Walt Curtis is a Portland, Oregon based poet, novelist, actor and painter. He was born on July 4, 1941 in Olympia, Washington. Gus van Sant's debut film, "Mala Noche" is based on Curtis's autobiographical novel of the same name. He co-founded the Oregon Cultural Heritage Commission. In 2010, Portland Mayor Sam Adams declared July 1–7, 2010 "Walt Curtis Week," in his honor.
This collection is comprised of Curtis's correspondence, poems, articles, books, and a documentary film; contains his correspondence with Poet William Stafford and current Oregon Poet laureate, Kim Stafford; also includes three of his books, "Mala Noche" (1997), "A to Z" (2011), and "Rhymes for Alice Bluelight" (1984); contains copies of poems by Curtis; contains newspaper articles written by Curtis; includes the documentary film he narrated, "Salmon Poet" (2009), and a recording of the KBOO radio program "The Talking Earth" by Kim Stafford and Matthew Dickman.
Collection is open for research.
Collection of photocopied poems with notes by Curtis including: The Ghastly Salmon, Salmon Song, Sandy River Meditation #1, Spawning Salmon on the Sandy, Salmon Woman, Earth and Moon [translated from Lorca], Meditation at Willamette Falls, The Gimp, The Immortals, The Sage, Trout, David Gallant, Al's Ghost Story, White Rose, Parable of Waterfall and Pool, Exit the Dragon: Bruce Lee, Ode to the Wine [translated from Neruda], and the Death of Shelley.