Siv Cedering
Encyclopedia
Siv Cedering was an award-winning Swedish-American poet
, writer
, and artist
. She occasionally published as Siv Cedering Fox.
in rural Överkalix
, Norrbotten County
, Sweden
, the middle of three children. She began writing poetry at age 8. At 14, she immigrated with her family to San Francisco, where she graduated from Lowell High School.
, as well as in English
, her second language, publishing a total of 20 books and four works of translation. She also wrote plays, screenplays, music, television programs, and was a widely exhibited painter and sculptor. She was self-taught, having never received any formal training, though she was mentored by such notable poets as William Stafford. She later went on teach in Graduate and Undergraduate writing programs all over the country.
Ms. Cedering won the Best Book of the Year Award in Sweden
for her first novel Playing in the Pig House. The story, about a little pink pig, began a series of children's books, some of which were adapted into an animated television series, for which she wrote the music and provided the character drawings. Another of her novels, Oxen, was made into a film in 1991 starring Stellan Skarsgård
and directed by Sven Nykvist
, Ingrid Bergman's
longtime cinematographer. Oxen went on to receive an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
.
Ms. Cedering's poetry and prose have appeared in over 200 anthologies, textbooks, and magazines, including Harper's, Ms., Science, and The New Republic. She also wrote musicals for children and won prizes and grants for her screenplays. While gaining success as a poet and fiction writer, Ms. Cedering expressed herself in the visual arts, mastering the techniques of both painting and sculpture with a skill that led to her work being exhibited first in the Hamptons
and later throughout the United States.
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
, writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
, and artist
Artist
An artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse is a practitioner in the visual arts only...
. She occasionally published as Siv Cedering Fox.
Early life
Siv Cedering was born 30 kilometers south of the arctic circleArctic Circle
The Arctic Circle is one of the five major circles of latitude that mark maps of the Earth. For Epoch 2011, it is the parallel of latitude that runs north of the Equator....
in rural Överkalix
Överkalix
Överkalix is a locality and the seat of Överkalix Municipality in Norrbotten County, Sweden with 946 inhabitants in 2005.- Buildings and Structures :* 330 metres tall guyed mast for FM-/TV-broadcasting at 66°18'5" N, 22°51'13" E...
, Norrbotten County
Norrbotten County
Norrbotten County is the northernmost county or län of Sweden. It borders Västerbotten County to the southwest, the Gulf of Bothnia to the southeast. It also borders the counties of Nordland and Troms in Norway to the northwest, and Lapland Province in Finland to the northeast.The name...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, the middle of three children. She began writing poetry at age 8. At 14, she immigrated with her family to San Francisco, where she graduated from Lowell High School.
Career
A poet and fiction writer, Siv Cedering wrote many books in her native SwedishSwedish language
Swedish is a North Germanic language, spoken by approximately 10 million people, predominantly in Sweden and parts of Finland, especially along its coast and on the Åland islands. It is largely mutually intelligible with Norwegian and Danish...
, as well as in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, her second language, publishing a total of 20 books and four works of translation. She also wrote plays, screenplays, music, television programs, and was a widely exhibited painter and sculptor. She was self-taught, having never received any formal training, though she was mentored by such notable poets as William Stafford. She later went on teach in Graduate and Undergraduate writing programs all over the country.
Ms. Cedering won the Best Book of the Year Award in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
for her first novel Playing in the Pig House. The story, about a little pink pig, began a series of children's books, some of which were adapted into an animated television series, for which she wrote the music and provided the character drawings. Another of her novels, Oxen, was made into a film in 1991 starring Stellan Skarsgård
Stellan Skarsgård
Stellan John Skarsgård is a Swedish actor, known internationally for his film roles in Angels & Demons, Breaking the Waves, The Hunt for Red October, Ronin, Good Will Hunting, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist,...
and directed by Sven Nykvist
Sven Nykvist
Sven Vilhem Nykvist was a Swedish cinematographer. He worked on over 120 films, but is known especially for his work with director Ingmar Bergman...
, Ingrid Bergman's
Ingrid Bergman
Ingrid Bergman was a Swedish actress who starred in a variety of European and American films. She won three Academy Awards, two Emmy Awards, and the Tony Award for Best Actress. She is ranked as the fourth greatest female star of American cinema of all time by the American Film Institute...
longtime cinematographer. Oxen went on to receive an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
The Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film is one of the Academy Awards of Merit, popularly known as the Oscars, handed out annually by the U.S.-based Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences...
.
Ms. Cedering's poetry and prose have appeared in over 200 anthologies, textbooks, and magazines, including Harper's, Ms., Science, and The New Republic. She also wrote musicals for children and won prizes and grants for her screenplays. While gaining success as a poet and fiction writer, Ms. Cedering expressed herself in the visual arts, mastering the techniques of both painting and sculpture with a skill that led to her work being exhibited first in the Hamptons
Hamptons
The Hamptons may refer to several villages and hamlets in the towns of Southampton and East Hampton on the far east end of Suffolk County in Long Island, New York. These townships occupy the South Fork of Long Island, stretching into the Atlantic Ocean. The Hamptons form a popular seaside resort,...
and later throughout the United States.
Professional Observations
- "Siv was a one of a kind force of the spirit, a total original, who will never be replaced." -- Bill Henderson, founder of Pushcart PressPushcart PressPushcart Press is a publishing house established in 1972 by Bill Henderson and is perhaps most famous for its Pushcart Prize and for the anthology of prize winners it publishes annually. The press has been honored by Publishers Weekly as one of the USA's "most influential publishers" with the 1979...
and editor of The Pushcart Prize - "Siv was remarkable woman, devoted to poetry and active in her devotion." -- Donald HallDonald HallDonald Hall is an American poet. He was appointed Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress in 2006.-Personal life:...
, former Poet Laureate of the United States
Awards
- 1995-99 Författarfonden, Swedish Writers Foundation: Five Year Salary Grant (for fiction and TV programs)
- 1992 New York Foundation for the ArtsNew York Foundation for the ArtsThe New York Foundation for the Arts was created in conjunction the in 1971. The organization gives grants to individual artists and writers and developing arts organizations with a mission to '.'-NYFA's Programs:...
, Artist's Fellowship (screenwriting) - 1992 Academy Award Nomination for Best Foreign Film (based on novel by SC)
- 1991 East End Arts Council, Photography Show, Exhibition Prize
- 1985 New York Foundation for the ArtsNew York Foundation for the ArtsThe New York Foundation for the Arts was created in conjunction the in 1971. The organization gives grants to individual artists and writers and developing arts organizations with a mission to '.'-NYFA's Programs:...
, Artist's Fellowship, (poetry) - 1985 Science Fiction Poetry AssociationScience Fiction Poetry AssociationThe Science Fiction Poetry Association was established in 1978 by Suzette Haden Elgin to bring together poets and readers interested in science fiction poetry. The organization administers the Rhysling Award and publishes the journal Star*Line, as well as providing market listings and industry news...
, Rhysling Award (poem on scientific theme) - 1985 Pushcart PrizePushcart PrizeThe Pushcart Prize is an American literary prize by Pushcart Press that honors the best "poetry, short fiction, essays or literary whatnot" published in the small presses over the previous year. Magazine and small book press editors are invited to nominate up to 6 works they have featured....
(poetry) - 1980 Svenska DagbladetSvenska DagbladetSvenska Dagbladet is a daily newspaper in Sweden. The first issue appeared on 18 December 1884. Svenska Dagbladet is published in Stockholm and provides coverage of national and international news as well as local coverage of the Greater Stockholm region...
, Best Books of the Year Award (novel) - 1977 Poetry Society of America, Emily Dickinson Award
- 1977 Pushcart PrizePushcart PrizeThe Pushcart Prize is an American literary prize by Pushcart Press that honors the best "poetry, short fiction, essays or literary whatnot" published in the small presses over the previous year. Magazine and small book press editors are invited to nominate up to 6 works they have featured....
(fiction) - 1977 New York State Council on the ArtsNew York State Council on the ArtsThe New York State Council on the Arts is an arts council serving the U.S. state of New York. It was established in 1960 through a bill introduced in the New York State Legislature by New York State Senator MacNeil Mitchell , with backing from Governor Nelson Rockefeller, and began its work in 1961...
, New York State Artists in Exhibition - 1975 New York State Council on the ArtsNew York State Council on the ArtsThe New York State Council on the Arts is an arts council serving the U.S. state of New York. It was established in 1960 through a bill introduced in the New York State Legislature by New York State Senator MacNeil Mitchell , with backing from Governor Nelson Rockefeller, and began its work in 1961...
(video) - 1976 1974-5 New York State Council on the Arts, CAPS Fellowship (poetry)
- 1974 Best Poems of 1973: Borestone Mountain Poetry AwardsBorestone Mountain Poetry AwardsThe Borestone Mountain Poetry Awards was an annual series of poetry anthologies first published in 1949. The poems were selected from those published in a given year in English-language magazines and books; in each volume, individual poems were designated as first, second, or third place in a...
- 1973 Modernage Photography Gallery, Discovery Award (Exhibition Prize)
- 1970 Saturday Review, Photography Prize
- 1970 Poetry Society of AmericaPoetry Society of AmericaThe Poetry Society of America is a literary organization founded in 1910 by poets, editors, and artists including Witter Bynner. It is the oldest poetry organization in the United States. Past members of the have included such renowned writers as Robert Frost, Langston Hughes, Edna St. Vincent...
, William Marion Reedy Award - 1969 Poetry Society of AmericaPoetry Society of AmericaThe Poetry Society of America is a literary organization founded in 1910 by poets, editors, and artists including Witter Bynner. It is the oldest poetry organization in the United States. Past members of the have included such renowned writers as Robert Frost, Langston Hughes, Edna St. Vincent...
, John Masefield Award