THE BLUE M N a Bimonthly Publication of the Kentucky Arts Council Volume 9 Issue 2 March/April 2002
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THE BLUE M N A Bimonthly Publication of the Kentucky Arts Council Volume 9 Issue 2 March/April 2002 "How come there are so many good writers working now in Kentucky?" Reflections by Kentucky's Poet Laureate, James Baker Hall In correspondence recently with “When did it start?” I was asked last night at a meeting of a New York literary agent, I the Harrison County Book Club. In the first half of the found scrawled across the bot- twentieth century Robert Penn Warren, the U.S.’s first tom on a typewritten letter, Poet Laureate, winner of the Pulitzer in both fiction and “How come there are so many poetry, gave the state something it hadn’t had before to good writers working now in be proud of, and there were other writers of lasting ac- Kentucky? Isn’t this a subject complishment in that era, Elizabeth Maddox Roberts and for investigation?” The number Harriet Arnow to mention only the first two that come to of significant national and inter- my mind. But the story I’m alluding to is of the second national reputations in progress half, and involves a lot more than place of birth. Although hereabouts is indeed worth noticing. Translators the some of Warren’s stories are set in the state, and he is world over are trying to figure out the way Kentuckians obviously and importantly a southerner, his reputation at- talk because of the work of Bobbie Ann Mason, Ed taches him more to Yale and such like than to us. His McClanahan, Wendell Berry, Chris Offutt, and others. Of friends, the poet Alan Tate and the critic-scholar Cleanth the last seven winners of the Yale Younger Poets Prize, Brooks, were likewise born in the state, but it takes a the most prestigious award for first volumes, three have bean counter to claim them—it’s like the Jews wanting been Kentuckians, which means the next generation of Jack Benny and Sammy Davis, Jr. on their list. exceptional accomplishment is emerging. Perhaps the most coherent and easily-told part of the The numbers attract attention, and so does the fact that story, for sure the only part I’m qualified to tell com- most of these “good writers” working now in the state are menced in the mid-fifties at UK. Wendell, Ed, Gurney, Kentuckians writing about things Kentucky. In my rounds Bobbie Ann and I were students there, getting a fire lit by as Poet Laureate I make sure to celebrate all this, ask a real fire-lighter, the poet Robert Hazel, and by the com- those listening to take notice. Shiloh and Other Stories, munity of ambition he created. Robert singled us out for The Memory of Old Jack, Come and Go, Molly Snow, special attention and encouraged us to think of ourselves Clay’s Quilt—I start naming names and titles, and people as would-be members of the world family of art, with in the audience sometimes join in, A Natural Man, Kin- deeper ties to Chekhov and Flaubert than Jessie Stuart folks, and what about Crystal Wilkinson and Blackberries, and Cotton Noe. Although Bobbie Ann wasn’t transformed what about Maurice Manning, T. Crunk, Davis McCombs? on the spot by Robert and his teachings, and delivered to However many get named, the ones unmentioned consti- the rest of her life straightway, we guys were, more or tute the weight beneath the surface that moves the tip in less, or so it seems to me now. Our continuing friend- such an interesting way. ships have been important to our lives as artists, in mat- ters large and small. We line-edited each others’ work on How could all this be happening in a state infamous for its and off for years; we passed inspiration and challenge illiteracy, where even the privileged are too often scarred and confidence and support and encouragement back by philistinism? Is it explained simply by the existence of and forth. You’d be hard put to find four more different limestone in the drinking water, or is it more complex spirts, nor is there anything here the literary historians than that? Does our proximity to the big caves work us in would call a “school,” but there is something of a family; our sleep, leading us to dig deeper and stay under longer, the bond of our common heritage and formative experi- to comprehend more readily that the rocking world rests ence has proven profound and lasting. on the back of a turtle emerging from slumber? (continued on page 2) 2—March/April 2002 THE BLUE MOON KENTUCKY ARTS COUNCIL AND STAFF Kentucky Writers Council Members Janrose Tunnell, Chair ...................... Richmond Ann Duggins Schell, Vice Chair .......... Louisville Jerry Baker ................................... Bowling Green That we all returned to the state to Stephanie Bateman ............................... Louisville live after significant time else- Lila Bellando .................................................. Berea where, and to UK to teach the th Carol Black .............................................. Louisville courses that had such an influence April 24 Thomas H. Bonny ........................................Irvine Jennifer S. Maddux.............................. Pembroke on our lives - with Bobbie Ann now Everett D. McCorvey .......................... Lexington among us, as UK’s first (non- Marks Lynn Morris ..................................... Hopkinsville teaching) Writer-in-Residence - is Suzanne Rutledge .................................. Somerset one of the more obvious episodes Susan Schuler .................................. Lakeside Park in the story now attracting atten- Kentucky Pamela Papka Sexton ........................... Lexington Susan Smith ............................................ Louisville tion in the literary world. None of Roanne H. Victor .................................. Louisville us would have been the same, Jean Yewell..........................................Owensboro probably, without the others, nor Writers’ without the direct and indirect in- Staff Gerri Combs, Executive Director fluence of Robert Hazel. Day Lori Meadows, Executive Staff Advisor Ed Lawrence, Public Information Officer Which thank God doesn’t ‘explain’ Louanna Tracy, Secretary Administrative Branch the first thing about Guy Daven- Carolyn Starbuck, Administrative Branch Manager port or Kristina McGrath or James Deborah Catlett, Administrative Specialist Sandy Etherington, Grants Manager Still. How could it be otherwise Sandra Lawrence, Information Technology Administrator among cave-dwellers, on the rock- Teresa Wade, Fiscal Officer ing back of the turtle? Program Branch Daniel Strauss, Program Branch Manager The Kentucky General Assembly John S. Benjamin, Arts in Education Director Or Normandi Ellis, or Kristina E. Chris Harp, Community Arts Director McGrath, Nikky Finney, Chris established Kentucky Writers’ Heather Lyonss, Individual Artist Director Offutt, Jane Gentry, Chris Day in 1990 to celebrate our Craft Marketing Program Holbrook, Frank X Walker, Jeffrey Fran Redmon, Program Director strong literary tradition in Nancy Atcher, Product Development Coordinator Skinner, Silas House, Sena Anna Marie Walker, Outreach and Training Naslund, Gayl Jones, Dot Sutton, Kentucky. Over the years it has Vallorie Henderson, Special Projects Coordinator Martha Bennett Stiles, Harry acted as a catalyst to recognize Connie Hicks, Marketing Specialist Beau Haddock, Media Communications & Marketing Brown, Mary O’Dell, Marcia the Kentucky writers among us, Marcie Christensen, Information Technology Manager Hurlow, Kathleen Diskell, Paul both emerging and accom- Jill Roberts, Administrative Secretary Griner, Lynn Pruett, Steven Cope, Folklife Program Kim Edwards, Cia White, Mary Ann plished. Kentucky Writers’ Day Bob Gates, Folklife Director Taylor-Hall, Erik Reece, Fred also honors the birth anniver- Brent Bjorkman, Folklife Specialist Smock, Jonathan Green, Frank Mark Brown, Folklife Specialist sary of Robert Penn Warren, a Steel, Peggy Steel, George native of Todd County born Paul E. Patton, Governor Ecklund, Sue Grafton, Sarah Marlene Helm, Secretary, Education, Arts and Humanities Cabinet Gorham, Leatha Kendrick, George on April 24, 1905. Ella Lyon, Richard Taylor, Jeff The BlueMoon is published bi-monthly by the Worley, Joe Survant, Fred Smock, Kentucky Arts Council. Please send comments, questions Though regarded as one of the and information to: or any of the other working The Blue Moon Kentucky fiction writers and poets best poets of his generation, Kentucky Arts Council Old Capitol Annex publishing nationally whose names Robert Penn Warren was more 300 West Broadway I’m sadly forgetting at the popularly known as a novelist Frankfort, Kentucky 4O6Ol - 1980 moment, or don’t know about to or call 5O2/564-3757V/TDD and received a Pulitzer Prize for TOLL FREE: 1-888-833-2787 begin with. E-MAIL: [email protected] All the Kings Men. Warren also WEB SITE: WWW.KYARTS.ORG This publication was printed with state funds. James Baker Hall will visit Bellarmine had the distinction of being University on Wednesday, March appointed as the first U.S. Poet 13, 2002, for a day of classes and Laureate in 1985. and a free public reading at 3 p.m. in the Music Building, Room 101. For more information, contact Dr. Frederick Smock at (502) 452-8091. THE BLUE MOON March/April 2002—3 on how to initiate, manage and sustain community-cen- 1st NEA Grants of FY 2002 tered arts projects in underserved rural and urban areas. Support the Arts Nationwide Literature Fellowships represent one of the NEA’s most direct investments in American creativity by supporting with $19.4 Million writers in the development of their work. The program’s goal is to encourage production of new work by affording Kentucky Artists and Arts artists the time to write. Organizations Receive $55, 000 Christie Hodgen (Louisville) received $20,000 to support a Creative Writing Fellowship. In December, the National Endowment for the Arts an- For additional information, contact the National Endowment nounced $19,432,000 awarded through 819 grants. This for the Arts’ Office of Communications at 202-682-5570, or marks the first major funding round of Fiscal Year 2002, which began on October 1, and constitutes 20% of the connect with the Endowment’s Web site at www.arts.gov.