Trent University Announces 2008 Writers in Residence

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Performance Artist Alexis O’Hara and Author John Metcalf to Connect With Students

Wednesday, February 20, 2008, Peterborough

Trent University’s Bata Library and Champlain College are pleased to announce that Alexis O’Hara and John Metcalf will be on campus in late February and early March to meet with students and faculty as the 2008 Writers in Residence.

During their consecutive stays, Alexis O’Hara and John Metcalf will have an office in the Bata Library where students can book appointments or drop in to discuss their creative endeavours. Both artists will also be addressing various classes at Trent University during their stay.

Performance artist Alexis O’Hara will be in residence as part of the Doing it in Public conference to be held at Catharine Parr Traill College from February 29 to March 1. The trilingual recipient of numerous grants from Canada Arts Council and Quebec Arts Council, Ms. O’Hara has performed across Canada and around the world at venues that include Ljubljana, Nottingham, Krems, Glasgow, Berlin, and Dublin. Her works have been aired on Radio-Canada and published in numerous anthologies. Many opportunities will be provided to welcome Ms. O’Hara to Trent and see her perform, including:

Monday, February 25 – 2:30 to 4 p.m.
Meet and Greet – Seasoned Spoon, Champlain College

Tuesday, February 26 – 8 p.m.
Public Performance – Bata Library Atrium

Wednesday, February 27 – 1 to 1:30 p.m.
Open Mike – Bata Library Atrium

Wednesday, February 27 – 3 to 5 p.m.
Performance Workshop – Senior Common Room, Champlain College

Writer, editor, and literary critic John Metcalf will be in residence from March 3 to 7. The author of numerous short stories and novels, Mr. Metcalf has also collaborated with writers such as Leon Rooke and Clark Blaise. Through his work as an editor at Porcupine's Quill Press, Mr. Metcalf championed many new writers, having overseen more than 100 works. His contributions as a literary critic may be described as “polemical” as attested by his latest memoir, Shut Up He Explained. His contribution to arts and culture was acknowledged with an Order of Canada in 2004. Erudite and entertaining, opportunities to meet, hear and learn from John are abundant:

Monday, March 3 – 2 to 4 p.m.
Meet and Greet – Alumni House, Champlain College

Tuesday, March 4 – 1 to 4 p.m.
Emerging Academics’ & Writers’ Roundtable
The Future of Writing in Canada: Life after “Shut Up He Explained”
A.J.M Smith Room, Bata Library

Wednesday, March 5 – 8 p.m.
Reading – Bata Library Atrium
Live Music & Refreshment beginning at 7:00 p.m.

Thursday, March 6 – 2 to 5 p.m.
Writers’ Workshop – Alumni House, Champlain College

All events are free and open to the public. Media are welcome and encouraged to attend.

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For further information, please contact Marisa Scigliano, Technical Services Librarian at (705) 748-1011, ext. 7643