2009-2010 Academic Year
Papermaking Class July 1, 2010
Participants met at the Prairie Kiosk to get a brief description of the plants used to make this signature paper. They then moved to the New Science Center to see the rest of the process and make their own paper.
Elizabeth Alexander May 8, 2010
Poet, essayist, playwrite, and professor Elizabeth Alexander gave the commencement address during the 2010 College of Saint Benedict graduation ceremony. Her collection of poetry, American Sublime (2005), was a Pulitzer Prize finalist and an American Library Association's "Notable Book of the Year." She has published four other poetry collections and read her poem "Praise Song for the Day" at the inauguration of President Barack Obama.
Bernardo Atxaga and Wang Ping Apr. 27, 2010
Bernardo Axtaga read from his novel Obabakoak, a collection of fables, gossip, diary excerpts and literary theory centering around the village of Obaba in Basque, Spain. He will be joined by Wang Ping, author of The Last Communist Virgin at The Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis.
Beth Kissileff April 8, 2010
"Shared Dreams: A Reading by Beth Kissileff". Kissileff read a chapter from her upcoming novel Questioning Return. This event was co-sponsored with the Jay Phillips Center for Interfaith Learning.
Spreading the Word Mar. 16, 2010
Book Arts Exhibit
The Spreading the Word Exhibit was held in the Benedicta Arts Center and allowed visitors the chance to engage with a variety of book arts projects.
David Rakoff Mar. 12, 2010
In "The Wit of David Rakoff," humorist and author David Rakoff discussed his work and the creative process.
Nick Hayes Mar. 11, 2010
"A Reading and Conversation with Nick Hayes". Hayes read from and discussed his new memoir, And One Fine Morning: Memories of My Father.
Mary Hark Feb. 25, 2010
"Seam: Recent Works by Mary Hark." Mary Hark is an artist and paper-maker. She gave an artist talk on her recent work.
Buzz Spector Feb. 25, 2010
"Shelf Life: A Talk About Art and/of Books." Spector presented a gallery talk during the opening reception of the Spreading the Word exhibit. He is an artist and critical writer, and his work often focuses on the book as both subject and object.
Louise Erdrich Feb. 19, 2010
"An Evening with Louise Erdrich" was co-sponsored by Fine Arts Programming at CSB/SJU and LAI. This event gave insight into Erdrich's work and the importance of creativity in our lives and communities.
Ellen Bryant Voigt Oct. 20, 2009
Ellen Bryant Voigt's "The Art of Syntax: Rhythm of Though, Rhythm of Song," was the winner of the S. Mariella Gable Award for 2009.
Carol Conelly Oct. 14, 2009
"An Evening of Poetry and Conversation." Carol held a reading, conversation, and book signing for her newest collection of poems All This and More. The event is sponsored by the Euge
ne J. McCarthy Center for Public Policy and Civic Engagement and the SJU University Chair in Critical Thinking. Connolly, the first poet laureate of St. Paul, MN, was joined by Nick Coleman, senior fellow at the McCarthy Center, and Mark Conway, director of the Literary Arts Institute of the College of Saint Benedict.
Ruth Rogers Sep. 21, 2009
Roger's talk, "Of Beauty and Relevance: Artists Books and the Liberal Arts," focused on the evolution of the book as material culture as well as artists' books and their use in the academic curriculum.
Book Lovers' Night July 16, 2009
Featured Author Leif Enger read from his novels Peace Like a River and So Brave, Young, and Handsome. A book signing took place after the reading.