o r l a n d o
Bio & CV
Eden Orlando - Poet, Artist, Bookmaker
Eden Orlando has been making books, writing poetry, and creating art for over twenty years. Born into a family of writers and artists, she spent her childhood in Venice Beach, California, surrounded by the arts influences of greater Los Angeles and her mother painting on large canvasses in the kitchen after work. ​She attended a private liberal arts high school where she started writing poetry, was an editor for her school's literary arts journal, and developed a passion for activism. She published her first book of poetry, Progressions of a Once Suicidal Poet (2007), when she was eighteen. She was also eighteen when she first wrote love poems to singer-songwriter, MarioG, who then first turned her poems into songs. These songs would later appear on his album, Eternal Hills (2013).
Eden attended college at the University of California, Santa Cruz where she studied poetry from Poet Laureate, Gary Young, and received a B.A. in Community Studies, a social justice major, with an emphasis on homelessness studies. She self-published three poetry books during this period, A Body in Green (2009), Bodies of Water (2011), and Dreams (2011), poetry about surviving childhood trauma and coming of age into adulthood. She won third place in the UC-wide Ina Coolbrith Poetry Competition for her poem, "Parrots."
Photo credit: Eden Orlando
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After college, Eden lived and worked at The Ojai Foundation, a spiritual retreat center in Ojai, California for a two-week work retreat that turned into an eight month stay from 2011-2012. While tending to the land and living in a tent on the mountain, she attended numerous workshops on the healing arts, including sweat lodge ceremonies and a vision quest, and met a mentor who helped her to integrate these experiences. Through land work and various techniques to stay present and notice her thoughts, she moved from her head into her body in a profound shift that lifted fifteen years of depression. She documented these epiphanies through poetry as part of her process. She wrote The Ojai Poems: Journey of a Spiritual Nomad, a nine-part chapbook series that encompassed her return to Los Angeles and her struggle to integrate this experience with her life in the city.
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In 2013 she moved to the island of Kauai after following her visions of seeing the island. She lived for a year and half on an organic farm, first in a tent, then a shipping container, cabin, and then back into a tent. Kauai, described by the Dalai Lama as "the place where our souls enter the Earth," opened her spiritually, allowed her to find happiness within herself, and it was here that she decided that she wanted to be an artist. She began making collages at the coffee shop where she worked, with her poetry and art attempting to reflect those experiences and visions. She started a jewelry business, Dream By Eden, and sold jewerly in three stores on the island. She continued creating collages and writing poetry about Kauai after she returned to Venice Beach. It wouldn't be for another six years that she would finally publish Seed Pearls: Kauai Poems (2020). The book is available for preview and purchase on blurb.com.
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Eden moved to Ashland, Oregon by first living on an organic farm in a tent again before finding a job as a cashier and moving into a one-room cabin in the woods. For the next five years, she continued to write to process various traumas, such as estrangement from family, sexuality, pregnancy, abortion, mental health, racism, homelessness, domestic violence, the pandemic, and the Almeda fire of September 2020. Using flower medicine as a theme and a metaphor for self-love, romantic love, and the divine, she published My Perfect Offering: A Novel in Poems (2021), complete with acrylic paintings, spiritual collages, and painted dresses. The book is available for preview and purchase on blurb.com.
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The Almeda fire of 2020 particularly influenced her, and she pulled from her years as a literary arts journal editor to create an anthology of writers and artists who had experienced this traumatic event as a tool for collective community healing and to bring more arts to the valley. Twenty-three writers and artists contributed their work to The Rogue Valley Oregon Wildfires Anthology (2021), a 108-page book. Eden purchased and gave away the anthology for free to members of the community at a publishing event at Lithia Park, one year after the fire. Contributors and community members alike gathered to share their work and experiences, grieve and celebrate each other. The book is available for a full preview and purchase for the cost to print online at blurb.com.
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The Rogue Valley Pollinator Anthology (2022), the second anthology in the series, edited by Eden Orlando and Kristina Lefever (volunteer President of PPRV), features the work of 65 contributing writers, artists, and activists on the subject of local, native pollinators. This 316-page book focuses on native butterflies, moths, flies, beetles, hummingbirds, bees, the European honey bee, ecology, activism, and children's activities. Editors and contributors alike participated in a two-month gallery show at Catalyst Ashland from May through June 2022 and were interviewed by Ashland News and KTVL/News-10. Editors were interviewed on the radio with Jefferson Public Radio (JPR). Editor Eden Orlando was featured in SOPBS's "The Work of Art" by Vanessa Finney in September 2022. Proceeds from the sale of the anthology benefit Pollinator Project Rogue Valley. You may purchase the anthology by visiting PPRV's website, going in-store to their Phoenix, OR location, at Catalyst Ashland in Ashland, OR, or at Old World Artifacts in Ashland, OR.
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In 2022, Eden had six videos of her poetry and six fine art images accepted into SOU's "Bodylogues" private virtual exhibit on the subject of gender and sexuality. Her illustrated poetry book, My Perfect Offering: A Novel in Poems (2021), was accepted into the SOU's 2022 Fringe Festival. Ten paintings, including two painted dresses, and ten poems, from her book were displayed in a gallery show at the Marion Addy Building during the festival and online. She also participated in a reading of her work and Q & A session after. In 2022 she also began collaborating with multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter, Casey Gina. They first performed four songs at The Gathering of Goodness in Medford, OR in June 2022. In August 2022, The Speak Easy Presents by Blaine Lindsey featured their sixteen song show, "Mermaid From the Sea," at The Shrine in Ashland, OR. In 2023, she established Fig Eater Press, formerly Paradise Press, as her publishing company for all of her personal art projects. She is currently recording an album with Casey Gina through tiny choir productions. Eden continues to paint on dresses, make up songs, bind books, garden, and go to therapy. :)
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To see more art, follow her
IG: @eden.orlando.art
or email her at:
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Education
2007-2012
University of California, Santa Cruz
B.A. in Community Studies
2003 - 2007
Crossroads School for the Arts & Sciences
Santa Monica, CA
Awards
2009
"Parrots"
Winner, 3rd Place, UC-wide Ina Coolbrith Poetry Competition
2011
Paying Our Rent on the Earth: Shelter as a Commodity and Why We Need a Sustainable Housing Movement in Venice Beach, California
Honors, Community Studies Dept. Senior Thesis
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Media
2022
Interviewed as Editor for The Rogue Valley Pollinator Anthology for Ashland.News, "‘Pollinator Anthology’ book and art show seek to create buzz, make people be more aware of pollinators’ critical role" by Art Van Kraft
2022
2022
2022
Interviewed as Editor for The Rogue Valley Pollinator Anthology by Jefferson Public Radio, "Artists in the Rogue Valley are releasing a new book featuring artwork about bees and other pollinators." by Roman Battaglia
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Interviewed as Editor for The Rogue Valley Pollinator Anthology by KTVL/ News 10, "Artists come together for Rogue Valley Pollinator Anthology book, gallery show" by Ambar Rodriguez.
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Featured artist and editor of The Rogue Valley Anthology Series for Southern Oregon PBS series, "The Work of Art," by Vanessa Finney.
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Exhibitions
Solo
2016
"Seed Pearls: Kauai Poems"
Selected collages & poems on my life on Kauai
Featured Artist, The Venice Art Walk
The Moving Joint, Venice Beach, CA
2022
"My Perfect Offering: A Novel in Poems"
Gallery show. Ten selected poems & paintings, & poetry reading
Featured Artist, Oregon Fringe Festival
Southern Oregon University, Ashland, OR
Group
2018
"Because He Was 'Driving Black:' An Effect of Police Brutality on an Intimate Partnership"
Short skit featured in the show, "Heartbeats of Truth," directed by J'aime Powell
The Grange, Ashland, OR
2022
"Bodylogues"
Five fine art images & five poetry videos
Featured Artist from the community in the virtual show for SOU's Gender & Sexuality class
Southern Oregon University, Ashland, OR
2022
"The Rogue Valley Pollinator Anthology"
Featuring two painted dresses & talks by the artist & creator of The Rogue Valley Anthology series
Artist & Gallery Show Co-Coordinator
Presenting the work of artists published in The Rogue Valley Pollinator Anthology
May - June, Catalyst Ashland, Ashland, OR
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Publications
2006-2007
Dark as Day: Creative Writing & Arts Journal
Co-Editor-in-Chief/Poetry Editor
Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences, Santa Monica, CA
Gold Medal Award, 2007
2007
Progressions
Author, Venice Beach, CA
Hand-bound, self-published, limited edition, one copy.
2009
A Body in Green
Author, Santa Cruz, CA
Hand-bound, self-published, limited edition, one copy.
2011
Dreams
Author, Santa Cruz, CA
Hand-bound, self-published, limited edition, 10 copies.
2011
Bodies of Water
Author, Santa Cruz, CA
Hand-bound, self-published, limited edition, 40 copies.
2011-2017
The Ojai Poems: Journey of a Spiritual Nomad
Author, Ashland, OR
Hand-bound, self-published, limited edition, one copy each.
2015
2017
2018
2017
2017
2017
2018
2017
2017
BOOK I: The Ojai Poems
BOOK II: Noble Silence
BOOK III: First Winter Outside
BOOK IV: Rainbow Goddesses
BOOK V: Gaviota, California
BOOK VI: The Growing Home
BOOK VII: The Typewriter Poems
BOOK VIII: The Target Poems
BOOK IX: September Nest
2016
The Kitchen Poems
Author, Ashland, OR
Hand-bound, self-published, limited edition, one copy.
2016
Fourth of July
Author, Ashland, OR
Hand-bound, self-published, limited edition, one copy.
2020
Seed Pearls: Kauai Poems
Author, Ashland, OR
Self-published. Hardcopy & preview available on blurb.com
2021
My Perfect Offering: A Novel in Poems
Author, Ashland, OR
Self-published. Hardcopy & preview available on blurb.com
2021
The Rogue Valley Oregon Wildfires Anthology
Editor & series creator, Medford, OR
Self-published. Hardcopy (at the cost to print) & full-page preview available on blurb.com
2022
The Rogue Valley Pollinator Anthology
Editor & series creator, Phoenix, OR
Also edited by Kristina Lefever.
Self-published. Hardcopy available at various locations in southern Oregon.
2023
The Ojai Poems: Best Poems
Author, Medford, OR
Self-published. Available soon on blurb.com.
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Music
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2007 Wax Wings
Lyrics by Eden Orlando.
Music & vocals by MarioG.
Eternal Hills (2012) album by MarioG, available on Bandcamp
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2007 Love Letter to No One
Lyrics by Eden Orlando.
Chorus, music & vocals by MarioG.
Eternal Hills (2012) album by MarioG, available on Bandcamp
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2013 Put My Hands in the Soil
Lyrics by Eden Orlando.
Music & vocals by MarioG.
Eternal Hills (2012) album by MarioG, available on Bandcamp
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2013 Palate of Tongues
Lyrics by Eden Orlando.
Music & vocals by MarioG.
Eternal Hills (2012) album by MarioG, available on Bandcamp
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2013 Hot Springs
Lyrics by Eden Orlando.
Music & vocals by MarioG.
Available on Soundcloud
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2017 Rose Shampoo
Lyrics, vocals, & ukulele by Eden Orlando.
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2017 Mermaid from the Sea
Lyrics, melody, vocals & recording by Eden Orlando.
Melody, ukulele, & vocals by Nei LaFleur.
Vocals by Namid Wolf.
Available on Soundcloud.com
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2022 Rose Shampoo
Lyrics, vocals, spoken word, melody & ukulele chords by Eden Orlando.
Ukulele & shakers by Casey Gina.
Mixed & recorded by Namid Wolf @ tiny choir productions.
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2022 Mermaid from the Sea
Lyrics, melody, & vocals by Eden Orlando.
Melody & ukulele chords by Nei LaFleur.
Vocals & ukulele played by Casey Gina.
Vocals, mixed & recorded by Namid Wolf @ tiny choir productions.
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2022 The Aphrodite
Lyrics & melody by Eden Orlando.
Melody, vocals, & harp by Casey Gina.
Mixed & recorded by Namid Wolf @ tiny choir productions.
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2022 Darling
Lyrics, melody, back up vocals, & rain stick by Eden Orlando.
Melody, lead vocals, ukulele, & violin by Casey Gina.
Shakers, mixed & recorded by Namid Wolf @ tiny choir productions.
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2022 Venus Retrograde
Lyrics, melody, & Lake Tahoe recorded sounds by Eden Orlando.
Melody, vocals, & harp by Casey Gina.
Mixed & recorded by Namid Wolf @ tiny choir productions.
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2022 The Rose
Lyrics & melody by Eden Orlando.
Melody, vocals, & harp by Casey Gina.
Mixed & recorded by Namid Wolf @ tiny choir productions.
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2022 Drink Water
Spoken word by Eden Orlando.
Harp by Casey Gina.
Mixed & recorded by Namid Wolf @ tiny choir productions.
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2022 Small Voice
Lyrics by Eden Orlando.
Melody, vocals, & kalimba by Casey Gina.
Mixed & recorded by Namid Wolf @ tiny choir productions.
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2023 Vulture Medicine
Lyrics, vocals & Lithia river sounds by Eden Orlando.
Violin by Casey Gina.
Guitar by Casey House.
Mixed & recorded by Namid Wolf @ tiny choir productions.
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202- Kauai Call
Lyrics & melody by Eden Orlando.
Melody, vocals, & harp by Casey Gina.
Mixed & recorded by Namid Wolf @ tiny choir productions.
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Workshops
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2009 “Multicultural Community Weekend”
Co-facilitator, UC Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA
Designed and presented interactive material on privilege, ally-ship, diversity,
assumptions, etc. for college students who elected the two-day retreat course.
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2010 “Compassionate Communication”
Co-facilitator/Intern, Westlake Elementary School, Santa Cruz, CA
Partnered with the teacher to facilitate Non-Violent Communication curriculum to
second grade class for three months to de-escalate bullying situations utilizing
learned and practiced empathy communication skills.
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2013 “Poetry Manuscript & Book Arts Workshop”
Co-facilitator with Mario G, Various cafes in West Hollywood, CA
Facilitated weekly open community poetry editing, manuscript, and book arts
workshop for one month.
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2013 “Book Arts Design & Production”
Co-facilitator with Mario G & Susan Turner Jones
Sierra Canyon High School, Venice, CA
Students created a literary arts anthology pairing writing and art pieces, choosing
fonts/ themes, proofreading, creating a simple mock-up in Word, and hand-binding
their books. Five-day production workshop.
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2014 “Free Community Poetry Workshop”
Workshop Facilitator, Small Town Coffee Co., Kapa’a, HI
Facilitated weekly open community poetry writing workshop with prompts. Participants wrote poems, shared their work, and were given feedback for three
months.
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2014 “Organic Farm Tour Field Trip”
Coordinator/Co-host with Sol Kahn, Rising Sun Organic Farms, Anahola, HI
Delighted kindergarteners planted starts; picked and cleaned veggies; walked
through an orchard planted with tropical fruit trees; and ate dishes made from the
farm’s produce.
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2015 “Wire-wrapping, Crimping, and Leather-Working Class”
Co-instructor, Bead Source, Los Angeles, CA
Students completed one finished bracelet using all three techniques in this 2-hour
class.
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2016 “Goddess Circle”
Co-Facilitator, Ashland, OR
Utilized talking piece, oracle cards, and sacred ceremonies; women came together
monthly to my home for four months.
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2017 “Divine Flower Messages”
Designer and Facilitator, The Goddess Temple at The Wellsprings, Ashland, OR
Gave participants knowledge of flower medicine, balanced with reflection and
opportunities for expression through poetry and art.
2017 “Poetry Writing & Manuscript Workshop”
Designer and Facilitator, Facebook group, Ashland, OR
Guided poetry writing with prompts of well-known poets’ writings, taught feedback
techniques, and gave clear feedback to each participant. Weekly nine month
course.
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2022 “Songwriting Workshop"
Co-Designer & Facilitator, Performer, The Shrine, Ashland, OR
Performed ten original songs with singer-songwriter, Casey Gina prior to workshop.
Encouraged participants with varying levels of songwriter experience to collaborate
in groups to develop and sing original melodies; provided various published poems
from famous poets to work from as lyrics, or participants provided their own writing;
participants were then given the stage to present the in-progress song to the room.
2022 “End of the Year Staff Closeout Workshop”
Designer and Facilitator, Progress Head Start Center, Medford, OR
Presented in-person workshop for center staff. Guided participants with: Non-
Violent Communication techniques to identify needs and feelings from their
day/week; appreciation share of a staff member after retrieving their name out of a
hat; sound healing techniques with breathing, toning, and the esoteric meaning
behind each corresponding chakra; and poetry writing workshop with the four
senses. Participants sat in a circle and shared during each section using a talking
piece.
2022 “Sound Healing Workshop”
Designer and Facilitator, Ashland Head Start Center, Ashland, OR
Presented in-person workshop using Microsoft Powerpoint for center staff. Guided
participants with self-care techniques using Non-Violent Communication
techniques to identify needs and feelings from their day/week, and sound healing
techniques with breathing, toning, and the esoteric meaning behind each
corresponding chakra.
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