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Kim Anderson Dillon Rocks!

Last Friday my husband Neil McMahon and I were invited to talk to Alan Weltzien's American Literature class (forgive me Alan, I've already forgotten the actual title of the class) at UM-Western. The class has been reading Montana mysteries, including Dashiell Hammet's Red Harvest, Richard Hugo's Death and the Good Life, James Crumley's The Wrong Case, and Neil's novel Lone Creek. I don't know if Western's intensive study bloc schedule is to be credited or not, but both Neil and I were immensely… Continue

Added by Kim Anderson on December 15, 2009 at 2:52pm — No Comments

Ken Egan Lincoln, Darwin, Poe

As 2009 approaches its end, we should take a moment to recall the 200th anniversaries of the births of three extraordinary individuals: Abraham Lincoln, Charles Darwin, and Edgar Allan Poe. It's not an exaggeration to write that they changed American and world culture through their writings, their thinking, their acts. They make for a fascinating trio: the pragmatic, tough, idealistic President; the brilliant theorist of evolution; the inventor of the detective story and refiner of Gothic prose… Continue

Added by Ken Egan on December 11, 2009 at 12:30pm — No Comments

Ken Egan Yes, Miky, There are Rabbis in Montana

Can't resist sharing this funny and telling piece from the New York Times. Judy Klein, this one's for you! http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/05/us/05religion.html?_r=1&emc=eta1 Continue

Added by Ken Egan on December 8, 2009 at 12:39pm — No Comments

Rick Newby Melissa Kwasny's Reading Novalis in Montana picked by Huffington Post as one of 10 top books of 2009!

Melissa Kwasny's Reading Novalis in Montana picked by Huffington Post as one of 10 top books of 2009! One of Montana's preeminent poets, Melissa Kwasny, has achieved long overdue renown with the selection of her latest poetry collection, Reading Novalis in Montana, as one of the 10 top books of 2009. Making the selection was the Huffington Post's Anis Shivani. Here is Shivani's citation for Melissa's book: Melissa Kwasny, Reading Novalis in Montana… Continue

Added by Rick Newby on December 3, 2009 at 3:44pm — 1 Comment

Bruce Whittenberg Chairman Leach, "Bridging Cultures"

If you haven't yet seen the speech by NEH Chairman Jim Leach, please look it over. It says so much about the state of public discourse, and reinforces the efforts of Humanities Montana, Leadership Montana and others to improve the state of civil public discourse in Montana. Here's the link: http://www.neh.gov/whoweare/speeches/11202009.html Bruce Continue

Added by Bruce Whittenberg on December 2, 2009 at 10:26am — No Comments

Clair Leonard A date with Bert, November 18, 2009 - Umberto Benedetti - 97 Years Young...

I cancelled this weekend; or rather this weekend cancelled me with a filthy cold, the second bout this fall. When Monday rolled around I was between a rock and a hard place, you know the feeling, you drag yourself out of bed and you go through the motions because you know there's something more important. Monday, it was a date with Bert. Bert is a man I barely know, but have admired for years. It all started three short years ago when I joined Humanities Montana and came to work at Brantly Hall… Continue

Added by Clair Leonard on December 1, 2009 at 10:45am — No Comments

Ken Egan Fish Declares End of Culture Wars! Has Wisdom Broken Out?

Yes, Stanley Fish, the brilliant controversialist who participated with such verve and infuriating nimbleness during the "Culture Wars" of the 90s, has declared that the era has come to an end. Too optimistic? Thoughts always welcome. To read his commentary, go to http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/30/political-correctness-revisited-views-from-both-sides/ Continue

Added by Ken Egan on December 1, 2009 at 7:30am — 1 Comment

Paul Stephens Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House Books

The Little House Books: A Pioneer Chronicle Mises Daily: Monday, November 23, 2009 by Robert M. Thornton Little House BooksThe Freeman, 1972. These books were first published nearly forty years ago when Laura Ingalls Wilder was in her sixties. The eighteenth printing in cloth was run in 1970, and now we have the first paperback edition. Laura (I just can't bring myself to call her Mrs. Wilder) wrote the first book in the series without any plans to continue, but the enthusiastic response of yo… Continue

Added by Paul Stephens on November 24, 2009 at 4:00pm — No Comments

Ken Egan Does Your Community Need a Frank Discussion?

If it does, please consider contacting a Montana citizen trained in Gracious Space, an approach to conversations that emphasizes welcoming the stranger and listening respectfully to alternative points of view. (To see the impact of Gracious Space, check out the Featured Blog by Bruce Whittenberg that describes how Billings has put this approach to work.) 16 Montanans came together in Kalispell in late October to learn this technique. You can find the list of participants at the Hu… Continue

Added by Ken Egan on November 24, 2009 at 7:30am — No Comments

Ken Egan Humanties Montana Receives Schwartz Prize for Public Affairs Initiative

We are pleased and humbled to announce that Humanities Montana received its fifth Helen and Martin Schwartz Prize for Public Humanities Programs from the Federation of State Humanities Councils at the National Humanities Conference in Omaha, Nebraska on Friday, November 6. We were recognized for our Public Affairs Initiative, funded through the Department of Education appropriation secured through Senator Baucus's office. The specific programs included "Can We Talk?" in Billings in January; civ… Continue

Added by Ken Egan on November 9, 2009 at 12:30pm — 2 Comments

Humanities Montana New Feature on the Roundtable: Member Calendar

Roundtable members can now post notices of humanities-related events in the new Member Calendar. To access, hover over the green Calendars tab above, then select Member Calendar from the drop-down menu. Newly posted events will appear in the "Latest Activity" to the left, and also in the summary of upcoming events at the bottom of this page. (As you may have noticed, we also have a Humanities Montana Events page, which provides details about upcoming events--e.g. Spe… Continue

Added by Humanities Montana on November 5, 2009 at 7:25pm — No Comments

Ken Egan Thanks so much for your advocacy!

We're pleased to announce that your advocacy for the humanities helped produce a $5.4 million increase in funding for the Federal/State Partnership of the National Endowment for the Humanities. What does that mean for Montanans? Approximately $70,000 in additional funds for humanities programs around this great state. Thanks to the 65 folks who took the time to write our congressional delegation. Enjoy the fruits of your labor! Continue

Added by Ken Egan on November 4, 2009 at 10:00am — No Comments

Ned Cooney Gracious Space Facilitator Training wrap up

(Please see my previous entries from Monday and Tuesday's trainings to see the whole story.--Ned) Our third and final day was full of developing skills and building relationships. We were able to test our understanding of Gracious Space (GS) and "peel the layers of the onion" in a supportive environment to develop our practice of the model. We also talked about the group's desire to give back in gratitud… Continue

Added by Ned Cooney on October 29, 2009 at 9:08pm — No Comments

Ned Cooney Gracious Space, day 2

Greetings again from the Flathead! Our second day of training, Tuesday, was a full day of deepening relationships and understanding about the model and practice of Gracious Space (GS). As I head off to the third and final day, I'd like to share a few of the words used in closing comments from our participants: "It's a new way to learn...." "I want to stay in touch with the other practitioners" of GS in Montana. "I feel validated...to be real with each other...I am grateful." "I will ask those… Continue

Added by Ned Cooney on October 28, 2009 at 7:06am — No Comments

Ned Cooney Gracious Space Facilitator Training

On Monday, October 26, at Flathead Valley Community College in Kalispell, a group of 16 diverse professionals gathered from around the state to learn how to apply the Gracious Space model in communities and organizations. Our trainer, Pat Hughes, is the author and "developer in chief" of the concept of Gracious Space This project, made possible through a grant from Humanities Montana, follows a series of… Continue

Added by Ned Cooney on October 26, 2009 at 10:55pm — No Comments

Ken Egan Friday at the Festival

The carnival is off and running! Yesterday featured a terrific conversation about Jim Crumley, a moving reading by Jamie Ford at the Missoula Art Museum, and a varied, amusing set of readings at the Wilma. See the schedule above for some of the highlights today at the Festival. I'll be helping out at a panel on Montana lit (11:00), The Virginia Woolf Writers' Workshop (1:00), and Locating the Novel (2:30). Be sure to take in the Authors' Reception--a chance to mingle and chat informally with… Continue

Added by Ken Egan on October 23, 2009 at 8:30am — No Comments

Ken Egan Today at the Montana Festival of the Book

Thanks so much to the Missoula Public Library for hosting a panel on "The (Mis)Education of Archilde Leon" last evening--a full house and absolutely vital insights. The panelists were honest, heartfelt, and informative. I won't read The Surrounded the same way now that I have a clearer picture of the traumas of boarding schools for an Indian child. And today at the Festival we turn to remembering a great mystery writer and enjoying the exquisite prose of four contemporary masters of f… Continue

Added by Ken Egan on October 22, 2009 at 7:00am — No Comments

Bethany Taylor Camas: The Nature of The West

Camas: The Nature of the West is the environmental literary journal of the Environmental Studies grad program at the University of Montana. Published twice yearly, across the landscape of it's pages, Camas cultivates new ideas and perspectives while remaining rooted inthe inherited traditions of art and literature within the promise of the American West. The deadline for the upcoming winter issue has been extended to November 1. Please visit our website,… Continue

Added by Bethany Taylor on October 21, 2009 at 11:59am — No Comments

Bethany Taylor Wild Mercy Reading Series in Missoula

The Wild Mercy Reading Series is put on in Missoula by the Environmental Studies Grad program. It predominantly features grad students within the writing focus of the department reading their own current nature and environmental works. This semester, the series will be held alternate Wednesdays, begining tonight. Readings start at 7 p.m. and are held at the Missoulian Angler fly fishing shop. Event is free and open to the public, although donations to the Missoulian Angler are encouraged to than… Continue

Added by Bethany Taylor on October 21, 2009 at 11:51am — 1 Comment

Ken Egan Montana Festival of the Book is HERE

Yes, the big event begins tomorrow (Wednesday) with a panel on "The (Mis)Education of Archilde Leon: The Legacy of Indian Boarding Schools," 7 pm at the Missoula Public Library, moderated by Jodi Rave, with Raymond Cross, Kathleen Little Leaf, and Mary Jane Charlo. This conversation will provide a crucial context for reading and discussing One Book Montana, The Surrounded. And don't miss Thursday afternoon's "The Last Good Kiss: An Appreciation of James Crumley," 3 pm at the Wilma Theatr… Continue

Added by Ken Egan on October 20, 2009 at 5:00pm — No Comments

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