Patsy Rahn

About the Author

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Patsy Rahn is a poet, writer, and photographer. While her poetry and photography are distinct forms of expression, both reflect her desire to share her perception of the world, including revealing magic in the mundane and new angles of experience.

 

Biography and Background

 

Patsy Rahn began her artistic journey in Toronto, Canada, attending the National Ballet School before pursuing a career in theater, television and film in Toronto, New York, and Los Angeles. Later, she returned to academia, earning a BA in political science from UCLA and a Masters in East Asian Languages and Cultures from Indiana University. Following her two decades as an actress, she worked for the artist Sam Francis, and then at the IU Eskenazi Museum of Art from which she earned her retirement.

 

Literary Work

 

Rahn’s writing has appeared in various journals and anthologies in the Untied States and Britain.

 

Her poetry explores themes of self-awareness and human experience. Her first poetry collection, The Grainy Wet Soul, was self-published in 2019, and her second collection, Will Humanity Say Goodbye to the Universe?, will be available in 2026.

 

Her poetry has been described as “intense, lyrical, and precise”, and that she is a poet “who fearlessly and lyrically dances directly into the unapproachable”.

 

She has given public readings in Toronto, Los Angles, and Bloomington, Indiana, and is a founding member and chairperson emerita of the Writers Guild at Bloomington. In 2021 Rahn received the People’s Choice Award from the 5th Open Eurasian Literary Festival of Festivals.

 

Her academic writing is published in various publications, including Contemporary China Studies, Nova Religio, and Asia Media.

 

You can listen to some of her readings as well as her sound works at her author website: www.patsyrahn.com

 

Photography

 

As a photographer, Rahn’s work captures ordinary moments and reframes them in visually compelling ways, as seen in her exhibition, Magic in the Mundane at the Monroe County Convention Center in Bloomington. You can view her photography on the website Skillfully Curled Photography, and prints are available by request. She also has a line of greeting cards featuring images created from her photographs designed specifically for the card format. The cards are currently sold only in stores but will soon be available from her website.

 

Public Engagement

 

Rahn actively participates in the literary and art community through readings and exhibitions. Her poetry has been featured on WFIU’s program The Poets Weave, and she continues to engage audiences through live readings, recordings, and videos.

 

Her work exemplifies literary and visual storytelling, offering both reflective and immersive experiences for her audience.

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