Wellspring Literary Series

Wellspring Literary Series

Founded and facilitated by Robert Fanning, CMU Assistant Professor of Creative Writing, the Wellspring Literary Series provides a forum for the Mt. Pleasant and Central Michigan University community to hear the work of established and emerging regional writers as well as works-in-progress by CMU writing students and faculty writers at the Art Reach Center. A partnership between the English Department at CMU and the Art Reach Center of Mid Michigan, the series provides opportunities for CMU writing students to read their work in public alongside prominent authors. The Wellspring Literary Series also features music performed by students and faculty members from the CMU School of Music, as well as local musicians.

 New Venue!!

This year, the Wellspring Literary Series events will take place in the gallery of the newly expanded Art Reach Center, located at 111 East Broadway in Downtown Mt. Pleasant.

 

Mark Your Calendar: Second Mondays (usually): 7pm

All readings are free and open to the public and will take place at the Art Reach Center, located at 319 S. University in Downtown Mt. Pleasant. Readings will generally be held on the second Monday of every month, except in the case of holidays or scheduling conflicts. Refreshments will be served, courtesy of Max and Emily's Eatery.

 

2010-2011 Schedule of Featured Readers*

 

The second year of the Wellspring Literary Series looks to feature another diverse array of talented regional and local writers—who will be joined by CMU student or faculty writers. 

March 14, 2011:
Matthew Gavin Frank, w/ CMU student writer 

Matthew Gavin Frank is currently teaching at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, MI. He is the author of the food-and-wine memoir, Barolo (University of Nebraska Press), the poetry manuscripts, Warranty in Zulu (Barrow Street Press) and Sagittarius Agitprop (Black Lawrence Press/Dzanc Books), and the chapbooks “Four Hours to Mpumalanga” (Pudding House Publications), and “Aardvark” (West Town Press).  Recent work appears in The New Republic, Field, Epoch, Crazyhorse, Indiana Review, North American Review, Pleiades, Prairie Schooner, AGNI, Hotel Amerika, Crab Orchard Review, The Best Food Writing 2006, The Best Travel Writing 2009, Creative Nonfiction, Gastronomica, and others.  He recently ate cocks’ combs for the first time in Monforte d’Alba, Italy, and woke the next morning early, guttural, and way too loud.  

April 11, 2011:

Blair: Poet, Singer/Songwriter, w/ CMU student writer  

Returning as the final performer of the Wellspring Literary Series for the second year in a row, D. Blair is a poet, performer and singer / songwriter from Detroit, MI. He is a 2010 Callaloo Fellow, recipient of Seattle's 2007 BENT Mentor Award for LGBT Writers, and a 2002 National Poetry Slam Champion. He has toured extensively throughout the U.S., South Africa, Europe, and Russia. He teaches poetry and songwriting as part of Inside Out Literary Arts Project, El Arte, The Y Arts Program, and Hannan House Senior Center.

 

*Please Note: This schedule is incomplete and subject to change: For the latest updates, further details, or inquiries, contact Robert Fanning, at Robert.fanning@cmich.edu.