Rethinking Penelope Wednesday, September 11 12:30 p.m. Winn Room

In anticipation of the unveiling of the public art sculpture“Penelope” at Tidelands Park on September 12, the Library will host a lecture on the mythical character by Dr. Laurel Corona.

Lunchtime refreshments will be served. RETHINKING PENELOPE

While writing the novel Penelope’s Daughter (Penguin/Berkeley 2010), Dr. Corona’s research enabled her to re-envision Penelope as the true hero of the Odyssey. She will share her exploration of women of the Bronze Age and her thoughts about the hidden story behind Homer’s epic.

Laurel Corona attended graduate school at the University of Chicago (MA 1972) and earned her Ph.D. at UC Davis. She has worked as an instructor and an administrator of academic support programs at San Diego State University and the University of California at San Diego. She began at San Diego City College in 1990, first as a dean and then as a full-time professor of English and Humanities. Since her retirement in 2014, she has continued her love of teaching as a lecturer for several cruise lines. She travels the world now, speaking about the history, art, culture and interesting people and places as far flung as Patagonia, Iceland, Ireland and Myanmar.

The Port of San Diego invites the public to celebrate the installation of artist Michael Stutz’s elegant bronze sculpture, “Penelope.” Her new waterfront location overlooks San Diego Bay and the San Diego-Coronado Bridge. The statue is sited in the northeast corner of Coronado Tidelands Park, 2000 Mullinex Drive. The event is on Thursday, September 12, 2019, from 11a.m. to 1p.m. Parking is available in the Coronado Tidelands Park parking lot. The bronze artwork, standing nearly seven feet tall, was first commissioned by the Port of San Diego’s Public Art Program in 2009. “Penelope” was previously located on the San Diego Waterfront between Seaport Village and Tuna Harbor. Due to the construction of Ruocco Park, “Penelope” was temporarily moved off the waterfront and placed into storage. The installation celebration marks the end of a long hiatus for “Penelope,” who represents a figure from the Greek epic poem The Odyssey, and her re-emergence as a beautiful public artwork that can be enjoyed by all who visit Coronado Tidelands Park. The event will feature free food and refreshments, as well as live music. Please RSVP to [email protected].