By RACHEL EMERSON
Student Reporter
The English Department of Northwestern Oklahoma State University is presenting two series of readings this spring. The Creative Readings are: Hidden Artist series and the Visiting Writers series.
The Creative Readings Series: Hidden Artist is to have a total of four events, off campus, at Graceful Arts Gallery and Studio. These readings will occur once a month and are going to coincide with Alva’s First Friday Art Walk each month. The first Creative Reading is scheduled for 6 p.m., February 6th, at Graceful Arts. The schedule for the rest of the events will be 6 p.m. March 6th, April 3rd, and May 1st. Each session will feature a different theme, starting with Northwestern Oklahoma State University Staff members Dawn Allen, Dr. Clarence Johnson, and Dr. Kathryn Lane in February, followed by NWOSU students in March. The readers will read from their own work, consistent of poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. At each event there will be an “open mic,” so anyone that wishes to read from personal work will have an opportunity to do so.
The NWOSU English Department is excited to announce that the Visiting Writers series will feature two artists this year instead of just one, as in previous years. Both visiting authors are natives to Oklahoma and will read from their own work. The first Visiting Writer will be Rilla Askew. This event is scheduled to start at 7 p.m., March 24th, in the reference section of the Library. Askew is a native to Oklahoma. Askew has written many essays, short stories, a variety of journals, and novels. She has won many awards for her work. In March, Askew will visit Northwestern Oklahoma State University to read from one or more of her novels, answer questions, and sign books. This event will give students, staff, and the general public an opportunity to listen, discuss, and visit with an author about her stories.
The second event in the Visiting Writers series is set for noon on April 30th. The location is still undecided at the moment, but will be an “on the lawn brownbag” event on the Northwestern Oklahoma State University campus. This event will feature poet, Quryash Ali Lansana. Lansana, also an Oklahoma native, from Enid, now lives in Chicago. He writes poetry about both historical and current events and will read from many of his poems. April is National Poetry month, and according to Dr. Kathryn Lane, the English Department is trying to think of ways to celebrate that it around campus. Dr. Lane thinks that bringing Lansana in to read some of his personal work is going to bring great closure to that celebration at the end of April.
All of these reading events are open to students and faculty of Northwestern Oklahoma State University, as well as the Alva community. The English Department is very excited about both the Creative Readings, and the Visiting Writers. They will be advertising the events as they get closer, both on and off campus. For more information contact Dr. Kathryn Lane at kelane@nwosu.edu.