Session 4 “Down on the Farm” concludes the series Sunday, September 14th 1 to 4 pm by exploring the Ohio Valley rural experience. Featuring a program of poetry and music by Lifetime Kentucky Poet Laureate Lee Pennington and friends Kentucky Poet Rita S. Spaulding, singer Katrina Harper and guitarist Tommy Bays.
Lee Pennington is the author of 23 books including I Knew a Woman (1977) Thigmotropism (1993) and Appalachian Newground (2016)–each nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in poetry.
He is perhaps most famous for his book “Bloody Harlan.” He is a graduate of Berea College in KY and the University of Iowa. He holds two Honorary Doctor degrees: Doctor of Literature from World University, and Doctor of Philosophy in Arts from The Academy of Southern Arts and Letters. He taught for nearly 40 years, the last 32 as Professor of English and creative writing at University of Kentucky Jefferson Community College until he retired in 1999. In 1983, the Kentucky State Legislature named him Poet Laureate, a lifetime appointment.
He has traveled extensively (in all the United States, in all the Canadian Provinces except two, and in 96 foreign countries). For the past fifteen years, he has served as president of the Ancient Kentucke Historical Association, a group dedicated to the study and research of pre-Columbian contact in the Americas, especially Kentucky. He has visited all the continents including his final one, Antarctica in December 2022.
In 2013 the University of Louisville opened the Lee and Joy Pennington Cultural Heritage Gallery, named after Lee and his late wife. The gallery contains U of L’s most valuable works including the likes of first editions of Galileo, Copernicus, and Newton. It will house all of Lee’s writings, films, and many artifacts he’s collected traveling around the world. Three documentary films are presently in the works about Lee.
Other highlights of session 4 will include “down home” readings of local Hoosier & Kentucky authors of the past, including Edward Eggleston (the Hoosier School Master), Mrs. Cora Dodd of Paris Crossing (The Country Undertaker’s Wife) accompanied by music. Indianapolis Historian Glory-June Greiff will present a talk on the “Hoosier Poet,” James Whitcomb Riley and read a selection of his poems. Local Folk Musician Fiddlin’ Ben Thompson will entertain with historic tunes on fiddle and banjo with some historic commentary.
There will be an art exhibit that will include works by Hoosier Folk Artist, Betty Manning, Harry Elberg, Brenda Shropshire, Patty Cooper Wells, Glory June Greiff, Karen Chilman, Kevin Carlson, Jacob Louden, and many others. Plein Aire painters and sketchers may also be creating art throughout the day.
RSVP is required.
Donations are welcome! They support the ongoing preservation of the Historic Eleutherian College, a 501(c)3.
Bring a lawn chair; enjoy incredible acoustics in the beautifully restored auditorium.
Come be part of this meaningful gathering of art, community, and cultural storytelling.
