Introduction by Joel Harper — "My poetry is a cry from my soul to the human race for compassion. And it is one of the ways that I cope with the issues that plague my heart.

I think many times people shy away from writing poetry because they fear what they write will not compare to that of other poets. Instead, I encourage people of all ages to write for the benefit of self-healing, and the healing of others.

(...) I believe it is especially important during these times of uncertainty that people share their fears, joys, pain and struggles, to engage in the interconnectedness of the human spirit. The artists and I hope this book will open dialogue and people will begin to internalize that an individual’s efforts, no matter how small or large, do indeed make a difference. The goodness of the human spirit will prevail with the faith that change is possible.

One love"

15,00 $
Order book on Joel Harper's website www.joelharper.net
Order book on Ben Harper official store benharper.biz

Language : English
Dimensions : 23 x 16,5 cm
Pages : 51

ISBN : 0-9714254-0-X

Claremont Courier
Saturday, January 4, 2003
Claremont writer brings "Restless Spirit" to poetry
Article by Sarah Torribio-Bond — Photos by Trish Branley

Joel Harper spent quite a while trying to get his book published in the bleak poetry market and finally gave up. But rather than relinquish his dream of seeing his anthology in print, the Claremont poet decided to publish his own chapbook. "I was looking at publishers, but it’s so discouraging," Mr. Harper said. "Unless you’re a name, it’s really hard to get poetry published."
Uncertain of how to start, the 30-year old writer bought a book on self-publishing — Smart Self-Publishing: An author’s Guide to Producing a Marketable Book, by Linda and Jim Salisbury — pored over its pages and even spoke to the authors. Armed with the nuts and bolts of his new trade, Mr. Harper decided to take the leap. The result, Restless Spirit: The Eyes of a Child, is a 51-page volume of poems, photographs and paintings. It marks the debut of his Freedom Three Publishing company. Mr. Harper funded the run of 1000 copies himself, choosing a company in Canada to print the book. "It’s a big investment," he said. "And it was nerve-wracking sending everything to Canada." But he says the books came back looking great, and he says he hopes that his poetry — "a cry from my soul to the human race for compassion" — will create a dialogue those who read it.

The poems describe a wide range of subjects: Mr. Harper’s own experiences growing up biracial in Claremont, the story of a young man failing his way through the school system, tales of coyotes spurned in the neighborhoods that encroach on their habitat. Evocative art by Mr. Harper’s grandmother, Dorothy Chase, as well as Alberto Oropeza and Nisaa Kirtman accompany the lyrics.
One of the book’s most effective poems is "Lamar", the tale of an angry and illiterate boy whose background is one of abuse and neglect. The author says this poem is based on his experiences as an elementary shool guidance counselor :

sixth grader unable to read
the american dream
"anyone can achieve it if they really want it"
lamar slowly slips between the cracks
so that the shcool district may make its money

Working with troubled young people brought home how much we are all products of our environment, Mr Haprer said. "There are a million Lamars," Mr. Harper said. "I’m not saying we do not have to take responsibility for ourselves, but we do a lot of blaming the victim."
Mr. Harper calls his own background one that has fostered creativity. He grew up in Claremont, and his grandparents’ Folk Music Center was his "second home". Mr. Harper, who plays guitar, slide guitar and Native American flute, works at the store now. His brother, the musician Ben Harper, also launched his creative career while working at the center. "I feel very blessed to be able to be at this beautiful place," Mr Harper said. "I’m able to work here and to have time and energy to do other things as well."
Mr. Harper hopes to publish more work under the auspices of Freedom Three Publishing. One project he is pondering is an anthology of poetry and visual art created by high school students. "I don’t know where my next journey will be after here, but this is kind of the starting block of something much bigger," he said.

Daily Bulletin — May, 2003
Teaching compassion through poetry
Article by Sara Carter — Photo by Walter Richard Weis

The sound of soft thunder fills First Street, in the Claremont village, when Joel Harper begins playing an ancient handmade Australian digeridoo in front of his family’s Folk Music Center store.
The music resonates beautifully, muffling the sounds of passing cars and shuffling footsteps of people on the sidewalk. Harper’s brilliant blue-gray eyes peek from behind his dark glasses.
He is in a meditative state when demonstrating the music that connects him to his poetry. His love for poetry and art is evident in every aspect of his life.
He grew up in Claremont, where academic and bohemian lifestyles are rooted in the city’s culture. Life in the village seems to take a slower pace than the outside world, giving Harper time to sit and write.
"Our society keeps us very busy and many of us feel like change is hopeless," said Harper. "I want to teach people that even the small things we do in life can make a difference for many."
Harper, the 31 year-old grandson of Charles Chase, founder of the Folk Music Center, has self-published his first book, "Restless Spirit: The Eyes of a Child." It is a four-year collection of Harper’s poetry and photographs. The book also displays the art of local artists Dorothy Chase, Alberto Oropeza, and Nisaa Kirtman.
"Restless Spirit" reaches into the deep spiritual core of this complex artist and trangresses the barrier of many social issues affecting young people today.
"I believe that my book will teach people to be less competitive when it comes to art and I hope it inspires people to learn the art of self-publishing," said Harper.
It was his first trip to a small Costa Rican village in 1993 that changed his life and lead him on his poetic journey.
Before graduating from Pitzer College, Harper spent more than eight months in Costa Rica. He worked with destitute children in a small school, Patronato de National Infancia, in the jungle, outside the town of Cartago. The children, ages 8 to 17 years, suffered from loneliness, abandonment, mental illness, and neglect, said Harper. The facility, surrounded by a beautiful forest, was dirty and the children slept on small cots with no one to tend to them.
Harper would sometimes catch the children mistreating stray dogs that made their way from the town onto the grounds of the school. At times the children would throw rocks at the dogs trying to injure them. According to Harper, the children never learned how to love the right way because nobody really ever loved them.
During this time, he began writting poetry, as a way of healing his own inner pain with the hopes of teaching others to do the same.
"My whole reason for putting this book together is to teach compassion," said Harper. "Compassion for humanity and compassion for the world around us."
Harper's empathy for children is borne out of his own complex chilhood. As a young bi-racial child from a white mother and black father, growing up in a mainly white community was not easy. One of his poems, "Claremont," deals with the issues bi-racial children face when trying to find their place in society.
Since his return from Costa Rica, Harper has worked as a counselor for Boys Republic, volunteers his time teaching music and poetry, and up until last year spent the previous three years working as a guidance counselor at Benjamin Franklin Elementary School in Altadena, near Pasadena.
Last year, when his grandparents were no longer capable of running the Folk Music Center, he left his job, took over at the store with his mother Ellen Harper, and began compiling his book.
"I'm very proud of my son's work with the book," said Ellen Harper. "He is making a difference with his poetry and teaching others to do the same."
Harper said his family has been his greatest support in his endeavor.
Harper's book has sold more than 400 copies since December. He plans to offer classes to the pubic sometime this year in self-pulishing and also plans to publish his children's book, "Jake and the Rattlesnake," about a boy's quest and love for nature.
"The greatest gift in writing is teaching children how to heal through poetry," Harper said. "We need to teach ourselves to do the same."

Global Rhythm — November 2003
Global Books — By Derek Beres

"The best investment you'll ever make is in yourself," goes the end of "Consumer Disease" from Joel Harper's Restless Spirit. If this holds true, Harper has made a lifelong down payment on verse with his first book. He crosses lines between words and images beautifully, including many of his own photographs, as well as guest illustrators. One look and you know it's a family affair, but the 51-page journey will have you returning. His short, passionately concise poems are bylines of his own social work background. The words hold true for a human society; his spirit may be restless, but his intent is clear, pristine, gorgeous.