"Anytime an Oregon author, or any other prominent writer, gave a reading at Powell's Books, Steve Arndt would show up early, sometimes by a couple hours, and reserve front-row seats for his fellow writers. He wanted the writer giving the reading to know they had the support of Portland's literary community. His friends say that habit embodies Arndt's kindness, generosity, thoughtfulness, and the way he fostered and strengthened a sense of community in Portland's literary scene."
"Arndt co-founded the Portland Writers Picnic, which takes place annually in Laurelhurst Park, as well as the reading series "Steve Arndt and the Spanbauerians," which takes place at Bold Coffee and Books and features writers who are alumni of Tom Spanbauer's well-known "Dangerous Writing" class. He was also a volunteer with Willamette Writers and Forest Avenue Press. Arndt was an alum of Spanbauer's class as well. He also studied with Monica Drake, and was a member of Pinewood Table."
Steve Arndt consistently supported Portland readings by arriving early to reserve front-row seats so visiting readers would feel the city's literary community backing. Friends describe his habit as embodying kindness, generosity, thoughtfulness, and community-building. Arndt co-founded the Portland Writers Picnic and the reading series Steve Arndt and the Spanbauerians at Bold Coffee and Books. He volunteered with Willamette Writers and Forest Avenue Press. He studied with Tom Spanbauer and Monica Drake and belonged to the Pinewood Table group. He wrote poems and personal essays about nature and life. He received praise for the beauty of his landscape descriptions. He died February 6, 2026, at 77, from heart-failure complications.
Read at Oregon ArtsWatch * Arts & Culture News
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