NEWS RELEASE
East Carolina University News Services
For immediate release
Contact: Dawn Wainwright, wainwrightd@ecu.edu
Telephone: (252) 328-4090
_______________________
*Calendar items below*
Community events, workshops mark ECU’s literary homecoming
GREENVILLE, N.C. (Aug. 11, 2009) — East Carolina University will celebrate the region’s literary traditions September 25 and 26. The Eastern North Carolina Literary Homecoming at Joyner Library, now in its sixth year, will offer interactive workshops in addition to panel presentations.
The 2009 homecoming will bring people “back to the book” as participants will engage in activities that merge, challenge, and blur the lines between what is seen and what is read. This year, eight award-winning writers rooted in the history, literature, and culture of eastern North Carolina will share their work and their experiences with homecoming participants.
“One of the best parts about being the editor of the North Carolina Literary Review is that I get to meet my favorite writers at various literary events across the state—but I have to admit I’m a little partial to this particular event,” said Dr. Margaret Bauer, NCLR editor and professor for ECU’s English Department. “On behalf of all the readers in this region, all of the people who appreciate fine literature, a great big thank you to all the writers who will visit for the literary homecoming to help us celebrate the literary inspiration that is eastern North Carolina.”
Reynolds Price, novelist and poet, will be presented with the Roberts Award for Literary Inspiration Sept. 25. NCSU Professor and Southern literary scholar, Barbara Bennett, will present the award, which will be followed by a theatre production based on his works, directed by Tracy Donahue and performed by ECU School of Theatre and Dance students.
Allan Gurganus, author of Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All, will give a reading at the luncheon Sept. 26. Also on Saturday, the Coastal Cohorts will perform selections from King Mackerel & The Blues are Running.
A host of workshops – from playwriting and poetry to music making – will be offered throughout the day. All events, except for Saturday author’s luncheon, are free, but registration is requested. Visit the Homecoming online at www.ecu.edu/lithomecoming, call 252.328.6514, or e-mail lithomecoming@ecu.edu.
To help folks get in a literary mindset, organizers have planned a few free community programs leading up to the main event. They are as follows:
Community event schedule:
• Aug. 1-31, Gabrielle Freeman’s exhibit “Niobe’s Children: A Visual Poetry Series” on display at the Bertie County Arts Council, 124 South King Street, Windsor, NC.
• Aug. 15, 9:00-12:00, Visual poetry workshop with Gabrielle Freeman at the Chowan Arts Council, 200 East Church Street, Edenton, NC. This event is limited to 15 participants.
• Sept 15, 7:00, Discussion of Reynold Price’s Roxanna Slade with Rebecca Godwin, Sheppard Memorial Library, 530 Evans Street, Greenville, NC.
• Oct. 3, The Lost Colony costume workshop with Carl Cunutte, William Ivey Long, and Vicky Fanberg, Emerge Gallery, 404 Evans Street, Greenville, NC.
• Nov. 9, 7:00, Program on Reynolds Price’s latest memoir Ardent Spirits, Wilson County Public Library.
Literary Homecoming schedule of events:
Sept. 25, Mendenhall Student Center, 7:00-9:30, Presentation of the Roberts Award for Literary Inspiration to Reynolds Price, A Theatre Piece based on the works of Reynolds Price – performed by ECU School of Theatre and Dance students.
Sept. 26, Joyner Library, Panels: 9:30 – 10:45, exhibit area, 2nd floor: Our Visual Society and Peace Poetry – Allison Hedge Coke and Lenard Moore; 11:30 – 12:45, exhibit area, 2nd floor: Playwrighting Poetry – Lenard Moore and Samm-Art Williams; 3:00 – 4:15, exhibit area, 2nd floor: From the Page to the Stage – Robert Inman and Samm-Art Williams.
Sept. 26, Joyner Library, Workshops: 9:30 – 11:30, Special Collections, 4th floor: Produced – Allan Gurganus and Robert Inman; 11:00 – 1:00, North Carolina Collection, 3rd floor: Making the Ocean Sing: Transforming Waves into Song – Bland Simpson and Don Dixon; 2:45 – 4:45, conference room, 2nd floor: Still Life: The Message of a Moment – Allison Hedge Coke.
Sept. 26, Mendenhall Student Center, 1:00-2:30, Author Luncheon, a reading by Allan Gurganus; Musical Performance, 5:00 – 6:30, Coastal Cohorts Don Dixon and Bland Simpson with Special Guest, Jamie Hoover, ECU Mendenhall Student Center
