Program Events

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	An Evening with Tommy Orange March 3, 6:00 p.m. Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts Thrust Theatre Informal Q&A with the author at 2:00 p.m. in UW's Cooper House Tommy Orange is the author of the New York Times bestselling novel There There, a multi-generational, relentlessly paced story about a side of America few of us have ever seen: the lives of urban Native Americans. There There was one of The New York Times Book Review’s 10 Best Books of the Year, and won the Center for Fiction’s First Novel Prize and the Pen/Hemingway Award. There There was also longlisted for the National Book Award and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. Orange graduated from the MFA program at the Institute of American Indian Arts, and was a 2014 MacDowell Fellow and a 2016 Writing by Writers Fellow. He is an enrolled member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma. He was born and raised in Oakland, California. This event is sponsored by UW's Creative Writing program, the Department of English, Native American and Indigenous Studies, the Native American Program, and WIHR.
	Indigenous Words: A Book Club and Creative Writing Series Storytelling is an important cultural element in many Indigenous communities which has expanded to encompass all kinds of tellings. In this series, we will explore three different works of fiction by Indigenous writers and use each book to explore different worldviews and identities. Each discussion will be moderated by a creative writer and will include generative writing prompts, sharing, and discussion. Indigenous Words will meet the first Tuesday of each month at 6:30 pm in the Albany County Public Library Large Meeting Room. Books are available at the Albany County Public Library and Coe Library. Refreshments will be provided. March 1, 2022: There There by Tommy Orange April 5, 2022: Sabrina and Corina by Kali Fajardo-Anstine May 2, 2022: The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones

 

Past Events

2019-2020

1st MFA Student Reading, September 26

Locust: The Opera (with Jeff Lockwood), October 5, 7:30 p.m., Gryphon Theater

5X5 reading, October 8, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m., University Art Museum

Alumni Reading, October 15, 7:00 p.m., Night Heron Books

Alumni Q-and-A, October 16, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m, Carriage House

Undergrad Write-In, October 21, 6:00 p.m., Carriage House

Christy Stillwell Reading, October 24, 7:00 p.m., Night Heron Books

Alyson Hagy Reading, Original October 29 reading rescheduled for November 14, 3:00 p.m. 
Coe Library, McMurry Reading Room

2nd MFA Student Reading, October 31

Story Slam, Week of November 4

3rd MFA Student Reading, November 14

2018-2019

5 x 5 Reading - September 18, 6 p.m. UW Art Museum. A joint project with schools in the greater Denver area.  Graduate students from neighboring schools will read at the event.  Poster

Lecturer Reading Series #5 - September 23, 6 p.m., Carriage House. Featured readings by Paul Bergstraesser, Tyler Fall, April Heaney, and Val Pexton.

Locust: The Opera - September 28 & 29, Cook Auditorium, National Museum of Wildlife Art, Jackson, WY.  Poster

Book Launch Party for Scribe by Alyson Hagy - Tuesday, October 2 at Second Story Books. Book signing and refreshments from 5:30-7:00 pm. Conversation with Brad Watson at 7:00 pm.

MFA Student Readings - October 19, 2018, November 30, February 8, March 8

MFA Thesis Readings - April 26, 2019

2017-2018

Cheryl Strayed public talk - March 22, 2018, 5 p.m., A&S Auditorium.

MFA Student Readings - March 23, 2018, 7 p.m., Night Heron Books

MFA Thesis readings - April 20, April 27, May 4, 2018, 7 p.m., Night Heron Books.

UW/CSU MFA reading series - February 1, 2018, Wolverine Publick House, Ft. Collins, CO, 7 p.m. Joint reading with students from the MFA programs at UW and CSU. 

The readers from CSU will be Emma Hyche and Christa Shively. The readers from Wyoming will be Heather Holland (poetry) and Annie Osburn (fiction). FB event page is here.

MFA Student Readings - February 23, 2018, 7 p.m., Carriage House (1408 Ivinson). Readers include Lindsay Lynch, Tayo Basquiat and Bethann Merkle.

MFA Student Reading - December 8, 2017, Night Heron Books. Join us for the final reading of the fall! Come listen to second year MFA candidates Anne Grass, Annie Osburn, and Kevin Kelley read some magnetic work. 

Poster by the very talented Lindsay Lynch.

MFA Student Reading - November 10, 2017, 7 p.m., Night Heron Books. Join us for the second reading of the year! Come listen to second year MFA candidates Sarah Duncan, Bryce Peterson, and Alex Cargol read some luminous and honest work.

Poster by the very talented Lindsay Lynch.

MFA Student Reading - October 20, 2017, 7 p.m., Carriage House. Poster

2016-2017

House Reading for David Romtvedt - March 20, 2017 at 7:30 p.m.

MFA Student Reading - March 24, 2017 at 7 p.m., Laramie Train Depot.  Readers include Heather Holland, Alex Cargol, and Annie Osburn.

MFA Student Reading - April 14, 2017 at 7 p.m.

MFA Thesis Readings - May 5, 2017 at 7 p.m., Night Heron Books

MFA Thesis Readings - May 8, 2017 at 7 p.m., Night Heron Books

MFA Thesis Readings - May 10, 2017 at 7 p.m., Night Heron Books

MFA Student Reading - February 17, 2017 at 7 p.m., Night Heron Books

"What's Next?" Panel Discussion with MFA and MA alumni - March 8, 2017 at 3 p.m., CR 115

MFA Student Reading - December 9, 2016 at 7 p.m., Night Heron Books

Craft Talk with Mark Jenkins and David Romtvedt - November 30, 2016 at noon, Carriage House

Writing Novels:  A Survivor’s Discussion with Brad Watson, Rattawut Lapcharoensap, Alyson Hagy and others.  As her post-sabbatical campus presentation, Alyson will lead a discussion about the challenges of writing novels - December 7, 2016 at noon, Carriage House.

Eleni Sikelianos and Laird Hunt Public Reading - October 21, 2016 at 7 p.m., Night Heron Books

Writing for the Ear with Michah Schweizer - October 24, 2016 at 6 p.m., Hoyt Hall 142

Undergraduate Creative Writing social event - October 24, 2016 at 6 p.m., Carriage House

Workshop with Literary Agent Kathleen Nishimoto courtesy of Asian American Writers' Workshop - October 27, 2016 at 6:45 p.m., Carriage House

CA Conrad Public Reading - October 30, 2016 at 5 p.m., Night Heron Books

Microagressions workshop with Tracey Patton - November 7, 2016 at noon, Carriage House

Visiting Writer Jen Tennican - September 8, 2016, Q&A at noon, Public Reading at 7:30 p.m., Berry Biodiversity Center.  Hosted by Creative Writing and the Haub School of Environmental and Natural Resources. 

--Poster--

Alumni Reading with Brock Jones and Katie Henson - September 22, 2016, 7 p.m., Night Heron Books

MFA Student Reading - September 23, 2016, 7 p.m., Night Heron Books

Eminent Writer in Residence Jennifer Moxley - September 25, 2016 - October 1, 2016.  Public Reading September 30, 2016 at 5 p.m., Salon A of the Gateway Center

2015-2016

Creative Writing Symposium - Fracture: Essays, Poems, and Stories on Fracking in America - April 16, 2016, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., UW Conference Center

Visiting Writer Linda Russo with Lost Roads Publishing - April 21, 2016, Q&A at noon, Public Reading at 6 p.m., Night Heron Books.

MFA Student Reading Series - April 22, 2016, 7 p.m., Night Heron Books.  Readers will include Lilly Schneider, Kristi Banker, and Bethann Merkle.

MFA Thesis Readings - April 29, May 6, May 13, 6 p.m., Carriage House

Visiting Writer Matthew Cooperman - March 4, 2016, 7 p.m., Night Heron Books

MFA Student Reading Series - March 25, 2016, 7 p.m., Laramie Train Depot

House Reading - Harvey Hix's I'm Here to Learn to Dream in Your Language & American Anger - April 2, 2016, 7:30 p.m.

MFA Student Reading Series - April 7, 2016, 7 p.m., Laramie County Public Library, Cheyenne

Eminent Writer in Residence Nam Le Public Reading - February 12, 2016, 7 p.m., Alumni House.

MFA Student Reading Series - February 26, 2016, 7 p.m.

MFA Student Reading Series - November 20, 2015, Hero Depot, 7 p.m. Readers will include Maria Anderson, Carly Fraysier, Dominick Duhamel.

MFA Student Reading Series - September 25, 2015, 7 p.m. at Night Heron Books.  Readers will include Ryan Oberhelman, Jess White, and Randall Tyrone.

MFA Visiting Writer Series - James Longenbach - October 2, 2015; Q&A at 12:00 p.m. in the Carriage House, Public Reading at 6 p.m. in Night Heron Books.

Brown Bag Craft Talk with Paul Bergstraesser on NEA - October 8, 2015 at 12:30 p.m. in the Carriage House

"Coaching the Public Reading" workshop for MFA students with Leigh Selting - October 14, 2015, evening

House reading for David Romtvedt - October 23, 2015

Zelestina Public Reading and Basque music presentation with David Romtvedt - October 24, 2015

MFA Student Reading Series - October 30, 2015, at the Pedal House.  Readers will include Chido Muchemwa, Jeff Tatay, Trey Williams, and Khalym Burke-Thomas.

 MFA Visiting Writer Series - Laura Pritchett - September 14, 2015 - Q&A with MFA students, noon; September 14, 2015 - Public Reading at Night Heron, 6 p.m.

2014-2015

MFA Thesis Readings - May 15, 2015, Carriage House, 6 p.m.

Karsonya White Events - March 24, 2015, Union Ballroom, 12:15 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Mark Sundeen Q&A with MFA students - March 25, 2015, Carriage House, 12 p.m.

Graduate Student Interdisciplinary Coference with guest speakers Sonja Livingston and Jeffrey Means - March 27-29, 2015, Hilton Garden Inn Conference Center.

Sonja Livingston Q&A with Graduate students - March 27, 2015, Carriage House, 12 p.m.

MFA Program's 10-year Birthday Celebration - April 3, 2015.

Brown Bag Discussion on Attribution with Mark Jenkins - April 7, 2015, Carriage House, 12 p.m.

Visiting Writer Claudia Rankine Q&A and Public Reading- April 14, 2015.

    Q&A - Mathison Library, HO 212, 1 p.m.

    Public Reading - UW Art Museum, 5:30 p.m.

MFA Student Reading - Readers - Maria Anderson, Chido Muchemwa, Dominick Duhamel, and Khalym Burke-Thomas - April 17, 2015, Night Heron Books, 7 p.m.

Visiting Writer Emma Marris, Co-Sponsored with the Biodiversity Institute - April 22-24, 2015.

MFA Thesis Readings - May 8, 2015, Carriage House, 6 p.m.

Craft Talk - Danielle Pafunda - February 18, 2015, Carriage House, 12 p.m.

Visiting Writers Melanie Thon and Lance Olsen Public Reading - February 26, 2015, Night Heron Books, 5 p.m.

MFA Student Reading - Readers - Carly Fraysier, Trey Williams, Randall Tyrone - March 6, 2015, Night Heron Books, 7 p.m.

Eminent Writer in Residence Bhanu Kapil Public Reading - March 10, 2015, UW Art Museum, 5 p.m.

MFA Student Reading - Readers - Jeff Tatay, Jess White, Ryan Oberhelman; February 6, 2015, Night Heron Books, 7 p.m.

MFA Student Reading Series - Readers - Ella Fishman, Auesta Safi, Manasseh Franklin; November 14, 2014, Alice Hardie Stevens Center, 7 p.m.

Brush Creek Resident Ira Sukrungruang Q&A with MFA students - October 6, 2014, 12 p.m.

Brush Creek Resident Ira Sukrungruang Public Reading - October 6, 2014, Night Heron Books, 6 p.m.

Amy Williams - literary agent - Q&A with MFA students - October 9-10, 2014.

MFA Student Reading Series - Readers - Manasseh Franklin, Olivia Wall, Korie Johnson; October 17, 2014, Quadra Dangle, 7 p.m.

Visiting Writer Series - Kent Nelson Public Reading - October 28, 2014, Berry Biodiversity Center Auditorium, 5 p.m.

Lost Roads Press community workshop and public reading with Kate Pringle - November 7-8, 2014, Location TBA, Time TBA.

MFA Student Reading Series - Readers - Nick Mangigian, Ginger Ko, Erin Jones; September 12, 2014, Night Heron Books, 7 p.m. - Poster

Skype reading and Q&A with Antonio Sacre from Teton County Library - September 17, 2014, Wyoming Union Senate Chambers, 6 p.m.

Wyoming Voices - Reflections on wilderness, the natural world, and our place in it - September 18, 2014, Berry Biodiversity Center, 6 p.m.

Visiting Writer Series - Julie Carr and Mathias Svalina Public Reading - October 1, 2014, Night Heron Books, 6 p.m.

Julie Carr and Mathias Svalina Q&A with MFA students - October 2, 2014, 12 p.m.

2013-2014

Eminent Writer in Residence - Dinaw Mengestu Public Reading - April 23, 2014, 5 p.m., UW Art Museum

Eminent Writer in Residence - Dinaw Mengestu Public Reading - April 25, 2014, Teton County Public Library.

Katie Dublinski Q&A - May 1, 2014, 12:30 p.m., Carriage House.

MFA Thesis Readings - May 2, 2014, 6:00 p.m., Carriage House. Readers will include Kelly Hatton, Joey Rubin, and Callie Plaxco.

MFA Thesis Readings - May 7, 2014, 6:00 p.m., Carriage House. Readers will include Ginger Ko, Sofi Thanhauser, and Daniel Freije.

MFA Thesis Readings - May 9, 2014, 6:00 p.m., Carriage House. Readers will include Adrian Shirk, Rebecca Golden, and Lam Pham.

Visiting Writers Series - Rachel Levitsky Public Reading - February 20, 2014, 7 p.m., Night Heron Books

MFA Student Reading Series - Friday, February 21, 2014, 7 p.m., Night Heron Books, Readers will include Auesta Safi, Nick Mangigian, and Jason Burge.

MFA Student Reading Series - Friday, March 7, 2014, 7 p.m., Gryphon Theatre

Chris Cokinos Public Reading - Co-sponsored with the UW Art Museum - April 16, 2014, 7 p.m., Visual Arts Building

Visiting Writer Claire Vaye Watkins Q&A - January 21, 2014, 12:00 p.m., Carriage House

Visiting Writers Series - Claire Vaye Watkins Public Reading - January 21, 2014, 7 p.m., Berry Center Auditorium

Eminent Writer in Residence - Dinaw Mengestu Q&A - January 29, 2014, 12:00 p.m., Carriage House

MFA student reading series - Friday, January 31, 2014 at Alice Hardie Stevens Center at 7 p.m.

MFA student reading series - Friday, December 8, 2013 at Night Heron Books at 7 p.m.  Readers will include Joey Rubin, Callie Plaxco, and Dan Freije.

House Reading for Jeff Lockwood's new book - November 21, 2013, 5-7 p.m.

MFA Student Reading - November 8, 2013, 7 p.m., Alice Hardie Stevens Center

Listening to Nature - October 11, 2013, reception 6:30 p.m., readings 7:00 p.m., Berry Biodiversity Center

"Listening to Nature" is an annual get together where writers, scientists, and thinkers explore human connections to the natural world. Navajo poet Sherwin Bitsui will join Wyoming presenters to read poems, essays, and other works. The readings are preceded by a reception. The event is co-hosted by the Wyoming Outdoor Council, the UW Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources, the UW MFA Program in Creative Writing, the UW American Indian Studies Program, and Central Wyoming College.

Alexie Q&A with MFA students - October 17, 2013, 2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m., Carriage House

MFA Student Reading - October 18, 2013, 7 p.m., Quadra Dangle

Writers at the Library - October 7 & 8, 2013, 7 p.m., Teton County Library

Jackson, WY – Teton County Library and the University of Wyoming bring new literary voices to Jackson audiences in October with back-to-back readings by author Rattawut Lapcharoensap, winner of the National Book Foundation’s “5 Under 35,” followed by Navajo poet Sherwin Bitsui. Both programs are free and open to the community with support from donations, large and small, to the Teton County Library Foundation.  Press Release

Sherwin Bitsui Public Reading - September 13, 2013, 7 p.m., Wyoming Union Senate Chambers

MFA Student Reading - September 20, 2013, 7 p.m., Berry Biodiversity Center

MFA Orientation - August 22, 2013, 2:00 p.m., Carriage House

Department of English Welcome Back Picnic - August 23, 2013, 4 p.m. - 8 p.m., Vedauwoo Gazebo

Sherwin Bitsui Q&A with MFA students - September 5, 2013, 12:30 p.m., Carriage House

2012-2013

Brad Watson Craft Talk - April 30, 2013, time TBA, Carriage House.

MFA Thesis Readings - April 26th, May 3rd, and May 9th, time 6 p.m., Carriage House.

Mark Nowak Public Reading - February 22, 2013, time 7 p.m., Second Story Books. 

WORKING IN WYOMING - community writing workshops

• Wednesday, Feb 20th and Wednesday, Feb 27th: Laramie Community Writing Workshops at 6- 7:30 PM in the Laramie Plains Civic Center, Room 208 (Conference Room).  Workshops facilitated by Stella Soto

• Saturday, Feb 23: Community Workshop facilitated by Mark Nowak.  2-3:30 PM in Laramie Plains Civic Center, Room 208

• (Sun Feb 24 – Tuesday Feb 26.  Mark facilitating Working in Wyoming workshops at AFL-CIO in Cheyenne)

• Thursday, February 28th: Working in Wyoming Reading Gala Good Times at 7 PM in the Gryphon Theater

ZZ Packer Public Reading - January 31, 2013, 7 p.m., Albany County Public Library.  Co-sponsored with the Albany County Public Library.  Book signing hosted by Second Story Books.

Brian Leung Public Reading - October 25, 2012, 5 p.m., Coe Library 506.  Co-sponsored with UW Libraries and the American Heritage Center.

“Listening to Nature:  an Evening of Readings and Visual Art by Scientists and Artists” features great writing and visual art projects focused on nature and the environment. Co-sponsored by the University of Wyoming’s MFA in Creative Writing, the Wyoming Outdoor Council, and the Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources, the program invites the public to enjoy a display of award-winning art projects and a lively set of brief readings by students and alums of the MFA program, faculty and students in the arts, sciences, and humanities, and members of the local community. The event will be held in the auditorium of the Berry Biodiversity Conservation Center, November 9, 2012, from 6:00 – 8:00.  It will include a reception from 5:15 – 6:00.  “Listening to Nature” seeks to bring together a range of communities in celebration of the power of the image and the written word. Featured readers for 2012 are Emilene Ostlind, Kristen Gunther, Chris Madsen, and Carlos Martinez del Rio.

"Never Drink Downstream: Factual Tales and Artful Musings on Wyoming Water"  The University of Wyoming is excited to present a symposium on water, Never Drink Downstream: Factual Tales and Artful Musing on Wyoming Water, Friday, November 9 and Saturday, November 10, 2012 in the Family Room of the UW Union from 9 am – 5 pm each day. There will be an opening reception on Thursday evening, November 8 from 6-8 pm at the UW Art Museum, in conjunction with Wyoming River Fugues, an art installation by artist Margaret Cogswell. A closing reception will take place on Saturday, November 10, from 5 - 7 pm in the UW Union.  MFA students Rebecca Golden and Sofi Thanhauser will be presenting their work "Polyphony and Reflected Truth: A Nonfiction Response to Wyoming River Fugues" on November 10th as part of symposium.

The symposium will feature more than 30 speakers, each of whom will have 10 minutes to convey their thoughts on, stories of, research about, and creative responses to Wyoming water needs, issues, places, policies, recreation, impacts and more. The UW Art Museum’s goal is to provide a breadth of interpretation, understanding and interaction on the subject of Wyoming water, by presenting multiple perspectives ranging from the sublime to the serious. Question and answer sessions throughout each day will provide opportunities for the audience to engage in this ongoing conversation about water, and consider the crucial role water plays in all of our lives.  

Harvey Hix Craft Talk - Find out what Harvey did on sabbatical.  November 15, 2012, 5:30 p.m., CR 209

Poetry as a Profession - On Monday, Nov 19 in the Carriage House from noon to one (lunch provided) MFA faculty members Andy Fitch, Harvey Hix, Kate Northrop, Daniel Pafunda, and David Romtvedt will host a talk about the “professional life” for poets—whatever professional life might be.  We’ll talk about print and digital periodicals, residencies, book publishing—with some attention to the world of contests--teaching, and other work options.  If there are other topics students would like to address, we’ll do our best based on our experience.  While our focus is on the poetry world, all MFA candidates are welcome to attend.  If you have any questions, please contact David Romtvedt at romtvedt@uwyo.edu.

A conversation with Mary Jane Edwards, Executive Director of the Jentel Foundation - MFA students will have the opportunity to talk with Mary Jane and learn about artist residencies and careers in the world of arts foundations.  Lunch will be served.  November 29, 2012, 12:30 p.m., Carriage House

Maggie Nelson Public Reading - August 30, 2012, 6-8 p.m., UW Art Museum

Brush Creek Presents is a free, one-night presentation featuring the current artists-in-residence at Brush Creek Foundation for the Arts. Set up in ten minute segments, each artist, writer or musician will briefly share their talents with time for question and answer at the end of the evening. Brush Creek Foundation for the Arts is a non-profit artist residency program located outside of Saratoga, WY at Brush Creek Ranch. Our mission is to provide the gift of time and space in the extraordinary beauty of the American West to select visual and performing artists, writers and composers of all backgrounds and genre. This event is made possible with the generous support of UW Department of Art and UW MFA in Creative Writing. - September 20, 2012, 5-7 p.m., Visual Arts auditorium

CAConrad Public Reading - September 22, 2012, 5 p.m., Night Heron Books

2011-2012

Rebecca Lindenberg Public Reading - April 2, 2012, 7 p.m., Second Story Books

MFA Prom (Student Reading Series) - April 13, 2012, 7:30 p.m., North Gym, Laramie Plains Civic Center

Amy Williams, Literary Agent - Discussion with MFA students, early May

Digital Humanities Symposium - February 3, 2012

Sharon Dynak, Ucross Foundation - Presentation for MFA students at Carriage House, February 14, 2012, 1:30 p.m.- 3:30 p.m.

John D'Agata Public Reading - March 7, 2012, 7 p.m., Second Story Books

MFA faculty member Frieda Knobloch gave a work-in-progress presentation on 11/18, at 5 pm, in the Carriage House.  She talked about the the creative project on the Red Desert that she worked on during her sabbatical last year.

"Listening to Nature: an Evening of Readings and Photography by Scientists and Artists"

Start: Friday, October 28, 2011 - 5:30 PM

End: Friday, October 28, 2011 - 7:00 PM

Location: Berry Biodiversity Conservation Center auditorium

Contact: Creative Writing Program, cw@uwyo.edu, 766-6453 or Jamie Wolf, jamie@wyomingoutdoorcouncil.org, 721-7610

Event Details:

“Listening to Nature:  an Evening of Readings and Photography by Scientists and Artists” features great writing and photography focused on nature and the environment.  Co-sponsored by the University of Wyoming’s MFA in Creative Writing and the Wyoming Outdoor Council, the event invites the public to enjoy a display of award-winning photographs and a lively set of brief readings by students and alums of the MFA program, faculty in the arts, sciences, and humanities, and members of the local community.  Held in the auditorium of the Berry Biodiversity Conservation Center, lasting 90 minutes,  and including a wine and cheese reception,  “Listening to Nature” seeks to bring together a range of communities in celebration of the power of the image and the written word.

MC:

Mark Clementz, Associate Professor of Geology and Geophysics

Guest Readers:

Ann McCutchan

Courtney Carlson

Frieda Knobloch

Dennis Knight

Pete Gosar

Guest Photographers:

Ken Driese

Ed Sherline

Brett Deacon

Poster