“In such a time of perhaps unprecedented impermanence, it is these last blank spots on the map that the eye often turns toward, dreaming of integrity, wholeness, and restoration; of the absence of fragmentation.” —Rick Bass

Rick Bass’ essays, books and novels deal in hard and ancient truths, in grand schemes and in an era where the cultures, species and untrammeled lands developed over thousands — or billions — of years are quickly vanishing.

He writes of the movement of glaciers, of quirky characters who populate remote pockets of the country and of the immense significance of our last remaining wild places. And he does so with a voice that is courageous and eloquent, conveying urgent themes of defending our places without shrieking or shouting.

Bass, who has become one of the most prolific contemporary writers of the West, is coming to Telluride this weekend for a workshop, reading and talk.

He will host a non-fiction writing workshop on Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Wilkinson Public Library. The cost of the workshop is $20, and space is limited.

Then, on Saturday night, Bass will give a talk entitled “Landscape and Imagination,” at 6 p.m. at the Michael D. Palm Theatre, during which he will offer readings and discuss connections between land and imagination. The suggested donation is $10.

Bass was born in Texas, but now resides in Montana’s Yaak Valley, a vast landscape of blue and green mountains threaded with icy rivers in the northwest corner of the state, where a tiny population of families make their homes. From his home in the Yaak, Bass spends his days working on legislation with the grassroots organization, The Yaak Valley Forest Council, churning out letters of activism, writing essays about nature and non-fiction, and hanging out with his wife, artist Elizabeth Hughes, and their two daughters.

His eloquent essays and stories of the Valley and his themes of preservation have made the writer synonymous with the Yaak.

And at his talk on Friday, Bass said, he’ll draw from his connections with the place.
“I’ll do some reading about what it’s like up here,” Bass said. “I’ll give people some context about what it’s like to be a person up here and what it’s like to write up here.”
The Yaak, he said, is big country of soft and rolling bluegreen mountains where rain often falls. Troy, population less than 1,000, and Libby, population 2,600, are both about an hour away.

“It’s real Pacific Northwest. It’s very much kind of rainforest-like, and remote, it feels like Alaska at times,” Bass said.

Over the years of living there, Bass has waged a battle to save the wild place from roads and development. Currently, the Yaak Valley Forest Council is close to wrapping up a piece of legislation, years in the making, that will protect some of the wilderness up there.

And while much of the work as been tedious and boring, “the news is exciting,” he said.
At the workshop on Saturday morning, Bass will take a practical approach to non-fiction writing, giving writers tips on common mistakes to avoid, potential restraints in their work and discipline. 

“[Writing] is not easy. You can’t teach the passion or the courage or emotion that drives writing, but you can instruct about common mistakes … things to watch out for when you are working,” he said.

The workshop for those who already have the fire to write and want to hone their work, he said, not for those seeking motivation.

“If you need motivation, it’s too late anyway,” he said.

Jenine Durland, Program Coordinator at the library, said that when she started working at the library, her and Library Director Barb Brattin were talking about people they would like to get to speak.

“[Bass] was at the top of both of our lists,” she said.

His spirit of activism is a good match for Telluride, she said.

“What I think is really fascinating about him is that he’s become such a prolific voice outside of Montana, even though he writes from such a remote place,” she said. “I think that’s really relevant for Telluride in the sense that we’re obviously isolated, but we’ve got a lot going on here as well.”

To sign up for the workshop, call Jenine at 728-4519, extension 20. Space is filling up pretty fast, she said.