The “Spalding at 21c: Voice and Vision” reading series – sponsored by Spalding’s Master of Fine Arts in Writing program – will have its second session of the season from 6-7:15 tonight (Thursday, June 21) at 21c Museum Hotel, 700 W. Main St. The event is free and open to the public.
The lineup showcases award-winning local poets and fiction writers: Annette Allen, Sherry Chandler, Millard Dunn, Rick Neumayer, Nana Lampton and Mary Lou Northern.
The evening begins with a few open-mic readings, 1-2 minutes in duration and featuring works in progress. Individuals may sign up for an open-mic presentation on a first-come, first-served basis just before the program begins.
The series runs the third Thursday of every month through August. Writers from all area universities, community writers’ groups, Spalding alumni and independent writers are welcome to participate. If interested in taking part in a future reading, inquire with series coordinator Amy Foos Kapoor at [email protected]. Spalding MFA founding program director Sena Jeter Naslund and associate director Katy Yocom emcee and host the series.
Free street parking is available. Proof on Main welcomes those who would like to enjoy the culinary arts and further discussion and literary connection at the end of the evening. For more information and reservations, visit www.proofonmain.com or call 502-217-6360.
About the Readers
Award-winning poet Annette Allen is a Professor of Humanities at the University of Louisville and author of poetry collections Country of Light and What Vanishes. Sherry Chandler is anticipating the release of her third novel, Talking Burley; her poems have appeared in The Louisville Review, The Cortland Review (with audio), and Rain Taxi. Millard Dunn is a poet whose collections include award-winning Engraved on Air and Places We Could Never Find Alone; his poetry has appeared in Arable, The Concho River Review, Film and History, Hard Scuffle Folio and many more. Nana Lampton, Rick Neumayer and Mary Lou Northern are alumni of Spalding’s MFA Program. Neumayer’s short fiction has been published in numerous journals including The Louisville Review, Deep South and Tulane Review. Northern’s fiction, nonfiction and poetry have appeared in dozens of publications, including Redbook and Orion. Lampton is also a poet, and her books include Wash the Dust from My Eyes, The Moon with the Sun in Her Eye, Snowy Owl Gathers in Her Trove and Bloom on a Split Board.
About the Spalding MFA Program
Spalding’s nationally distinguished low-residency MFA in Writing program is committed to excellence in a noncompetitive atmosphere. The program offers concentrations in fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, writing for children and young adults, screenwriting and playwriting. Students begin the semester in the spring, summer or fall with a residency in Louisville or abroad; then, faculty and students return to their homes for an independent study focusing on the student’s creative writing. Cross-genre exploration is emphasized. Students may customize the residency location, season and pace of their studies. Check out our Master of Fine Arts in Writing page for more information.
About 21c Museum Hotel Louisville
A multi-venue museum, 21c was founded by Laura Lee Brown and Steve Wilson, contemporary art collectors and preservationists who are committed to bringing works of art to the public through innovative exhibitions and programs that integrate contemporary art into daily life. 21c Museum presents a range of arts programming curated by Museum Director and Chief Curator Alice Gray Stites, including thought-provoking solo and group exhibitions that reflect the global nature of art today; site-specific, commissioned installations; as well as a variety of cultural events. The organization collaborates on arts initiatives with artists and cultural organizations worldwide, including The North Carolina Museum of Art, MASS MoCA, The Contemporary Art Museum Houston, The Barnes Foundation, The National Gallery of Ontario, The Creative Capital Foundation, and others. Since opening in Louisville in 2006, 21c Museum has presented more than 85 exhibitions, including Cuba Now!; Alter Ego: A Decade of Work by Anthony Goicolea; Blue: Matter, Mood, and Melancholy; Aftermath: Witnessing War, Countenancing Compassion; Seeing Now; Wild Card: The Art of Michael Combs, a Fifteen-Year Survey; Dis-semblance: Projecting and Perceiving Identity; Albano Afonso: Self-Portrait as Light; and Pop Stars! Popular Culture and Contemporary Art.