West Virginia University Libraries will host “Women Speak”, a juried performance of poetry, songs, short stories and essays, Oct. 6 from 1 to 3 p.m. in the Downtown Campus Library’s Milano Reading Room.
The annual event is a creation of the Women of Appalachia Project who issues a call for residents of all 420 Appalachian counties to submit writing to be featured.
West Virginia storyteller and WVU alumna Natalie Sypolt is eager to share her perspective as a woman with roots in the Mountain State.
“I could no sooner separate my identity from Appalachia than I could from being a woman,” Sypolt said. “It is hard to say exactly how Appalachia influences my work or my life because it is in everything I am. In my very fiber there are mountains. Through my stories I hope to show the people I know, whose lives are just as important as those of people living in New York City or Paris.”
Since 2009, Albany, Ohio-based poet and photographer Kari Gunter-Seymour has curated the fine art exhibitions and spoken word events via WOAP, an arts organization she created to address discrimination of women from Appalachia. WOAP is celebrating its 10th anniversary this season.
This is the second year for the Libraries partnering with the Women’s Resource Center, and the Center for Women’s and Gender Studies to bring the spoken word event to campus. The program is open to the public, and Insomnia Cookies will provide snacks.
Later in the day, from 6 to 8 p.m., Monongalia Arts Center, 107 High St., will host an opening reception for WOAP’s art exhibition. The juried exhibit will display work by artists from throughout West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky and Pennsylvania. Many of the artists will be in attendance for meet and greet and discussion of their work.
Other participating venues include Berea College, Ky.; Northern Kentucky University; Ohio University Multicultural Center and Baker Theater; Ohio University Southern; and The Bowen House in Logan, Ohio.
For more information go to womenofappalachia.com, visit WOAP on Facebook at facebook.com/WomenofAppalachia or email womenofappalachia@gmail.com.