WAC and WCH have a shared presence at the Wyoming Library Association conference

Jenny Ingram of the Wyoming Humanities Council staffs the shared WHC/Wyoming Arts Council information table at the Wyoming Library Association conference in Casper. Photo by the WAC's Michael Lange.

Cooper Center for Creative Arts screens documentary "Adapting the Rules" Sept. 20-22

Ali Grossman’s documentary film, “Adapting the Rules,” will be screened at the Cooper Center for Creative Arts at Ark Regional Services, 1174 N. Fourth in Laramie today through Saturday, Sept. 20-22. Doors open each night at 6:30 p.m., followed by the screening at 7 p.m. A panel discussion and reception will follow after the documentary. Admission is free.

Here's a snippet about the film from the Laramie Boomerang:

For years, Director Kayc DeMaranville said she had wanted to provide Laramie residents a backstage pass to the creative process at work in productions at the Cooper Center.

“We’ve always said how, if we could just sell tickets to the backstage process, that would be so interesting to see,” she said. “So we decided to film a documentary. Once we had the OK, the grant from the Wyoming Humanities Council, it was after that we decided the ‘Elephant Man’ was the right show, the right process, the right group of people to see this project through.”

The documentary offers a unique and compelling insight into the creative process of all who worked on the “Elephant Man” last year, DeMaranville said.

Lecture about the Grand Army of the Republic launches State Museum's Civil War reading series

From a Wyoming State Museum press release:

Shannon McKinzinie will kick off the Wyoming State Museum’s reading series, “Making Sense of the American Civil War,” with a look at the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), September 26 at 7 p.m. The lecture and reading series are free to the public.

A fraternal organization founded in 1866, the GAR provided support and a sense of community for Union veterans of the American Civil War. The history of the organization, its contributions to American veterans, and its contributions to American politics will be discussed. Local monuments dedicated to the GAR (located in both Cheyenne and Laramie) also will be examined.

“This is a great opportunity to explore a part of American social history that many people today are unaware of, “ Chris Hanson, curator of education said, “I encourage anyone interested in American history to attend this lecture.”

McKinzinie is an instructor at Laramie County Community College, Albany County Campus.

She will serve as facilitator for the upcoming Wyoming Humanities Council sponsored “Making Sense of the American Civil War” reading series that is being hosted at the Wyoming State Museum. The reading series will begin September 26, 2012 at the Museum and continue through January.  The reading series is presented by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the American Library Association.

The Wyoming State Museum is located at 2301 Central Avenue in Cheyenne. The general public is invited. For more information about the lecture or the upcoming reading series, call Chris Hanson at 777-6670.

Wyoming Humanities Council seeks programs for forum

The Wyoming Humanities Council seeks programs for the Humanities Forum. The forum is a roster of independent contractors who travel throughout Wyoming, speaking on humanities-centered topics.  The format of presentations varies, but they should be 30 to 45 minutes long, followed by focused audience discussions.  The Wyoming Humanities Council pays a $150 honorarium for each presentation, as well as mileage, lodging, and per diem expenses. 

The council is especially interested in presentations related to the upcoming Wyoming tour of “Key Ingredients: America by Food,” a Smithsonian Institution traveling exhibit about food and foodways. 

The deadline for applications is June 15, 2012. For information on how to apply, see:
http://www.uwyo.edu/humanities/_files/HF_RFP.pdf

"Sinful Delights" (and humanities) on the menu next week at Casper College

Yum!

From a Casper College press release:

In honor of the upcoming 27th Annual Humanities Festival, the focus for the next Casper College Ethnic Dinner will be on “sinful” foods. The “Sinful Delights” dinner will be held on Thursday, Feb. 23 from 5 to 6:30 p.m.

Selections for the dinner include fire-roasted red pepper soup with sour cream, cilantro, and Mexican chocolate shavings; fresh greens with passion fruit vinaigrette; homemade jalapeno cheese bread with red onion; sautéed beef tournedos on grilled sun dried tomato polenta with cabernet sauvignon demi-glace, roasted roma tomatoes, and fresh asparagus; vegetarian entree option; and shrimp de jonghe in savory pastry cup. Desert will feature four chocolate-themed treats: rich chocolate mousse with pepper flakes, blackberry-cocoa sabayon torte, Devil's tongue chocolate-dipped cookies, and tri-color chocolate-dipped strawberries rolled in toasted pistachios.

Advance tickets for the Sinful Delights dinner will be sold through Friday, Feb. 20 at a cost of $9.50 each. Tickets will also be available at the door for $11 for adults, $7 for ages 7 through 12, and free for children 6 and under. Tax will be added to all ticket purchases. Because dinners often sell out, advanced ticket purchases are highly recommended.

Tickets may be purchased at the Casper College Business Office or the Gateway Café, both located on the third floor of the Gateway Building. Other locations include the Roberts Commons Cafeteria, and the cafés in Liesinger Hall and the Wold Physical Science Center. Cash is accepted at all locations and credit cards are accepted at the cafeteria and cafés.

Wyoming Humanities Council Saturday University in Jackson set for March 3

Paul Flesher

From a Wyoming Humanities Council press release:

On Saturday, March 3, from 8:45 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. at the National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson, join the Wyoming Humanities Council and the University of Wyoming for Saturday University, a free day of learning featuring the best and brightest scholars from the University of Wyoming.

Spring 2012 Saturday University features chair of religious studies Paul Flesher, associate professor of economics Klaas Van't Veld, and professor of English Susan Aronstein. Following the lectures, all three professors will participate in a final roundtable discussion. No registration is required. Participants who attend all three terms are eligible to earn college credit from Central Wyoming College.

Saturday University is sponsored by the Wyoming Humanities Council, the University of Wyoming, and the University of Wyoming Foundation, and co-presented by Central Wyoming College, the National Museum of Wildlife Art, and the Teton County Library Foundation. The program is free and open to the public.

For more information, visit www.uwyo.edu/humanities.

Cat Urbigkit presents "Yellowstone Wolves" at Sheridan County Fulmer Public Library Jan. 29

From a library press release:

The Sheridan County Fulmer Public Library will host author Cat Urbigkit for a free presentation about changing public attitudes about wolves. The program, presented by the Wyoming Humanities Council as part of its Humanities Forum, will be held at the Sheridan County Fulmer Public Library on Sunday, Jan. 29, 1:30 p.m. in the library’s Inner Circle.

Drawing heavily on the first few chapters of her book, Yellowstone Wolves: A Chronicle of the Animal, the People, and the Politics, Cat will lead the audience through an examination of public attitudes about wolves relying on published literature, debunking the myth of Little Red Riding Hood’s influence by demonstrating how human interactions with wolves determine public attitudes. The author will review historic accounts from different eras of western development and look at the views expressed in those accounts.

Copies of Yellowstone Wolves and other titles by the author will be available for purchase and signing after the discussion. Cat Urbigkit is an award-winning author and photographer based on a sheep ranch near Pinedale. She writes a news blog about wolves in the northern Rocky Mountains.

For more information about this news release, contact Debbie Iverson at 307-674-8585 ext. 29.

View Steven Tepper's talk (part one) from 2011 Convergence Wyoming Conference

Convergence Wyoming photo album

Carrie Geraci, left, of the Jackson Hole Public Art Initiative, interacts with Wyoming State Parks and Cultural Resources Department Director Milward Simpson (second from right) and Randy Oestman from the Wyoming Arts Council during a regional breakout session Saturday morning at Convergence Wyoming. Photo by Ernie Over.

Convergence Wyoming

Convergence Wyoming

Milward Simpson, director of the Wyoming Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources, addresses those gathered in Cody for Convergence Wyoming Oct. 6-8. Waiting in the wings to speak are University of Wyoming President Tom Buchanan and historian and UW political science professor Pete Simpson. The first four photos show groups gathered for Convergence sessions. Photos by Alan O'Hashi.

"Cow Town Victoriana" presentation Oct. 13 at Wyoming State Museum

Wyoming’s Victorian architecture is the topic of the newest Wyoming State Museum Lecture Series presentation, Oct. 13, at 7 p.m., in the Multi-Purpose Room. The presentation is free and open to the public.

Sponsored by the Wyoming Humanities Council, Melanie O’Hara’s presentation, "Cow Town Victoriana" discusses how Wyoming tent towns such as Cheyenne, Laramie, Rawlins and Rock Springs burgeoned into impressive statements of American Victorian architecture.

The Wyoming State Museum is located in the Barrett Building, 2301 Central Avenue in Cheyenne. For more information about this and other State Museum programs, please call 777-7022.

The presentation will include vintage photos of early Victorian architecture in Wyoming’s premier railroad towns.

Wyoming arts orgs and community leaders invited to converge at Convergence 2011 in Cody

www.convergencewyoming.com

WY Humanities Council's "Civility Matters" series features Naomi Shihab Nye

Award-winning Palestinian-American poet, writer, and educator Naomi Shihab Nye will tour Wyoming with "Civility Matters! Potlucks and Poetry," a series of community picnics and readings across the state that will feature the topics of civility, tolerance, and bridging cultures. Families and adults are invited to bring picnic dinners and gather outdoors in Jackson, Riverton, and Casper for an enjoyable fall evening with Nye, who describes herself as a "wandering poet." Nye, the daughter of a Palestinian father and American mother, has appeared on NPR's A Prairie Home Companion and several times with Bill Moyers on PBS poetry specials. While in Wyoming, she will also present programs at selected schools. Additional sponsors include the Wyoming Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources, the Teton County Library Foundation, Central Wyoming College, Natrona County Schools, the McMurry Foundation, and Casper College Literary Conference.

Events:

Tuesday, September 20, 5:30 p.m.--Outdoor Tent, Center for the Arts, Jackson

Wednesday, September 21, 5:30 p.m.--Outdoor Social Powwow Circle, Intertribal Education and Community Center, Central Wyoming College, Riverton

Thursday, September 22, 5:30 p.m.--Outdoor Plaza, Summit Elementary School, Casper

Photo Credit: Ha Lam

Voices of Freedom/Faces of Freedom features community portraits at July 4's Music in the Hole

Roseneide G, Providencia, Brazil

Tedx Jackson Hole has joined the global art project initiated by TEDPrize winner, the French street artist and photographer JR, and you are invited to be part of the fun! In partnership with the Grand Teton Music Festival and the Wyoming Humanities Council we have launched Voices of Freedom/Faces of Freedom.

There are three elements:

1. During GTMF’s Music in the Hole Celebration on the Fourth of July, personal statements about the meaning of Freedom will be incorporated into one of the pieces of music

2. A large photo installation featuring poster-size portraits of the will be exhibited (location TBD) outside as a public art installation during July

3. Photos and personal statements will be uploaded as part of TED Prize-winner JR’s Global “Inside Out” art project. Check out www.insideoutproject.net to browse what has already been uploaded and see for yourself what we have in mind!

You can participate in any and all of this. We would like at least 100 and would welcome 1,000! Here is what you would need to do:

Answer the question “What does Freedom mean to you?” Define it any way you wish—it is a big notion—and send it to us. We will arrange to take your portrait and will take care of the rest. We will have a photo booth at Music in the Hole in partnership with the Wyoming Humanities Council’s “Rumination Wheel,” as well.

Please pass this on to anyone you think might be interested. If you are involved with a group or organization that would like to participate en masse, that is welcomed, too!

FMI: lisa@jacksonholefilmfest.org,juliekling@gmail.com, shelly@gtmf.org, or emydigrappa@gmail.com

Buffalo Bill Boycott rides into Cheyenne July 10

Join us at the Historic Governor's Mansion on Sunday, July 10, 1:30-3:30 p.m. for a performance by Lander's Buffalo Bill Boycott, a Wyoming and western entertainer (and a member of the Wyoming Arts Council's artist roster). A free family event. Location: 300 E. 21st Street., Cheyenne. 307-777-7878. FMI: http://buffalobillboycott.com

Arts Council and Humanities Council team up at Wyoming Association of Municipalities conference

The Wyoming Arts Council's Mike Shay staffs the booth shared by WAC and the Wyoming Humanities Council at the Wyoming Association of Municipalities (WAM) conference in Sheridan on June 10. WCH staffers (not pictured) Jason Burge and Sheila Bricher-Wade stopped in Sheridan for their state tour promoting "Civility Matters." Photo by Jason Burge.

"Civility Matters!" grants available now

From our colleagues at the Wyoming Humanities Council: 
The Wyoming Humanities Council seeks public humanities projects with innovative approaches to the topic of civility, especially those focusing on creative formats, new or underserved audiences including youth, and community partnerships.
Maximum funding: $5000
Deadlines: Monthly, postmarked on or before the first of the month
Grant period: Starting February 1, 2011, and continuing until all funds are expended.  Projects must be completed by June 30, 2012.
Decision making: Grants Committee of the Wyoming Humanities Council

Save the date: 4Cs conference in Cody Oct. 6-9

More info coming soon from the Wyoming Arts Council

Date change for "Civility Matters" in Cheyenne

From the Wyoming Humanities Council:

Join Us for "Civility Matters! The Decline of Legislative Civility — But Not in Wyoming."

Friday, December 10, 5:30-7 p.m.

Historic Plains Hotel, 1600 Central Avenue, Cheyenne.

Join us for refreshments and conversation about Wyoming’s place in the national debate over declining legislative civility.

Leading the dialogue at 6 p.m. will be Rutgers University legislative scholar Alan Rosenthal speaking on “The Decline of Legislative Civility — But Not in Wyoming.” Rosenthal, a professor of public policy at Rutgers University, researches and teaches about state legislatures and state politics.

The author of numerous books on state legislatures, he has worked with legislatures in most of the states and with the three national legislative organizations. His most recent book is Engines of Democracy: Politics and Policymaking in State Legislatures. In 2006 he was the recipient of an award for lifetime achievement from the National Conference of State Legislatures and the State Legislative Leaders Foundation. He is currently chairman of the New Jersey Legislature’s Joint Legislative Committee on Ethical Standards.

"Civility Matters!" is a multi-year initiative of the Wyoming Humanities Council which offers promotion and online and face-to-face programs on the topic of civility. Residents of the Cowboy State will have broad opportunities to consider the meaning of civility, both in the context of the nation’s democratic commitments to freedom of expression and in the context of an increasingly global world.

Funding is provided by the Wyoming State Legislature through the Wyoming Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources, the University of Wyoming Outreach School, and the National Endowment for the Humanities. "Civility Matters!" complements the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) 50-state American Civility Tour, conducted by NEH Chairman Jim Leach in 2010-2011.

The Wyoming Humanities Council is a nonprofit organization affiliated with NEH. For more information about the event or the Wyoming Humanities Council, call 307-721-9243 or visit www.uwyo.edu/humanities.

Civility Matters! The Decline of Legislative Civility -- But Not in Wyoming w/update

UPDATE: PLEASE NOTE THAT THE DATE HAS BEEN CHANGED TO FRIDAY, DEC. 10

Thursday, December 9
5:30-7 p.m.
Cheyenne Depot Museum

Join us for refreshments and conversation about Wyoming's place in the national debate over declining legislative civility. Leading the dialogue will be Rutgers University legislative scholar Alan Rosenthal speaking on "The Decline of Legislative Civility-But Not in Wyoming." Rosenthal, a professor of public policy at Rutgers University, researches and teaches about state legislatures and state politics. The author of numerous books on state legislatures, he has worked with legislatures in most of the states and with the three national legislative organizations. His most recent book is Engines of Democracy: Politics and Policymaking in State Legislatures. In 2006 he was the recipient of an award for lifetime achievement from the National Conference of State Legislatures and the State Legislative Leaders Foundation. He is currently chairman of the New Jersey Legislature's Joint Legislative Committee on Ethical Standards.


Civility Matters! is a multi-year initiative of the Wyoming Humanities Council which offers promotion and online and face-to-face programs on the topic of civility. Residents of the Cowboy State will have broad opportunities to consider the meaning of civility, both in the context of the nation's democratic commitments to freedom of expression and in the context of an increasingly global world. Funding is provided by the Wyoming State Legislature through the Wyoming Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources, the University of Wyoming Outreach School, and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Civility Matters! complements the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) 50-state American Civility Tour, conducted by NEH Chairman Jim Leach in 2010-2011. The Wyoming Humanities Council is a nonprofit organization affiliated with NEH. For more information about the event or the Wyoming Humanities Council, call 307-721-9243 or visit www.uwyo.edu/humanities;  http://www.uwyo.edu/humanities

Wyoming Humanities Council offers civility program as an antidote to these "uncivil" times

Milward Simpson, director of the Wyoming Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources, wrote a guest op-ed for the Oct. 24 Casper Star-Tribune. His essay focused on the new Wyoming Humanities Council program on a timely topic -- civility. This is a slightly longer version of the CST op-ed:

October is National Arts and Humanities Month. In honor of the occasion I’m writing to announce that the Wyoming Humanities Council (WHC) will be conducting a new series of programs and activities beginning in fall 2010 bringing Wyoming citizens together to focus on an important and timely topic: civility.

Much has been made of these “uncivil” times. As Americans, we are all familiar with the words and images that have characterized our political landscape in recent months and years: politicians resorting to ugly personal attacks and extreme public statements, the advent of the inchoate tea party movement and the inchoate, mocking response to it, all this amorphous anger, the mob chaos of political town meetings, entire TV “news” programs devoted to one-sided polemic, and here, closer to home, the uproar over Bill Ayers and extremists threatening to burn religious texts on the capitol steps. Even in Wyoming where we know that we daren’t offend our neighbor for risk of offending the entire community that sustains us, we are not immune.

The fuel we seem to keep pouring onto the fire is distilled from a variety of sources: the proliferation of electronic communication leading to an increasingly polarized media (what journalists Halperin and Harris refer to as “the freak show”), the increasing geopolitical phenomenon in which people choose to live where their political views will be reinforced (what author Bill Bishop refers to as “The Clustering of Like-Minded America;” and a frustrated electorate facing the seeming impossibility of getting anything done in the almost complete absence of compromise – we have all been burned by the volatility of these forces.

Of course, our democratic experiment has often been characterized by periods of national upheaval where incivility reigned. The publication “America’s Civil War” in its most recent issue stated “…if you think politics are polarizing now, try to imagine the angst in this country after Abraham Lincoln was elected president 150 years ago…” Cabinet members resigned, seven states voted to secede from the Union and Federal property in South Carolina was confiscated and/or destroyed leaving Ft. Sumter as the only federal property remaining. Yet, though far perhaps from the depth of the divisions which resulted in our great Civil War, the word “secession” has wormed its way back into the national dialogue. Our current cultural environment does call into question the cohesion of our nation and our collective ability to confront the enormous issues facing us - economic, environmental and social.

It is not that we should disagree less. Indeed, part of our American dynamism comes from the fact that we are born and bred to argue. Our democracy draws its strength from it. The esteemed journalist Howard Fineman in his book “The Thirteen American Arguments,” argues that, if anything, we don’t argue enough “…about the fundamentals. The … arguments bitterly divide us, but they also define, inspire, and ultimately unite us by bestowing legitimacy on hard fought deals…”

The difference today seems to be civility – what National Endowment for the Humanities Chairman Jim Leach refers to as the willingness and ability to “walk in another’s shoes.” I had the honor of meeting Mr. Leach during his visit to Wyoming last month as part of his 50-state “American Civility Tour.” Leach, a 30-year Iowa Congressman known for his effectiveness in working across the aisle, launched his tour to “call attention to the need for civility in public discourse.” I have seldom met a more erudite gentleman, yet, he puts this all very simply: “Civilization requires civility. Words matter. Polarizing attitudes can jeopardize social cohesion.”

While pondering this piece, I thought of civility in light of my own family’s history of public service. Many of us are known to be “scrappers” who don’t back down from a fight and are prone, for better or worse, to speak our minds. My grandfather Milward, during his term as Governor in the late 1950’s, once wrote a quite uncivil letter responding to a constituent who seems to have taken issue with his conduct in office. Granddad dashed off his vitriolic missive and told his Chief of Staff Bob McManus to “mail the thing to that #@$&% SOB.” Bob did as he was told. Later that day, Governor Simpson came to him and asked, “…you didn’t mail that letter, did you!?” Bob said that he had. Granddad exclaimed something like “Oh God, we’ve got to go get it!” and they walked (I’m sure with less than sure legal footing) to the postmaster who agreed to retrieve the letter before it left the post office. From then on, when granddad had occasion (as he apparently continued to do) to direct his Chief of Staff to “mail the thing to that dirty rotten…!” or something of the like, Bob would wisely pocket the letter so when he was asked the inevitable “you didn’t mail that thing did you!?,” he simply retrieved it from his vest pocket – a sort of “pocket veto” of an uncivil instinct, for which the family is eternally grateful.

How do we confront this issue here in our beloved, wonderful and still wild Wyoming? The Wyoming Humanities Council’s Civility Matters! initiative was inspired by Chairman Leach’s call to action. The WCH describes these statewide programs as being “…presented in a variety of formats and will explore historically contentious events, as well as contemporary state, national, and international issues. Wide-ranging topics may include "cyber-civility" and public discourse in the digital age; sports and civility; cyber and school bullying; academic freedom; generational differences; national topics, such as second amendment rights, labor relations, and energy and water issues; regional topics, such as the Rock Springs Massacre, the Johnson County Wars, and the World War II Heart Mountain Relocation Center; and international topics, such as Islamic contributions to world cultures and the Iraq/Afghanistan wars.” The variable format for these discussions is intended to encourage interaction and will include visiting scholar presentations, online film and book discussions, summer watermelon/ice cream socials, publications, and community potluck dialogues.

The Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources is proud to provide support for these programs and feels they will benefit Wyoming as we explore the issue as a state and rededicate ourselves to our proud “live and let live” credo, to arguing and disagreeing while retaining our civility and our mutual respect. Back to Fineman, our civil discourse, our arguments, “…produced a civil war, the still-smoldering embers of racial tribalism, and pitiless economic competition; but they also produce the freest of societies, an ongoing (if imperfect) accommodation between capital and community, and a Constitution that stands as a beacon to the world even if we sometimes honor it in the breach. Arguing keeps us moving fitfully forward – toward being worthy of the gifts God gave us.”

As we celebrate National Arts and Humanities Month, I invite you to participate in these activities and be a part of this important discourse. After all, it’s the American thing to do!