TERRE HAUTE —
Arts Illiana is planning a creative writing symposium on Dec. 2 and 3 at the Vigo County Public Library.
WordFest: Wabash Valley Creative Writing Symposium will begin on the evening of Dec. 2 with a reception that includes a keynote address entitled “Creative Reading” by the newly appointed Indiana Poet Laureate, Karen Kovacik. Kovacik will begin her tenure in January. She is a native Hoosier, growing up in Highland and has authored four collections of poetry, most recently “Metropolis Burning.” Her work has received numerous honors. She’s a professor of English at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, where she directs the creative writing program.
In addition to delivering the keynote, Kovacik will read a selection of her poems. The evening will be open to the general public at no cost. Workshop registration is $20, with a $10 registration fee for high school students. Indiana State University, Ivy Tech, Rose-Hulman, and St. Mary-of-the-Woods students’ registration fees will be waived.
Dec. 3 will offer morning and afternoon sessions, and the day will culminate with coffee house-style readings of work by participants.
Presenters and topics include: Matthew Brennan, professor of English, Indiana State University: “The Creative Process: Five Essential Steps to Writing a Good Poem;” Aaron Michael Morales, associate professor of English and women’s studies, Indiana State University: “Digging in the Dirt-Discussion of Setting as Character;” Arthur Feinsod, professor of theater, Indiana State University: “Playwriting Workshop;” Zann Carter, Terre Haute visual and literary artist: “Word Play: Fun and Games — Serious Inspiration Workshop;” Mark Minster, associate professor of English, Rose-Hulman: “Renga: Japanese Linked Verse Poetry Workshop;” Chris Hudson, associate professor and Department of English Chair, SMWC: “Creative Non-fiction Workshop;” Joe Hiland, master’s candidate in Indiana University’s creative writing program: “People Made of Words: Crafting Character in Fiction;” and Dan Gallagher, Effective Writing Center director, University of Maryland University College: “600 Words or Less: A Flash Fiction Workshop.”
Also included in the afternoon session will be a panel discussion on publishing and promoting your work. Morales and Carter will participate on the panel along with Rockville author Jan Tilley and Peggy Tierney, owner of Tanglewood Publishing.
The Wabash Valley has a wealth of creative writers who are actively writing and publishing. Last year, Arts Illiana extended a call for short story fiction that yielded an impressive response. In its inaugural year, the Max Erhmann Poetry contest sponsored by Art Spaces, Inc., had an amazing 422 entries from a six-county area in the Wabash Valley. ISU, Rose-Hulman and St. Mary-of-the-Woods College have excellent creative writing societies or clubs and each publishes a yearly literary magazine of excellent quality.
Including nearby DePauw University, the above-mentioned institutions of higher learning also have excellent literary scholars on faculty who are publishing in a wide variety of literary genres. In spite of the rich literary culture that exists in the Wabash Valley, there is no existing event that brings this talent together to network, share works in progress, or offer professional guidance to emerging writers.
The symposium will be open to anyone. The event hopes to draw a wide variety of creative writers of varied experience and will offer the opportunity for networking, informative workshop and lecture sessions and sharing of work.
Arts Illiana is hopeful this inaugural event will serve as the foundation for an annual creative writing event with the potential to grow and better serve the Valley’s literary constituents living in the region and beyond. The symposium was generated to provide technical assistance to individual artists, a strong component of Arts Illiana’s mission. A portion of the funds from a 2011 technical assistance grant via the Indiana Arts Commission have been devoted to this project. Co-sponsoring the event are the Vigo County Public Library, the Crossroads of Higher Education, Indiana Humanities and Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology’s Humanities and Social Sciences Department.
Brochures and registration materials will be available at Arts Illiana, the Vigo County Public Library, and several other venues throughout the Wabash Valley.
Arts
Symposium to bring together wide variety of creative writers
- Arts
-
-
Art Gallery in Rockville announces summer art classes for kids, adults
The Gallery in Rockville will offer classes throughout the summer. A variety of topics will be covered, most lasting two to four days. All will be conducted in the renovated second floor, which offers plenty of room and great lighting.
-
Lincoln’s library honors Illinois fallen soldiers
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum is hosting an exhibit of drawings of fallen Illinois soldiers.
-
Scott Hinton’s photos take focus at Vigo Library
River City Art Association and the Vigo County Public Library are featuring photography by Scott Hinton throughout May in the library at Seventh and Poplar streets.
Hinton is a self-taught photographer and artist whose main focus is nature-inspired pictures and paintings. -
Halcyon Gallery featuring Terre Haute native Maraldo’s artwork
An exhibit titled “Words Flow Into Water” is scheduled to open at 7 p.m. Friday at the Halcyon Gallery, 25 S. Seventh St. The show continues through May 25.
-
Art guild’s annual spring show at mall May 3-5
The Wabash Valley Art Guild plans to host its 36th Annual Spring Show on Friday through Sunday at Honey Creek Mall.
-
Indiana Artisan works on display at Clabber Girl
Combining the strength of their individual artwork into exhibitions of exceptional depth, 29 Indiana Artisans have partnered on Indiana Artisan: Paintings and Drawings.
Ten Indiana Artisans have continued the statewide series as the Clabber Girl Gallery opened the exhibit on Tuesday. It will continue through May 30. -
Covered Bridge Gallery lists winners
The Covered Bridge Art Gallery celebrated its Spring Art Show and the grand opening of its renovated second floor on April 28 at 124 W. Ohio St. in Rockville.
-
Newly inspired artist earns Guild’s approval
Kathy M. Matlock, artist of the month for April by the Wabash Valley Art Guild, was born and raised in Sullivan, has lived various places, but has recently returned from Oregon.
-
Swope First Friday on May 3 to feature ISU group, student art, Hopper painting
At the Swope Art Museum’s next First Friday, on May 3, it plans to welcome members of the Indiana State University Community School of the Arts and say a brief farewell to a famous painting.
-
Awards handed out in Ehrmann Poetry Competition; Carter wins grand prize
An awards ceremony for the 2013 Max Ehrmann Poetry Competition was held on Friday at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, recognizing new poetry written by Wabash Valley residents.
-
Covered Bridge Art group spring show coincides with open house for renovation
The Covered Bridge Art Association’s 39th annual spring art show and the grand opening of the gallery’s newly renovated second floor are scheduled to be celebrated together at an open house from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday.
-
Edgar students’ work on display at Bicentennial Art Center
The Bicentennial Art Center at Paris, Ill., is featuring the creative work of Edgar County junior and senior high students in the Annual Edgar County Student Art Show, open through Sunday, when a reception open to the public will begin at 1 p.m.
-
Sustainability Club forming fish from trash; 'Catch of the River' on display April 20-May 5
In partnership with the Saint Mary-of-the Woods College’s Sustainability Club, the Department of Text & Image is bringing awareness of what is thrown into the Wabash River, with an art installation on campus from April 20 until May 5.
-
Exhibit opens April 20 for River City Art Association
River City Art Association members are scheduled to exhibit their work Saturday through May 11 in Gaslight Art Colony’s gallery at 516 Archer Ave., in Marshall, Ill. An artists’ reception is set for 6 to 9 p.m. CDT Saturday.
-
Valley artists taking part in ‘First Brush of Spring’ at New Harmony
Julia London-Meddles of Terre Haute and Wyatt LeGrand of Bloomfield are scheduled to join about 200 artists at the 15th annual “First Brush of Spring,” a popular Plein Air (outdoor) Paint Out event scheduled today through Saturday in New Harmony.
-
The arts kick off Disability Awareness Month
Roxanna Robertson did signing to the song “How Great Thou Art,” while Linda Allis did a dramatic reading, using excerpts from Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech.
-
Through His Lens: Artist showcases beauty of America’s southwest at Rose-Hulman exhibition
Terre Haute native Darrell Staggs never thought of himself as an artist, but always liked the idea of photography.
-
Clabber Girl to host woodworking demonstration
Artist Debbie Anderson will provide a woodworking demonstration to an adult art education class on Feb. 26 in the Clabber Girl Museum in Terre Haute. Anderson has had her intarsia woodwork on display throughout February at The Gallery in the museum at Ninth Street and Wabash Avenue.
-
Arts Illiana offers free workshop on grant writing
Arts Illiana will offer the following technical assistance workshop to regional arts organizations and arts providers.
The free workshop, Crafting Your Grant Narrative, is scheduled 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Nov. 14 in Arts Illiana at 23 N. Sixth St. -
Sisters of Providence artist to exhibit work
Sister Jody O'Neil, artist in residence for the Sisters of Providence of St. Mary-of-the-Woods, will have some of her artistic creations on display and available for purchase during art shows Nov. 11 and 16.
-
River City Art Association honors the late Marty Martinez in November
The River City Art Association and the Vigo County Public Library will feature art by the late Association co-founder Marty Martinez for the month of November in the library at Seventh and Poplar streets.
-
Terre Haute to announce City Arts Project Grants
The City of Terre Haute and Arts Illiana will announce the 2012-2013 City Arts Project Grant Awards during a ceremony at 10 a.m. today. Mayor Duke Bennett will present checks to nine nonprofit organizations at Arts Illiana.
-
New Harmony artist, former TH resident to exhibit work at Clabber Girl
New Harmony artist Mary Ann Michna will present an exhibition of her recent photographs Nov. 2-30 at Clabber Girl Museum Art Gallery.
-
Wabash Valley artists participate in Indiana Wildlife Artist Association show
Each year the Indiana Wildlife Artist Association presents a show of Fine Nature Art in various locations across the state featuring many of the state’s premier artists vying for awards. The showing will be displayed to the public through Friday at the Visitors Center at Angel Mounds State Historic Site in Evansville.
-
River City Art Association announces winners of annual show
The theme of the Fourth Annual Art Show of the River City Art Association Inc. was “Scouting for Art.” The event was Aug. 11 at the Girl Scouts of Central Indiana building at Fairbanks Park.
-
Swope honors noted local artist, educator, first board president
Continuing the yearlong celebration of the museum’s 70th anniversary, the Swope Art Museum presents “The Art of William T. Turman,” an exhibition of the work of the noted local artist, educator and first president of the Swope’s board of managers.
-
River City to showcase photographer’s work in September
The Vigo County Public Library and the River City Art Association will show the photographic art of Rob Robbins for the month of September.
-
‘Binding Wounds, Pushing Boundaries’ national exhibit arrives at Indiana State
Many histories have been written about medical care during the American Civil War, but the participation and contributions of African Americans as nurses, surgeons and hospital workers has often been overlooked.
-
Art Guild features photographer in August
The Wabash Valley Art Guild is featuring the August Artist of the Month, Jean Kristeller, whose works of photography are on display at the Vigo Country Public Library at Seventh and Poplar streets.
-
Arts, live music festivals on tap Labor Day weekend in Bloomington
Labor Day weekend in Bloomington will be filled with special events. Major events include an art festival, a live music festival and an Indiana University football game.
- More Arts Headlines
-
Art Gallery in Rockville announces summer art classes for kids, adults




