This piece is based on the Native American legend of the Wendigo, a mythological, man-eating creature or evil spirit that originated in the Algonquian tribes of southeastern Canada.
Have you ever found yourself hungering alone?
Hateful pain bound like knots within your guts
Has it eaten away at your nerves and reason?
Surely you know what becomes of such agony
Deep within the copse of cold lies the answer
When your hunger beyond your very own sanity
In that moment it comes, the craving of flesh
Whether your own or attached to an unfortunate soul
These decrepit thoughts tease with grim delight
Rivers of red running and tainting the pure white snow
The tearing of flesh between frantic hands
Thoughts so dark, yet enchanting to a mind on its own
From the depths of the forest, among skeletal trees and dead brush
Through blinding sheets of pelting ice and snow
You soon come face to face with Hunger made manifest
The very spirit of winter and malice, titan of starvation
It looms over your pitiable form as owls bore witness from afar
Ragged ash grey skin, stretched taut over haunting bones
Antlers stained with bright crimson blood
Its sunken eyes boring into your very heart
All hope of resisting it, any shred of fleeing is gone
It left you as this beast of anomalous nature sat
Horrors yet to come, you shout defiance aloud towards it
A futile gesture, as you would soon know
Soon enough it answers your taunts of desperation
First in the voice of your father, then the mother, even brothers
Your lover, your closest friends, all loved ones dearest
An unspoken anguish of the heart as it speaks in the likeness of the dead
Upon its haunches among the churned-up ice it sits
Its maw dripping in fresh gore, your flesh in clawed hands
A meal you have become, consumed beyond recognition
Licking its fanged lips before rising to the scent of another tortured soul
The hunger that never rests, the twisted spirit of the Wendigo
On Tuesday, Oct. 22, I had the pleasure of interviewing senior Ashleigh King to discuss Transylvania Theater’s opening play for the 2019-2020 season – “Picnic” by William Inge, directed by Marianne Phelps.
What is the play about and what is your role in the show?
“I play Mrs. Helen Potts in Picnic. It’s a play from 1953 and won a Pulitzer Prize for Drama. It’s set in a small town in Kansas the day before Labor Day. Most of the action takes place in the yard between the two houses of Mrs. Potts and Flo Owens, who has two teenage daughters. Madge, the 19-year-old, is the most beautiful girl in town and is dating a well-off boy named Alan and knows that [he] is her ticket to a comfier life, mostly because her mom keeps telling her. Meanwhile, Millie, the younger sister, is known for her intelligence but is pretty envious of the adoration Madge receives from everyone just because of her looks. The play starts when Mrs. Potts takes in a wandering, handsome traveler, Hal Carter, who has had a rough go at it. He’s an old friend of Madge’s boyfriend and wanted to come see if he could get a job. But then he sees Madge, and there’s an undeniable connection between the two of them. And then the drama ensues from there.”
What are some differences and similarities between you and your character?
“So, my character and I are pretty different. She’s a 60-year-old grandmotherly figure who lives with her disabled mother who she has a troubled past with. She understands that the time in her life for spontaneity is over, but she still looks for any opportunity for some excitement. We’re similar in a way that we both crave new experiences! And we’re both very maternal people. But Mrs. Potts believes that she needs someone to help spark that spontaneity when I’m pretty sure I can do it on my own. But we also have to remember, Mrs. Potts is 60 and it’s 1953 so we shouldn’t be too hard on her.”
What has been your favorite part about working on the show so far and why?
“I really just love the break times in between our rehearsals because I love hanging out with the rest of the cast. They’re all such wonderful people and they never fail to make me laugh even if I’ve had a bad day.”
Why do you think the audience will love the show?
“I think that this show is just simply compelling. It’s a familiar story, yes, but it never gets old. I find myself in the audience watching scenes that I’m not in all the time. The show confronts the notions of identity and permission to be who you want to be. Eventually, some characters are able to break away from [the] expectations that were imposed [on them] and go after their own destiny by themselves while others need another person before they can even think about braving the world outside the safety of Mrs. Potts’ and Flo’s yard. It’s heartbreaking and so reassuring at the same time. It’s timeless.”
Picnic will be presented Nov. 14-16 and 21-23 at 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 17 and 24 at 2 p.m. in Transylvania University’s Little Theater. Tickets are free to students and the public and will be available to reserve online in advance. Any remaining seats will be open to guests right before the show.
This year is the 200th anniversary of former Professor Constantine Rafinesque’s arrival on Transy’s campus which means that Raf Week, Oct. 23-31, has to be very special! If you haven’t heard the legend behind Rafinesque that put Transy on the “most haunted places in Lexington,” read last year’s story here.
Thanks to Transy’s Student Activities Board (SAB), Res Life, the Alumni Office, and other campus organizations, there is a lot to look forward to in the coming days before Halloween. We interviewed Taylen Henry, Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations for SAB, to get more information on the upcoming Halloween events. “I mean, our name is Transylvania, we gotta play it up a little!” Henry said. She explained that SAB strives to make each Raf Week more exciting than the last, and with this being such an important anniversary in Transy’s history, they knew they had to step it up. “This year is Raf’s 200th anniversary of coming to Transy so we knew we had to go all out! We wanted to add an event that could potentially be a staple event for Raf weeks to come” said Henry. An exciting new event this year is a guided haunted house themed around the ghosts of Transylvania called “The Spirits of Transy” which will be located in Poole Hall. SAB coordinated with Res Life’s Boo Bash, and they are very excited about this event. “We really want this to potentially become a staple. Also, I think it is the event we have put the most blood (literally), sweat and tears into, and there does seem to be some Transy hype around it. I am hoping people come out!” said Henry.
Another new event this year is the craft night in Thomson Lobby on Oct. 23 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. This event will offer some “light of heart Halloween fun,” emphasized Henry. The craft night will allow for students to get into the Halloween spirit and make some decorations for the season. SAB has also partnered with alumni to be able to offer historic ghost story tours during the Fall Festival which will include a look inside Raf’s tomb. Pumpkin carving for Pumpkinmania will also be during the Fall Festival. Pumpkins and carving supplies will be provided.
A full schedule of Raf Week events can be found here. Keep in mind, each student will have a chance to enter the haunted house ticket giveaway at either the events or on Instagram. The haunted house raffle this year is for Fright Nights at Jacobson Park.
The week of Halloween promises to excite, fright, and delight! Make sure to attend as many events as possible, and don’t forget to buy a Pumpkinmania t-shirt at the Fall Festival or Pumpkinmania!
The start of the school year came with lots of new changes, one of the biggest being the change in food providers. The addition of Bon Appetit has been welcomed by many students with open arms. The new food service provider, maintains a selection of healthy and tasty options for students. However, with this change comes many questions and concerns from students. I saw down with Chris Harris, the on-campus manager for Bon Appetit, to separate the fact from fiction.
One of the main concerns for students has been the location of allergen warning signs, especially for those who have food allergies. Transy’s former food provider, Sodexo, was consistent in labeling worrisome ingredients in individual foods. The cafeteria currently offers many signs about low glutton use, yet there are none about allergies as common as peanuts.
As for student worries about nut allergies, there is no need to fret. “We at Bon Appetit take food allergies very seriously!” said Harris. He explained that the only food in the cafeteria that contains nuts of any kind are the little individual packets of peanut butter near the bread section. This means that every cookie, cake, dressing, and dish in the cafeteria should be nut-free and ready to be enjoyed by anyone with nut allergies. Another common allergy, shellfish, is always pointed out on the meal’s name card.
Another area of concern in regards to the cafeteria itself is the hours of dinner. Many students have later classes, practices, or meetings during the hours of dinner, which are currently 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on both weekends and weekdays. Harris believes these restrictions are much too short and that dinner should be open until at least 8 p.m. Although Harris said Bon Appetit decided to keep the same hours as in previous years, they plan on changing the hours of the caf next year in hopes of being more accessible to students.
Photo by Gabby Crooks
Other changes in the works for the cafeteria are more options at “late night.” Harris pointed out that they have an ever-changing menu at the sandwich counter that will differ from week to week, along with having the usual options. The week before fall break offered loaded tater tots and chicken tenders for the first time this year. Harris also changed dining options by allowing the cereal to stay out past dinner, along with the cream cheese, jelly, and peanut butter for bagels and sandwiches.
One major question stems from arguably the biggest change to the caf: why are students now served their food instead of serving themselves? Harris revealed that there are several reasons why. One reason is that Bon Appetit is a professional and service-oriented company that always has their food served to diners and wanted that to be no different at Transy. Harris added that this produces less waste than getting large portions for yourself. The caf will offer a “weigh your waste” program in the next few weeks which will allow students to put together how much food they are wasting and think twice about getting more food than they are going to actually eat. Another reason for the servers is it limits contamination. Contamination could come from using the same serving spoon for each dish, thus mixing in ingredients from other options that a student could be allergic to, as well as contamination from germs. With servers, students never touch the same serving spoons that would allow germs to be spread.
The last major question in regards to the caf is if it’s possible to add more servers to the lunch rush so it would be more probable to go to the caf in between classes. Harris explained that they have already thought about this issue and will implement more servers after the fall break.
Photo by Gabby Crooks
Bon Appetit has also taken over the on-campus coffee shop, now called Gratz Perk, which offers many daytime food options for both breakfast and lunch. The top concern for students we spoke to was about Gratz Perk’s pricing. For example, an aaverage lunch with coffee and a salad will cost around $10. At that rate, dining points will run out long before the semester is over. Harris explained, “Bon Appetit has such high-quality foods, it can be difficult to make them inexpensive but we are working on it.”
Photo by Gabby Crooks
Another concern about Gratz Perk is the lack of simplicity in the food selections. There are rarely any simple options such as bagels, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, or even vegetarian salads. Harris explained that they are in the process of getting bagel and doughnut suppliers for Gratz Perk that would allow for more simple options. “We’re just working on finding a [bagel] provider that will work with our budget.”
One thing students have said they like about Gratz Perk is that it has different options each day, which is an improvement from last year when students had to choose from the same selection of items every day.
The last major question about Gratz Perk is where the coffee comes from and how the flavors were chosen. Harris pointed out that the coffee was chosen by students at a tasting last May. Students chose Nate’s coffee almost unanimously. More information about Nate’s Coffee and their story can be found here.
“A great thing about Bon Appetit is our ability to adapt” said Harris. He and the rest of Bon Appetit look forward to embracing Transy and taking students suggestions. There is a suggestion box in the caf for any questions or comments students might have.
Social media accounts affiliated with Transylvania have teased about a certain upcoming announcement regarding the university’s athletic program. In fact, on Facebook, the curiosity is palpable with comments on a teaser post representing fully diverse schools of thought. With conjectures that the school is recreating a football team, creating a new athletic scholarship, or finally taking Quidditch to the varsity level, it is clear that our community is ready for the official announcement. At last, the wait is over. Transy made the announcement this afternoon that the Transylvania Baseball team will now play their home games at Whitaker Bank Ballpark.
Whitaker is the official home of the Lexington Legends, a minor league baseball team serving as the Single-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. Several current major leaguers such as Jose Altuve, Chris Devenski, and Enrique Hernandez have played for the franchise previously. Whitaker Bank Ballpark was modeled with inspiration from major league ball parks when it was constructed in 2001. The capacity of the stadium is estimated to be just under 7,000 people not including standing room.
Previously, Transy baseball’s home games were played at Marquard Field on Haggard Lane, which is located farther away from campus than Whitaker Bank Ballpark. Though that field is well taken care of and a legitimate baseball field in its own right, it is tough to argue that this change is not a significant upgrade. To put it in perspective, Whitaker Bank Arena is also home to the annual KHSAA (Kentucky High School Athletic Association) State Baseball Tournament each year. The equivalent basketball tournament is held at the prized Rupp Arena. Clearly, Whitaker is highly regarded around Kentucky.
The overall feeling of Transy’s baseball team is positive. Sophomore Catcher Matthew Broadwater stated, “Our home field being moved to Whitaker is a program changer! The atmosphere there is going to be electric and loud. That type of energy is was what we as players dream to play in front of on a nightly basis!”
Junior Pitcher Colton Hartig, who has pitched a significant amount of games on both fields throughout his high school and collegiate career described how the two fields differ and the difference this change will make to the fans. “First off, both fields are always in incredible shape thanks to our hardworking coaching staff. Marquard field is a very open environment, so it never really seems to be ‘full’ of fans from the perspective of the players. Whitaker Bank Ballpark, on the other hand, offers a much more high-energy environment for both the players and the fans, making it one of the most high-profile venues that we could ask for as players. I have no doubt that this aspect of our new home will draw in many more fans from all over the state. I am very excited for the future of this program and acquiring Whitaker Bank Ballpark is another tremendous leap in the right direction for Transy Baseball. We as athletes are incredibly thankful that the administration, coaching staff, and Lexington Legends for having put all of this together for us and we will not hesitate to capitalize on this opportunity.”
Overall, it will be intriguing to watch this season unfold in the new venue. Whitaker Bank Ballpark will add a touch of crimson to its history. Come baseball season, the Transylvania community will enter a new era.
An earlier version of this article misstated the seating capacity of Whitaker Bank Ballpark. The article has been updated to reflect the correction
If you’re like me, Halloween brings up terrifying memories. Memories of your classmates running at you with bloody skeleton masks, and you crying at school while everyone had a good laugh…..oh wait that’s just me. Anyway, if spooky season is too scary for you, too, here are a few ways I enjoy the Halloween season even though I am a Halloweenie. One of the things that I love to do when all of my friends go see a scary movie is to enjoy a good psychological thriller. Old episodes of “The Twilight Zone” are not particularly scary but do get me in the Halloween spirit. You can tune in on Hulu or watch it on the Syfy channel. Another one that I enjoy is “The Heathers.” This all-time classic brings a sense of humor to the spooky plot.
If pumpkin guts freak you out, then the best way to enjoy decorating is to paint a pumpkin. You can also roast your friend’s pumpkin seeds while they spend hours carving their pumpkin. When you paint a pumpkin, it can also be kept inside. My pumpkin from last year is actually in great shape and hasn’t even started to rot. Another fun activity is to visit an apple orchard or pumpkin patch with your friends. You can enjoy some hot cider and doughnuts while avoiding the haunted hayride. I also love a good, creative, non-spooky Halloween costume. Last year, I went as Poison Ivy, the Batman character. Some other ideas could be your favorite TV character, crayons, or m&ms with your friends, or even your best friend, just to freak them out for a change. You can also play a fun video game that has monsters and ghosts but isn’t scary.
My favorite game as of now is “Undertale.” The game is all about monsters but isn’t scary at all. Another fun activity is to hop on over to your local thrift shop to scope out the sweaters. I love a cozy fall sweater and thrifted sweaters are always a go-to. You can visit a street fair or the farmer’s market to enjoy the tastes of fall in the comfort of daylight. Any of these activities you can enjoy with friends without scaring yourself so much you stop sleeping. If you’re afraid of Halloween like me, the Spooky Season can be enjoyed…with caution.
How many times have you found yourself lacking in Halloween spirit weeks, or even days before Oct. 31? It happens to the best of us. Lucky for you, I’ve composed a list of books, movies, and TV shows to help you get your excitement levels up for this Halloween season!
Books
“Imaginary Friend” by Stephen Chbosky
Photo by Taylore Latham
If you weren’t already familiar with “The Perks of Being A Wallflower” author, you need to be after this book. “Imaginary Friend” was just released at the beginning of Oct., and it is one of the creepiest books I’ve ever read.
In this story, we meet a young boy named Christopher. After Christopher and his mom suddenly move to a brand new place, he is tempted by the woods near his house. One day, he vanishes; six days later, he reappears at the edge of the woods completely unharmed. And now, he has an imaginary friend who only he can hear.
It’s packed with creepy moments and unsettling scenes; so much so, you’ll need to read with the lights on.
2. “Fake Blood” by Whitney Gardner
Photo by Taylore Latham
Okay, so this is a young adult graphic novel; however, if you’re not really into being scared this Halloween, this book is perfect for you. “Fake Blood” follows a sixth-grade boy named AJ who has a crush on his classmate, Nia. Nia is super into vampires so, in order to try to impress Nia, AJ decides that he’s going to turn himself into a vampire. Full of humor and an ironic plot twist, this book is fun and festive throughout every page, and you won’t regret reading it. Plus it goes by super quickly since it’s a graphic novel!
3. “The Halloween Tree” by Ray Bradbury
Photo by Taylore Latham
We all know Ray Bradbury from his famous “Fahrenheit 451” novel; however, his lesser-known “The Halloween Tree,” written for a much younger audience, is also full of great characters and an exciting plot. “The Halloween Tree” follows a group of trick-or-treaters on Halloween night as they gather by the haunted house on the edge of town. They were ready for an eerie adventure when one of the boys, Pip, gets whisked away. A short and fun read, Bradbury will take you on a spooky-not-scary Halloween adventure that you will adore!
TV Shows
“Over the Garden Wall”
If you have not yet seen this show, where have you been? There are only ten episodes and each are around ten minutes long which total up to about an hour and 40 minutes of watch time. Not bad at all.
This is my go-to for getting into the Halloween season. It follows two brothers, Wirt and Greg, who get lost in the woods and are trying to find their way back home. They meet all kinds of fun, quirky characters – among which are a creepy old woman voiced by Tim Curry and a faux uncle-gone-mad voiced by John Cleese as well as many others.
You’ll find no shortage of humor and autumnal spirit through their adventures–nor through the incredible soundtrack!
(Plus it’s on Hulu!)
2. “The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina”
We’re all pretty familiar with the popular 1990’s sitcom “Sabrina The Teenage Witch.” Created by the same crew that made “Riverdale,” “The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina” is based on the same characters, yet has a very different feel and plot than the beloved sitcom.
This is not the TV show for you if you’re afraid of demons, dark magic, possessions, or raunchy sex scenes because frankly, it’s full of just that. Needless to say, this particular adaptation would be much more likely than the original sitcom to satisfy fans of adult websites like http://www.collegeporn.xxx/ due to some of the more sexually charged storylines that feature throughout. Sabrina is a 16-year old half-witch trying to choose between her mortal life and her witch life. She struggles with using her magic to help her mortal friends, having a mortal boyfriend, three witch sisters that are out to get her, and Satan literally being at her doorstep and this is all in just the first season!
This supernatural, dark teen drama is one that will have you carving pumpkins and making a homemade witch costume in no time.
(And it’s a Netflix Original so you can easily stream it!)
Movies
“Halloweentown” series
I know these are a cult classic, but I couldn’t not include these movies on this list. They were made for Halloween, and they never cease to put me in the spooky spirit. Not to mention, they’re great if you’re into the whole spooky-not-scary vibe. It’s very family friendly (I mean, it’s Disney) and super fun!
If you’ve never seen these movies, they follow a young witch named Marnie, her two siblings, and her grandmother and their adventures in Halloweentown–a place full of magic, spells, potions, monsters, and more.
2. “Hereditary”
This is easily one of the best horror movies I’ve ever seen. If you’re looking for a scary movie that will leave you disturbed for days, this is the one for you. It’s not one of those scary movies that’s been packed full of jump scares with no real plot–it is genuinely terrifying.
“Hereditary” focuses on a family that is a bit dysfunctional. The older brother, Peter, lies to his mother about going to a party, and she forces him to take his younger sister, Charlie, with him. Charlie ends up having a serious allergic reaction to some nuts in a brownie and Peter takes off to the hospital with her as quickly as he can until he accidentally kills her.
As you can imagine, the movie escalates from there. There are plot twists and scenes that will have you leaving your light on for the next week before you go to sleep, perfect for Halloween.
3. “Scary Movie” series
I think we’ve all seen at least one of the “Scary Movie” movies growing up. My personal favorite is “Scary Movie 3” but they’re all hilarious. They’re all just parodies of popular horror movies and while they can often get raunchy and a bit too much, they are still super funny.
These movies are great to watch with friends late at night, and the second one is on Netflix so no worries about streaming or buying!
Honorable Mention: “Coraline”
“Coraline” is another cult classic for Halloween, which is why it had to make it somewhere on this list. It’s just childish enough to watch it alone at night until you remember how creepy her Other Mother and the ghost children were.
It’s a stop-motion film–which I think gives it even more of a creepy feel– and it follows Coraline as she moves into a new house and meets a few of her neighbors. All the while, her parents seem too busy for her, so she finds refuge on the other side of a hidden door in her house where she meets her Other Mother and Other Father, along with the Other-version of all of her neighbors.
It may not seem very creepy at first, but by the end, it might spook you a little, depending on your spook-factor.
Transylvania University has hired a new field hockey coach, and she’s already changing the program for the better. Before Katie Hastings arrived, the field hockey team was coming off a 2-14 season, scoring only three goals during the duration of their season. As of this fall, Transy’s field hockey team has a 2-5 season thus far with 10 goals already under their belt. With about six weeks left to their season, Hastings sees the team going 500 for the rest of the season, winning half of their games and coming in third or higher in their conference tournament. She said, “I think the next six weeks of games are more evenly matched competition, so I’m thinking we could get a couple of wins out of those, and I’m hoping we go into our conference tournament with a lot of confidence.” Hastings didn’t start playing field hockey until high school, where she only started playing because of her sister’s involvement with the sport. She made Varsity her freshman year of high school and fell in love with the sport instantly, going off to coach at Salisbury University in Maryland, which was a prestigious, winning program. Hastings decided to coach at Transy so she could share her accomplishments with another program that hasn’t had that type of experience.
Photo courtesy of Katie Hastings
“I really wanted to take over a program that needed a lot of direction and transformation,” Hastings said. Her goals for the program are to recruit elite athletes who are committed to field hockey as much as they are to their academics. She takes time out of her busy schedule to visit Louisville to scout players and watch games, always thinking about the program and how she can take it further. She sees the future brightly, wanting for her players to have fun and bring back their past fight and love for the sport. Focusing on rebuilding their culture and foundations for the sport, she sees Transy’s team competing against Centre in the future and winning, along with the team making a name for itself in national rankings and news for field hockey.
The field hockey team will tackle teams with confidence and skill as they gear up for upcoming conference games against Rhodes, Centre, and Sewanee. Their conference tournament is on home turf in November.
While first apprehensive about attending the Delcamp Visiting Writers Series and Larkspur Press literary reading, my muse came to me when I heard Mary Ann Taylor-Hall speak. A woman of great diction with a peaceful tone to her soothing voice. She spoke about the founder of Larkspur Press in a way that could fully enchant you. Hall whisked the audience away with the readings of her poetry dedicated to nature. I knew the moment she spoke that I wanted to find out more.
Born in Chicago and attending Columbia University, Taylor-Hall has a natural talent for writing. She continued her career by teaching in colleges throughout the country, and even outside of it at the University of Puerto Rico. When speaking with Taylor-Hall, I asked how she created a voice that was so uniquely her own. She began to tell me a little about her life in nature. It stems from the fact that she lives on a farm, which gives her proximity to more nature. Seeing it as gaining a psychic experience, Taylor-Hall told me that she liked to walk through the woods and admire the nature. Her poetry was very telling of this hobby with beautiful descriptions of people being one with nature. Her first reading- the one about Larkspur press- began with a creek. She found a way to get the audience to imagine a creek and what was to follow.
With many pieces under her belt, Taylor-Hall chose to read some pieces from her writing, “Dividing Ridge.” Curious about her choice of readings, I asked why she chose the pieces she read. Taylor-Hall was very straightforward in her answer to why and very clear that it was simply out of courtesy to the other authors. She said she wanted to be considerate of time yet also pick pieces that had a cohesive theme. Her theme of the night was mortality, which was palpable within her one-with-nature pieces of literature. Her pieces—and the way she read them—allowed for a deep connection of the audience to the nature that surrounds us every day.
Taylor-Hall was there in order to not only celebrate her pieces of work but also to celebrate Larkspur Press. I asked her how she felt about getting recognized. Taylor-Hall was quick to say that she feels she is not as recognizable as Wendell Berry—to which she pointed the long line of people waiting to get him to sign their books—but talking to students gives her joy. She spoke to the idea that getting recognized brought her confidence and a feeling that people were paying attention. I then asked her how she first got connected with Gray Zeitz, the man that runs the work at Larkspur Press. Taylor-Hall became “aware of the literary community in Kentucky,” in the late 70s to early 80s. She found a community that lead her to Larkspur Press. She added in a comedic story about a friend of hers that also had a piece published at Larkspur Press. Taylor-Hall told me that during a flood, her friend’s piece “went down the river.” She attributed her poetry writing to the fact that “poetry was easier.” By being a part of literary groups in Kentucky, Taylor-Hall said she could be given three words and easily write a poem.
With lots of admiration for Taylor-Hall, I walked out of this reading with better knowledge about Kentucky writers that have made beautiful pieces of work and thankfully chose to share them with Transy students on a casual Wednesday evening.
When you say the word Kentucky, literary genius typically doesn’t come to mind. Things like horse racing, barbecue, and bluegrass music are more common. But Kentucky has no shortage of great writers. On the stage of Transylvania’s Carrick Theatre between Mary Ann Taylor-Hall, Bobbi Ann Mason, Wendell Berry, and Larkspur Press artist and founder Gray Zeitz, there are 337 years of experience and brilliance. It’s a privilege to be sitting in the auditorium chairs opposite them and an honor to hear them read their own works. A common thread between all of the works was nature and beauty.
Berry read from an untitled poem of his own that depicted “the river of life or death or both” which such vivid imagery that I could feel the water on my skin. I was Achilles, dipped into the river of life and death. His words made me invulnerable. I was Louise, a lonely housewife with a paintbrush in her hand in Mason’s story, and the room around me was filled with still life paintings of watermelons. When I inhaled the scent of oil paints and acrylics, I felt wild, too. Hearing about Zeitz’s work in bookbinding and letter pressing, both in his own words, was enchanting. I felt like I was l hearing a secret, something private, when I listened to the process Zeitz goes through every time he presses ink into a paper to create art. It felt like “conversing with the moon and stars” in Zeitz’s words. God was there in Taylor-Hall’s words, streaming through the stars. There was art in that auditorium, 337 years worth of art, and Berry’s poetry described accurately the experience, “There was no sentence for it.”
