Sherry Chandler » Kentucky Writers Day
Kentucky Writers Day
Text of an e-mail for Lori Meadows of the Kentucky Arts Council:
The Kentucky Arts Council will celebrate Kentucky Writers’ Day on Monday, April 24th in the Capitol Rotunda with a special program that combines the readings of all living Kentucky Poets Laureate with high-school student presentations by the Kentucky state finals winner and runner-up of the Poetry Out Loud National Recitation Contest sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation.
Dean Muir, the state runner-up from Trimble County High School will share his creative and lively recitations of “O Captain! My Captain!” by Walt Whitman and “Ma Rainey’ by Sterling A. Brown. The winner of the state finals, Christian County High School student Kendra Holloway, will represent Kentucky well as she goes on to compete in the Poetry Out Loud National Recitation Contest in Washington D.C. in May. Kendra’s recitations of “The Ballad of Birmingham” by Dudley Randall and “To the Ladies” by Lady Mary Chudleigh promise to stir the emotions of all that have the opportunity to see and hear her in the Rotunda.
Kentucky Poet Laureate Sena Jeter Naslund, one of three judges for the Kentucky State Finals of the Poetry Out Loud competition, was especially moved by Holloway’s recitation of the “Ballad of Birmingham.” Coincidentally, the poem, inspired by the 1963 bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, also served as context for Naslund’s award-winning novel “Four Spirits.” Dr. Naslund will speak about the value of the literary arts and read selections from her work for Kentucky Writers’ Day.
Past Poets Laureate Joe Survant (2003-2004), James Baker Hall (2001-2002), and Richard Taylor (1999-2000) have also graciously agreed to share readings of their poetry for Kentucky Writers’ Day.
This celebration is a great opportunity for Kentuckians to become aware of the great literary riches of our Commonwealth. We hope you can join us for Kentucky Writers’ Day at the Capitol or any of the wonderful literary events throughout the state.
For a comprehensive listing, visit the Kentucky Literary Newsletter at http://windpub.com/current.htm, published compliments of Wind Publications and Charlie Hughes.
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