Harn Museum celebrates Zora Neale Hurston as part of The Big Read

August 31, 2007

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Harn Museum of Art is taking part in The Big Read, a National Endowment for the Arts literary initiative, with two events celebrating Zora Neale Hurston.

From 1 to 4 p.m. Sept. 15, visitors of all ages will participate in the rich traditions of storytelling utilizing both oral and visual means during a Family Day themed “From Here to There: Storytelling in Art.” Storytellers Ann Scroggie and Mary Ooton from the Gainesville Storytelling Group will tell folk tales inspired by stories Hurston collected and by African American folk tales from her era. Participants will explore the visual stories portrayed in the art in the Harn galleries and then contribute their own stories to a mural.

At 7 p.m. Sept. 20, Genevieve West, associate professor of English at Ferris State University, will present a lecture on her book, “Zora Neale Hurston and American Literary Culture” (University Press of Florida, 2005), and the life and times of Hurston. Visitors will enjoy jazz music and refreshments beginning at 6 p.m. Following the lecture, West will sign copies of her book in the Museum Store, where Hurston’s book, “Their Eyes Were Watching God,” is also available for purchase. Harn galleries will be open until 9 p.m. as part of University of Florida Student Government-sponsored Museum Nights.

The events are co-sponsored by the Alachua County Library District (ACLD) as part of The Big Read, an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and Arts Midwest. The Big Read is designed to revitalize the role of literary reading by providing citizens with the opportunity to read and discuss a single book within their communities. The ACLD selected Hurston’s book in part because the author grew up near Eatonville, Fla., and many of her original manuscripts, photographs, playbills, newspaper clippings and letters are housed at UF’s Special Collections Archive. Gainesville is one of 200 U.S. communities participating in The Big Read.

Admission to the Harn Museum is free. For more information visit www.harn.ufl.edu or call 352-392-9826.