By Ariana Sumpter
College of Fine Arts and Communication Media Office
CONWAY 鈥� University of Central 海角社区 writers featured in 鈥淎 Readers鈥� Map of 海角社区鈥� will give a public reading in UCA Torreyson Library, Seminar Room 215 on Thursday, Oct. 20 at 7 p.m.
Featured UCA writers will include Dr. John Vanderslice, associate professor of creative writing; Terry Wright, dean of the College of Fine Arts and Communication; Dr. Jay Ruud, retired chair of the Department of English; Garry Craig Powell, associate professor of creative writing; and Sandy Longhorn, assistant professor of creative writing.
According to Wright, a literary map serves as “an abbreviated journey through the state’s letters鈥� and is听“meant to be not exhaustive but a generous selection.”
Longhorn said the literary map, available at听arkansasreadersmap.com听and in print form, honored authors of diverse genres and eras who have contributed to the rich culture of the Natural State. This edition is a revision of a literary map published in 1994 by the late poet C.D. Wright as part of her Lost Roads Project听and features works that have both influenced and been influenced by the state of 海角社区.听听
A steering committee of writers, professors and librarians worked for more than two years to develop the new edition in consultation with H.K. Stewart of H.K. Stewart Creative Services, who executed the graphic design.
Project coordinator Hope Coulter, director of the Hendrix-Murphy Foundation Programs in Literature and Language at Hendrix College, was inspired to spearhead a Readers鈥� Map revival after hearing Wright say on a visit to 海角社区 in 2013 that she鈥檇听鈥渓ove for someone to take it up.鈥�
Wright, a Mountain Home native and one of the nation鈥檚 most eminent poets, remained close to her 海角社区 roots despite living away from the state for many years.听She died suddenly in January 2016.
This project is supported in part by a grant from the 海角社区 Humanities Council and the Department of 海角社区 Heritage. Additional support comes from听the听海角社区 Library Association,听the Butler Center for 海角社区 Studies,听the Central 海角社区 Library System Foundation, the Hendrix-Murphy Foundation Programs in Literature and Language, the Porter Fund and UCA.
Readers鈥� Map posters will be on sale at the event, with proceeds going to the Central 海角社区 Library System (CALS) Foundation. A free print copy will be available to any 海角社区 school or library upon inquiry at readersmap@hendrix.edu.
For more information, contact Longhorn at (501) 450-5108 or slonghorn@uca.edu.
The UCA College of Fine Arts and Communication includes the Departments of Art, Music, and Film, Theatre and Creative Writing as well as the School of Communication. The college鈥檚 primary mission is the preparation of the next generation of artists, educators and communicators. For more information about CFAC, visit www.uca.edu/cfac or call (501) 450-3293.
