The “Spalding at 21c: Voice and Vision” reading series will hold its third session of the season from 6-7:15 p.m. Thursday, July 19 at 21c Museum Hotel, 700 W. Main St. The free, public event is sponsored by Spalding’s nationally ranked Master’s of Fine Arts in Writing program and the hotel.
The July lineup showcases a mix of prominent and award-winning local and regional poets and prose writers – Adam Day, Erin Keane, Will Lavender, Kayla Rae Whitaker, Philip White and Lisa Williams.
The evening begins with open-mic presentations of one- to two-minute readings of 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 “Spalding at 21c: Voice and Vision” series runs the third Thursday of every month from May to 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 the series. Spalding MFA associate program director Lynnell Edwards will emcee the July reading.
Free street parking is available. Proof on Main welcomes those who would like to enjoy the culinary arts, 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
Adam Day is the author of the forthcoming collection of poetry Left-Handed Wolf (LSU Press) as well as Model of a City in Civil War (Sarabande) and Badger, Apocrypha (PSA). Spalding MFA in Writing alumna Erin Keane is a poet, critic and journalist who serves as an executive editor at Salon. The author of three collections of poetry, Keane also serves on the board of the Kentucky Women Writers Conference. Will Lavender is the New York Times bestselling author of the psychological thrillers Obedience (Crown) and Dominance (Simon & Schuster). Kayla Rae Whitaker’s work has appeared in The Los Angeles Times, Buzzfeed, Literary Hub, Lenny Letter and others. Her debut novel, The Animators (Random House Trade), was named one of the best debut novels of 2017 by Entertainment Weekly and NPR. Philip White has won a Pushcart Prize in poetry and a Willis Barnstone prize in poetry translation. His book of poems, The Clearing (Texas Tech), won the Walt McDonald award. Lisa Williams has published three books of poems: The Hammered Dulcimer (winner of the May Swenson Poetry Award), Woman Reading to the Sea (winner of the Barnard Women Poets Prize) and Gazelle in the House (New Issues Press).
About the Spalding MFA in Writing 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. See spalding.edu/mfa 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.