1960s, one too young to know the events going on around them. Your parents won't let on what's really going on, and they want you to be distracted with your toys and games. Slowly learn what your parents are scared of while you play, and piece together exactly what they aren't telling you.