A celebration and exploration of California's literature, art and history with a focus on Jack London's unique vision of the land is the theme of the second annual Jack London Lecture Series at Sonoma State University this summer.
To provide an interesting and provocative contrast to London’s vision of the land, the Green Music Festival at SSU is featuring musical depictions of European landscapes in its August 3 Midsummer Night concert, and the vision of another great Californian artist, Ansel Adams, in the Ansel Adams Centennial Exhibition.
The exhibition features 70 original prints, focusing on Adams’ landscape masterpieces, particularly his images of Northern California and Sonoma County. The exhibition is co-curated by Mary Street Alinder, Adams’ former Chief of Staff and biographer. Alinder gives the July 10 lecture of the Jack London Lecture Series, reflecting on the life of one of America’s greatest photographers and most influential environmentalists.
The free eight-part public series will run from 7-9 p.m. Wednesdays from June 26-Aug. 14 in the Evert B. Person Theatre on campus.
Called On Common Ground: Exploration of the Meaning of Place in Jack London's California, the series explores the meaning of California landscapes as expressed through various art forms including architecture, design and photography.
A field trip to Jack London State Park, film showings and performances are included in the series.
Renowned regional and national experts will present this year's series including:
June 26 - Gaye LeBaron, Valley of the Moon: London's Quest for a Place of Beauty
July 3 - Ed Castellini, Jack London: Naturalist?
July 10 - Mary Street Alinder, Celebrating 100 Years of Ansel Adams: A Great Northern Californian
July 17 - Robert Cherney, Jack London's Rugged and Radical Fin de Si-cle San Francisco
July 24 - Clarice Stasz, Place & Race in Jack London's Works
July 31 - Jennifer Golden, Interior Spaces: Jack and Charmian London as Decorators
August 7 - Gary A. Brechin, Wolf House: Architecture and Jack London's Spatial, Social and Literary Imagination
August 14 - Roberts Road Readers, Dramatic Readings from Jack London's Literature
For a tax-exempt donation of $50, those who join as a Friend of the Series can enjoy a reserved seat at all eight events and other lectures and benefits in 2002-03.
These events are co-sponsored by the SSU School of Extended Education, the Green Music Festival and California Cultural Studies program.
The series may be taken for academic credit and teacher workshops are also available.
For further information on the series, call Barbara Brooks, (707) 664-2691 or email barbara.brooks@sonoma.edu
