I thought we would have Steve Kowit around for a couple of decades—to listen to
and enjoy. I am so glad to have known Steve for many years as an activist. Then a year
ago [2014] he read his poems with Eleanor Antin for the exhibit
Labor-Migrant-Gulf at Southwestern College. He was
physical, challenging, pedagogical, outrageous, funny, and right on. I will cherish
that memory for the rest of my life. Here’s to you, Steve. So grateful to have
crossed your path. And so grateful for all that you have done in your writings,
especially the recent ones—for rights of Palestinians and a humane vision of the
Middle East. A true humanitarian and a fully realized human being.
—First published on 5 April 2015 in response to “Last Will by Steve
Kowit” in San Diego Free Press (3 April 2015); appears here with
author’s permission
interdisciplinary projects examine decorative motifs and how they intersect with
historical and geopolitical legacies. Related activities include teaching, curating,
writing, and activism. Her art is housed in several public collections in the United
States and abroad. She works with the American Civil Liberties Union, is a core member
of Gulf Labor, and co-founder of Gulf Labor West. Bittar received a Masters of Fine
Arts from the University of California, San Diego and teaches at California State
University, San Marcos.
www.dorisbittar.com