UMSL Celebrates National Poetry Month

March 20, 2012 - PRLog -- ST. LOUIS – The University of Missouri–St. Louis and its Center for the Humanities presents five more Monday Noon Series events for the Spring 2012 session. These free, open to the public, cultural lectures and performances focus on subjects including art, dance, history, literature, and politics. The interdisciplinary events are Mondays from 12:15–1:15 p.m. and take place in the J.C. Penney Conference Center on UMSL’s campus unless otherwise noted.

Monday, April 2, kicks off National Poetry Month with a reading by Jeff Friedman, who has been called “the funniest poet in PoBiz.” He will explore poems from his most recent collection, “Working in Flour,” and selections from his new manuscript of parables, fables, tales and comic sketches.

The following week, April 9, presents “The Library of Dreams,” with Howard Schwartz reading from his book “Breathing in the Dark,” and from his newest poems, many of which were inspired by dreams.

On April 16, Terry Suhre, director of Gallery 210 and research professor of art at UMSL, provides an illustrated analysis of chair design as represented in the St. Louis Art Museum Decorative Arts Collection. This event is at Gallery 210 in the Telecommunity Center.

On April 23, Cecilia Nadal, founder and executive director of Gitana Productions, and cast members of “Muddy River” discuss how to explore race and class relations through dance, and they give an inside view of their May dance production.

The final event of the Spring 2012 session, on April 30, previews the 33rd Annual St. Louis Storytelling Festival (http://stlstorytellingfestival.org/). Bobby Norfolk, an internationally known story performer and teaching artist, celebrates the artistic achievements of the African American community during the Harlem Renaissance during the early 1900s. He recreates literature, music and poetry by legends such as Duke Ellington, Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston. Norfolk is a regional storyteller at the Festival, which runs May 2–5.

All events are free, open to the public and no registration is required. Light refreshments will be served. The Missouri Arts Council, the Regional Arts Commission of Saint Louis and Gallery 210 have provided financial assistance for this season.

For more information please visit http://umslce.org/index.php/monday-noon-series/ or call (314) 516-5698.

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About UMSL CE:
The UMSL Division of Continuing Education provides programs that fulfill degree completion, professional development and personal enrichment goals for the lifelong learner. For more information, please visit http://umslce.org.