Randee Silv
October 2026
the voyages
alchemy limes & tangerines
Marica Arrieta
BlazeVOX, 2026
Randee Silv:
You introduce each section of your latest book the voyages alchemy limes & tangerines with quotes from Neruda, Woolf, Vicuna, & Paz, which does set the tone for your poems that follow. But I’m most curious about your mention of Remedios Varo. Could you share more about this connection?
Marcia Arrieta:
Remedios Varo—her life, art, philosophies have always held a fascination for me—from the origin of her first name, to her Spanish heritage (various parallels to mine, including the challenge of the Spanish patriarchy), & her love of the surreal & nature & the animal kingdom, to her vast experiences & places she traveled & lived. I find her to be an inspiring iconoclast, muse, & kindred spirit. Intuitive, unique she blends the dreamworld with the real, leading us into new worlds/ideas; how our pasts reflect the present/future, the mystery within/outside ourselves.
When I view her work, I see the creations of the soul, the fantastical, the mysterious, the sublime —where imagination, intellect, spirituality, & psychology interweave— sparking interior/exterior dialogues. Her life, & art filled with imagery & symbols, often give me an impetus to create & at times reveal parts of my own diverse worlds through poetry, painting, drawing, collage. She as well as others to whom I allude in my writing are the driving forces behind the voyages.
Randee Silv:
As I read your poems, I can definitely feel everything you’re speaking about. You express this beautifully. I was curious if ideas just come together spontaneous for you or do you spend time rewriting and rethinking how you want words to move on each page?
Marcia Arrieta:
writing for me is life. language a gift. the words spark ideas. ideas spark words.
it is often an escape from reality–so thinking less is crucial, trusting the flow
essential
i have always been greatly inspired by reading, art, film, music, philosophy, nature, traveling, teaching, learning–all reflected in my work throughout the years
in/while writing, i follow the ideas, the clues, the signs whatever however they may
appear & then lead
i see the poet as an architect of language. poetry is art. art poetry.
sometimes punctuation other times without same applies to capitalization
sentence(s) fragment(s) word (s)
the poem decides apart together open
the way the words appear in the poem is integral to its essence
do i rewrite—rethink? rarely occasionally more so redesign
stream of consciousness writing has always appealed to me as has the minimal
in writing, the poem usually works or it doesn’t & the freedom that gives me
allows me to move forward
Randee Silv:
Such a poetic answer and so creatively expressed. Your words are so inspiring. I share so many of the some thoughts. You’ve published numerous poets as the editor of the literary journal Indefinite Space that you launched in 1992. What inspired you to start this project and what have been some of the challenges been to keep it going?
Marcia Arrieta:
When I think of Indefinite Space, I think about the passage of time—
how the first issue was published in 1992 as the result of a grant I received
from the Pasadena Arts Council for Literary Arts—Poetry in 1991, & how I then
wished to share the grant & recognize others by publishing their work in a
poetry/art journal for the nation & the world, which has continued throughout the years.
Currently as I write this, the 34th 2026 issue is in the works…. although
behind as
usual….since life happens…. yet Indefinite Space somehow miraculously
continues to
materialize & exist, all for which I am very grateful
The continued creation of this journal with the help of others, has given me a sense
of freedom & space apart from the houses, the classrooms, the realities—
it is really an entity of its own without definition…. a bit different, elusive, wandering
like a dream or dreams manifesting creating /existing across continents—
earth & water, clouds, stars, rays of light, highways—with the sounds of the
ancients or maybe owls heard in the distance —connecting communicating
intersecting—circles, lines—thoughts, ideals, emotions & stories the years bring
forth & how then we ultimately become responsible to carry them forward—
written words & images on the page
Indefinite Space—
a beautiful gift from the universe, a gift from poets & artists sharing their work
to be part of a larger field—a field with no explanation biography critique—
created with love & hope for free expression—poems & art alive in small books
to be delivered by mail, held in the quiet of our hands, read, & shared—
hopefully helping/inspiring each other on our journeys as we continue through life
like unique birds flying into & out of ourselves, responding, sparking further work
& imagination—supporting, motivating, renewing one another
Randee Silv:
You’ve done an amazing job of keeping Indefinite Space happening for all these years. Each issue has its own magical spark, each giving voice to a very dynamic community of poets & artists. I know you must receive an incredible amount of submissions, and it’s got to be challenging figuring out what to include. As the editor, what do you look for when reviewing submissions, and how do you decide on what work you’ll publish?
Marcia Arrieta:
I often think the poems & art in each issue of Indefinite Space somehow choose
one another & as the editor, I am simply a conduit for them. With grace & luck they
manifest & it is all really a gift as to how they come together & the individual |
issues are born
The journal has a penchant for the experimental; different, unique voices;
fewer words than more (but not always); & of course an interweaving of nature,
history, art, & philosophy. It is a place for the eclectic—where ideas, feelings,
images appear & coalesce; sometimes question, challenge, & inspire
I believe as a poet, writer, artist, editor that when one begins to analyze
the process or the work too much, it begins to lose its essence as it must
be discovered & interpreted by the reader/viewer to truly exist
In this often difficult, challenging, technological universe in which we now find
ourselves—the creation of Indefinite Space becomes even more important &
necessary, & I as editor with the help of many talented, generous, good people
make it a reality—a small offering of imagination & creativity for the world—
glimmers of hope, light, & understanding
Randee Silv:
Experimental. Provoking curiosity & wonderment. Yes, you are doing just that. Keeping Indefinite Space alive as well as your own writing is essential. Besides the voyages alchemy limes & tangerines, you’ve also published other books of poetry. You have your own unique way of engaging with language, imagery, & the spaces in between. Are there any new projects in the works? Or are you just seeing what organically evolves?
Marcia Arrieta:
I am truly grateful for my books & the editors & presses who have brought them
into the world—you & Arteidolia, Geoffrey Gatza/BlazeVOX, Mark Young/Otoliths,
Kristy Bowen/Dancing Girl Press, Myrna Goodman & Meredith Trede /Toadlily Press,
& Peter Ganick/potes & poets. The books become my cornerstones as my work & life
progress—the pages of time, reflections, inspirations, experiences, ideas.
The books are the oaks The editors & presses the galleons The poems & writing
are the rivers The art mirrors of the universe as the known & unknown manifest
Considering I write poems & prose by hand nearly every day, I always find myself
with a great deal of work when I finally make the time to read through the pieces &
choose the possible worthy ones to type & then assemble in manuscript form to send
out for publication. As a result, there are always book projects in the works, as well
as creating altered books, paintings, mixed media pieces, & collages; the key being
not to get overwhelmed, find the balance & stay focused & disciplined to in fact
complete the projects to share with others, so they don’t become lost
Essential to everything of course is my family whom I greatly love & are my mainstay,
as well as nature, reading, my home & gardens, & especially travel which leads me
into new landscapes, people, cultures, histories, philosophies, literature & art
that inspire further work to develop. I also hope to get back to teaching very soon since
I have always found those experiences equally illuminating as I bring in various disciplines
with a humanities approach
Curiously as I was walking this morning & thinking of the last interview question,
I thought once again of finding an old, abandoned door with windows that I could
paint with many colors & designs, incorporating language, & then place it in our
garden near our blue heron & magical oak, as the sunflowers bloom
For more info on the voyages alchemy limes & tangerines →
For more on Indefinite Space →