Poet Joe Mills, Barbara Lister-Sink, the Write Motivation, and Paper Lantern Theatre Company
Poetry, music, literature, and theatre on the program today, beginning with This Miraculous Turning, a new book of poems by Joe Mills. And to all of the poetry naysayers out there groaning in the distance I say: you're not gonna like it, you're gonna LOVE it! And speaking of love, it's a love story of a…different kind between Steinway artist Barbara Lister-Sink, the instrument that captured her heart decades ago, and why—I mean, aren't all pianos the same? Then Bethany Chafin'll cover books and blogs with established writers Chris Laney and Steve Cushman. They're giving back big time with The Write Motivation—creative writing classes for everyone. And spit out your gum, sit up straight, and get ready to say “you're welcome”, ‘cause Mrs. Mannerly is comin' to town courtesy of Paper Lantern Theatre Company.
Joseph Mills and This Miraculous Turning
Joseph Mills has a new book of poems due out on Press 53 next week. It's called This Miraculous Turning and in it he shares stories at points hilarious and sublime about among other things race in America as experienced in his biracial family. Joe and his wife who are both white are raising their two African American children in Winston-Salem. This Miraculous Turning is one of those books you're going to want to share but you may hesitate because you know you're going to want to return to it again and again. Take it from the laureates. Former NC Poet Laureate Joseph Bathanti describes the poems as “…conversational, profound, narrative, and leavened with inimitable humor, often wry, often wistful.” He continues “But these are also tough poems, thrumming with a quintessential helplessness that is so quintessentially human…” Former Virginia Poet Laureate Kelly Cherry writes “Everything here is true: measured, faultless. You do not want to miss this book. This Miraculous Turning is a bona fide miracle.” Not bad, Joe. The UNC School of the Arts Susan Burress Wall Distinguished Professor dropped by to chat about it.
The launch party for Joe's new book of poems This Miraculous Turning is Thursday, October 2nd at Art Works Gallery on Trade Street. Joe'll be at Scuppernong Books on October 11, and he'll join a panel at the Winston-Salem New Museum on November 18: “What Does It Mean to Be Southern”, with authors Cheryl Harry and Ed Southern. This Miraculous Turning is published by Press53.
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Barbara Lister-Sink
Generations of Salem College students, teachers and audiences have enjoyed life-changing experiences compliments of the school's 17 Steinway pianos and the soloists who've performed on them. Each Steinway comes with 10,000 working parts but after decades of use, the school's cherished instruments from Margaret Mueller's 1918 Steinway B, to Dean Sandresky's 1938 concert grand are now in urgent need of help. The Sandresky Lister-Sink Steinway Piano Restoration Project comes to the rescue beginning this weekend with dazzling Ukrainian- American pianist Marina Lomazov and Salem's Artist-in-Residence Barbara Lister-Sink live in concert. Barbara has been a Steinway Artist since 1978.
On Friday, September 26th at 7:30 pm in Hanes Auditorium on the Salem campus, she'll team up with acclaimed Ukrainian- American pianist Marina Lomazov in a concert of Russian and American music. The Gala concert and reception will launch the Sandresky Lister-Sink Steinway Piano Restoration Project.
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The Write Motivation with Steve Cushman and Chris Laney
Chris Laney and Steve Cushman are established writers. Steve has written two novels: Portisville and Heart With Joy. His short story collection is Fracture City, and his debut poetry chapbook, Hospital Work, came out this year. Chris is the writer behind the blog, Lessons from the Cockpit: Everyday Wisdom from the Flying Life. He's also written for numerous magazines and websites such as Our State, American Venture, and NC Tourism.
Chris and Steve are now collaborating to co-teach "The Write Motivation," a 6-week creative writing class ideal for both beginning and advanced writers. The course will focus on techniques that improve writing and on the motivating factors that keep individuals writing. The Write Motivation will meet every Monday beginning September 29th and run through November 3rd at The Creative Center of Greensboro.
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Paper Lantern Theatre Company
Creation, collaboration and risk define much of Paper Lantern Theatre Company and its work. They're celebrating their 7th season beginning this week in Greensboro with Jeffrey Hatcher's 2010 play Mrs. Mannerly. In 1967 Steubenville, Ohio, Mrs. Mannerly has graduated countless students, but none have ever received a perfect score on the final exam. Her newest student, 10-year-old Jeffrey, is determined to be the first. Paper Lantern actor Stephen Moore is Jeffrey, and Cinny Strickland is Mrs. Mannerly. They're joined by director Brook Davis.
Mrs. Mannerly by Jeffrey Hatcher continues at Triad Stage's Cabaret Theatre in Greensboro through October 5th. Beginning October 8th the Paper Lantern production comes to Winston-Salem where it will run through the 19th with evening shows at 8:00 pm and Sunday matinees at 2:00 pm.
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