THE BLUE M N A Bimonthly Publication of the Kentucky Arts Council Volume 8 Issue 2 March/April 2001 Kentucky's New Poet Laureate PHOTO: MICHAEL HALL James Baker Hall Shares Some Thoughts about the Arts, Literature and a New Generation of Kentucky Authors James Baker Hall is “ready, willing, and delighted” He feels there’s been a great omission in the about the opportunities that lie ahead of him as Kentucky’s curriculum of art in education, in that students are Poet Laureate for 2001-2002. taught about works of art but never get to talk to an artist. Hall intends to advocate for a greater presence “Kentucky has such an intense and rich literary culture of artists in education because artists “don’t think like right now. There are so many Kentucky authors with intellectuals do; they have different takes on what is national reputations who are writing at the top of their real and important.” form right now. I’m excited about representing the literary fruitfulness Kentucky has to offer,” said Hall. “The education system spends all its time putting things in your head, but most artists begin with emptying their A self-proclaimed private person, Hall never imagined heads out.” himself in a public role. Now he’s finding himself making plans to travel around to Kentucky’s communities to Also an acclaimed photographer, Hall plans to use both promote literature and the arts. mediums in his role as Poet Laureate. “I think my photography will make it very easy to talk about the Hall is particularly interested in talking to Kentucky’s richness of literary culture. Perhaps someone who schools. A professor at the University of Kentucky for doesn’t have a connection with fiction or poetry can the past thirty years, Hall says there’s “no reason why, connect with a picture.” with this platform, some education can’t take place.” (Continued on page 2) 2—March/April 2001 THE BLUE MOON KENTUCKY ARTS COUNCIL James Baker Hall AND STAFF Council Members Hall’s latest book is a perfect example Hall is the author of five volumes of Janrose Tunnell, Chair ...................... Richmond of such a connection. A Spring-Fed poetry, two novels and text for two Ann Duggins Schell, Vice Chair .......... Louisville Pond, set for an October release, photography books in his capacity as Jerry Baker ................................... Bowling Green contains almost 100 photographs of contributing editor for Aperature. The Stephanie Bateman ............................... Louisville Lila Bellando .................................................. Berea Hall’s most commended colleagues New Yorker, The Paris Review, Poetry, Carol Black .............................................. Louisville including Wendell Berry, Gurney Norman, The American Poetry Review and The Geraldine Montgomery ......................... Paducah Bobby Ann Mason, Ed McClanahan, Kenyon Review are among the many Jennifer S. Maddux.............................. Pembroke and Mary Ann Taylor Hall. The pictures magazines that have published Hall’s Everett D. McCorvey .......................... Lexington are stories in themselves, displaying Lynn Morris ..................................... Hopkinsville work. He received a 1979-80 National Suzanne Rutledge .................................. Somerset Kentucky’s most prominent authors Endowment in the Arts grant for poetry, Susan Schuler .................................. Lakeside Park as they’ve matured over the years. and has won awards from Ironwood Pamela Papka Sexton ........................... Lexington and the Cincinnati Poetry Review. In Susan Smith ............................................ Louisville Some of those photographs will be on addition to his teaching and writing Jean Yewell..........................................Owensboro display in the University of Kentucky’s career, Hall serves on the advisory Staff Art Museum in October as part of a board of the Kentucky Writers’ Coalition. Gerri Combs, Executive Director yearlong celebration of the school’s Lori Meadows, Executive Staff Advisor writing program. Orchestrated by Ed Lawrence, Public Information Officer He was chosen as Poet Laureate by Louana Tracy, Secretary Norman, the culminating event set The Poet Laureate Selection Committee for October 18, will be a group reading coordinated by the Kentucky Arts Administrative Branch Carolyn Starbuck, Administrative Branch Manager on the campus by several graduates Council. The Poet Laureate program, Deborah Thomas, Administrative Specialist of the program, including Hall. established by the Kentucky General Sandy Etherington, Grants Manager Assembly in 1991, highlights the Sandra Lawrence, Information Technology Administrator Teresa Wade, Fiscal Officer While Hall is delighted to represent accomplishments of a published Kentucky the Kentucky authors of his genera- author who has received critical Program Branch tion, he also intends to give special Daniel Strauss, Program Branch Manager acclaim and whose work has been in- John S. Benjamin, Arts in Education Director recognition to the new generation of formed by living in Kentucky. E. Chris Harp, Community Arts Director authors in the Commonwealth who Lori Meadows, Individual Artist Director are “very talented and already ac- Craft Marketing Program complished”—they’re “people with Fran Redmon, Program Director real passion, real gift.” Nancy Atcher, Product Development Coordinator Anna Marie Walker, Outreach and Training Vallorie Henderson, Special Projects Coordinator Connie Hicks, Marketing Specialist Marcie Christensen, Information Technology Manager Kentucky Writers’ Day Honors Robert Penn Warren Jill Roberts, Administrative Secretary The selection of April 24, 2001, as Writers’ Day celebrations for Kentucky Folklife Program the date of induction of James will include the passing of the baton Bob Gates, Folklife Director Brent Bjorkman, Folklife Specialist Baker Hall as Poet Laureate of from Richard Taylor, Kentucky Poet Joyce Miller, Folklife Specialist Kentucky is not just a coincidence. Laureate 1999-2000 to James Baker Paul E. Patton, Governor The General Assembly established Hall, Kentucky Poet Laureate 2001- Marlene Helm, Secretary, Kentucky Writers’ Day in 1990 to 2002. Governor Paul E. Patton will Education, Arts and Humanities Cabinet honor our strong literary tradition officiate the ceremony to be held in The BlueMoon is published bi-monthly by the and to celebrate the birth anniversary the Capitol Rotunda in Frankfort at Kentucky Arts Council. Please send comments, questions of Todd County native son, Robert 11:00 a.m. EST. Readings by writ- and information to: Penn Warren; April 24, 1905. ers of the Affrilachian Poets group The Blue Moon Kentucky Arts Council will highlight the morning’s event, Old Capitol Annex Though regarded as one of the which is free and open to the public. 300 West Broadway Frankfort, Kentucky 4O6Ol - 1950 best poets of his generation, War- or call 5O2/564-3757V/TDD ren was better known as a novelist A few days prior to that, the Frankfort TOLL FREE: 1-888-833-2787 and received critical acclaim for All Arts Foundation will feature both E-MAIL: [email protected] WEB SITE: WWW.KYARTS.ORG the Kings Men which won the James Baker Hall and Richard Taylor This publication was printed with state funds. Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. Warren at their annual Leadingham Poetry served as Chancellor of the Acad- and Prose Reading and Reception. emy of Poets from 1972 until This ticketed event will take place in 1988, and was appointed the first the Old State Capitol on April 21, 2001 U.S. Poet Laureate in 1985. He at 8:00 p.m. For more details and died in 1989. information, contact: 502-875-4ART. THE BLUE MOON March/April 2001—3 National Endowment for the Arts Grants $127,000 to Kentucky Organizations In the first round of grants from the NEA, which represent approximately a quarter of their annual granting dollars, Kentucky organizations received six of the 718 Creativity grants awarded nationally and one Organizational Capacity grant among the 60 awarded nationally. The Creativity (formerly Creation & Presentation) grants In the Organizational Capacity grant category, the support all aspects of the creation and presentation of artis- Kentucky Assembly of Local Arts Agencies (Consortium), tic work. Kentucky Arts Council director Gerri Combs says, better know as Arts Kentucky, was awarded $12,000 “I am pleased to see NEA funds coming to a number of our to support a consortium project to implement the Kentucky arts organizations. In my estimation the re- operation of the Kentucky Peer Advisory Network (KPAN). sources of the National Endowment for the Arts are KPAN is a technical assistance program developed to underutilized by our organizations. I hope that more of our assist arts organizations throughout Kentucky and will groups will begin to pursue federal funding opportunities, be implemented with the Kentucky Arts Council. from both the NEA and the US Department of Education." The purpose of the Organizational Capacity grants is to In the category of Creativity, the following organizations support projects that develop future arts leaders and received grants: enhance the skills of those already working in the field. This new grant category is the result of 10 colloquia Actors Theatre Of Louisville, Inc., Louisville, was convened in 1999 by the Arts Endowment to discuss awarded $35,000 to support the production of Ibsen’s strategies for strengthening art organizations. It refines Hedda Gabler. The production will be developed and the goals of the