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writing

poems. essays. short stories.

cultural identity, etymology, language, translation, science as metaphor, pop culture, location, mental health

poetry

A Flower Petal Space (2018) 

Winner of the Iowa Chapbook Prize 

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“‘A Flower Petal Space’ is a creative mix of English and Korean that explores Ashley’s mind as she uses experimental poetry and personal prose to understand her hyphenated identity as a Korean American.

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What is it like from the perspective of a constant whirlwind of evolution? What could possibly grow there? And if anything does grow there, does it last?” ~from the editors

Reading at Prairie Lights in Iowa City for Iowa Chapbook Prize event 

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Within Sight (2019)

Collaboration with jazz composer Alexandro Cazares 

This collaboration started by coincidence; Ashley went to a performance where Alexandro played, wrote a poem in response to it, then sent it to him. From there, the idea came to create a poetry collection to parallel Within Sight, Alexandro's debut album and capstone project for his masters in Jazz Studies at the University of Iowa.

 

Ashley wrote the poems as a response guided in part by Alexandro's process. The hope is that the poems will supplement the pieces and create a deeper level of experience for Within Sight

With Gabrielle Kershaw,

the artist who created the

cover for the chapbook. 

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Ashley, Alexandro, and Within Sight 

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Within Sight was shared with the world at an intimate house party where Alexandro performed select pieces and Ashley read through the collection. The event was recorded live and is available to listen through.

Within Sight album listening party

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Welcome to MADANG: 
an anthology
fractals of identity:
an exhibition

an anthology of twelve pieces of writing, art, and music by Korean diaspora on the theme of home. 

a collaboration with composer Jacob Heeren and visual artist Gabrielle Kershaw, featuring alternative translations (English to Korean) from Ashley. 

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