May 28, 2009
Pomona, CA

This spring California’s Cal Poly Pomona Foundation put on a Big Read of Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird. The foundation teamed with the city’s library and cultural arts commission to make The Big Read part of the city’s 2nd Annual Chalk Art Festival through a student art contest. Here’s a bit from library staffer Pat Lambert on the project:

The [original] idea for the [chalk art] festival came about because of the large number of public art events that have been cropping up in southern California in recent years. Our climate lends itself to such events, and this was a good fit given the strong arts community in our downtown area. Our library director, Greg Shapton, and Jonnie Owens from the Cal Poly Downtown Center served on the planning committee for last year’s festival, and they suggested a Big Read tie-in to increase participation and awareness of The Big Read in our community.

The artwork was developed by student art teams from local schools consisting of three to four people. There were more than 300 participants in the event, with about 100 art displays. About 25 of the displays were tied to The Big Read. The students created grid drawings, using them as a basis for their sidewalk creations.

Thanks to photographers Delana Martin, Debra Martin, and Danelle Assanelli, here are some views from the event — with commentary by yours truly.

A look inside the artists’ “studio.” I love that Harper Lee is everywhere in this photo!

I really like the mythological quality of this one and the way the central figure is at once unified and divided. The bird reminds me of a Native American depiction of a raven, which is both a trickster and a creator. It brings to mind the childhood innocence of Jem, Scout, and Dill and the growing up they are forced to do.

I love the ominous shadow behind the mockingbird: Does it represent Boo Radley? Is it Bob Ewell? Is it the poverty caused by the Depression or the period’s institutionalized racism? It captures the way that Jem’s broken arm hovers over the entire story though we don’t find out how it happened until the novel’s closing pages.

May 8, 2009
Kelleys Island, OH

Kelleys Island, Ohio, did it. They did it. Everybody on this small, ice-locked Lake Erie island — but everybody — read To Kill a Mockingbird last month, all 134 of them. What started as a reckless challenge I tossed out at last year’s Big Read orientation turned into local pledge, then a countywide sensation, and eventually a low-grade international human-interest story, with reporters as far away as the Manchester Guardian and Russia weighing in on the festivities. For an isolated island, the simple act of reading a book sure brought a little piece of the world to its doorstep. It all culminated in a justly proud celebration last Thursday at the high school gym, where islander after islander took the microphone to thank their neighbors for daring them to do this.

A mere fraction of all 134 Kelleys Islanders who read To Kill a Mockingbird, plus one very relieved ringer in the last row. Photo by Luke Wark

Naturally, one big human-interest story on Kelleys Island is only the sum of 134 individual ones. To keep things in perspective, let’s just zoom in on one: the mayor, friendly Robert Quinn, who hesitantly took the stage and admitted to his constituents that safeguarding the public interest usually leaves him little time for pleasure reading. “I haven’t read a book in a long time,” he said, sheepish. “Probably” – sotto voce here — “30 years.”

Now, in a perfect world, a local chief executive’s confession that book-reading isn’t his bag might be grounds for impeachment. But in this fallen one, neighbors just nodded knowingly as he enumerated the two principal hurdles he’d found in cracking his first novel since high school: “For me, the biggest challenge was just getting started … The second biggest challenge was putting names to faces.”

In these challenges, I suspect Mayor Quinn isn’t alone. Even the most readerly among us know that reading a book represents a time commitment, and this can make getting started a little daunting. And a simple thing like keeping all the characters straight, when you’re out of practice and used to more visual forms of entertainment, can make even Mockingbird feel like Crime and Punishment.

So I’m more impressed than ever that all those Kelleys Islanders found the time and concentration to make room for a book in their lives. When I started this blog, I scarcely dared hope that someday I’d find myself in league with Big Read volunteers as dedicated as Elaine Lickfelt and reading professionals as enthusiastic as Sandusky County Library’s Terri Estel.  Without them, I’d certainly never have made my foolhardy vow to eat a copy of To Kill a Mockingbird if Kelleys Island fell short of 100% participation.

Now, my optimism and my G.I. tract have both been spared. The only question now is, what next? A couple hundred new grantees will pour into Minneapolis next month to swap ideas about how to make Kelleys Island’s success their own. What new ridiculous challenge can I throw out for some unwary city or town to take up? Can every last soul in a designated Big Read town get a library card? Can everybody memorize a fraction of The Great Gatsby, or The Shawl, or whatever their local book might be, so that together they can recite the whole thing? The silly possibilities are endless, but the mission remains unchanged: Get America reading again.

Consider the suggestion box open…

[For the full story on the Kelleys Island challenge, see prior posts from March 12 and March 16]

May 7, 2009
Cleveland, OH

Cleveland, Ohio’s Young Audiences of Northeast Ohio (YANEO) partnered with Warrensville Heights Middle School for a Big Read of Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird in an effort to boost the reading proficiency of students who had scored below the state standard for reading proficiency. Students and community members read and celebrated the novel with a range of activities including live readings, book discussions, a visit from Harper Lee expert Charles Shields, and a school residency with YANEO theater artists.

Courtesy of Young Audiences of Northeast Ohio (and ace photographer Stacy Goldberg), here are some snaps from Cleveland’s Mockingbird read.

Students at Warrensville Heights Middle School picketed with signs about To Kill A Mockingbird in front of their school, garnering a lot of curiosity and awareness about The Big Read. This effort helped encourage the entire community to become engaged in reading the book.

Students worked with a Young Audiences theater artist to act out scenes from To Kill A Mockingbird at the Cuyahoga County Public Library – Warrensville Heights Branch. Here they are creating a tableau around vocabulary words from the book.

Former Warrensville mayor Marcia Fudge (now a U.S. Representative) and the late U.S. Representative Stephanie Tubbs Jones read a scene from To Kill a Mockingbird with students from Warrensville Heights Middle School. Congresswoman Tubbs-Jones reflected on her career in the courtroom as a trial lawyer and judge, and how To Kill a Mockingbird was one of her favorite books as it brings the excitement of the courtroom to students through reading. She captivated the audience by reading a few of her favorite passages in her spirited, winning way.

There’s still time to catch a Mockingbird read in Portsmouth, Ohio (Southern Ohio Performing Arts Association), Pensacola, Florida (West Florida Literary Federation), Houston, Texas (Harris County Public Library), Hartford, Connecticut (Hartford Public Library), Whitewater, Wisconsin (Young Auditorium), or Corona, California (Corona Public Library.) Visit The Big Read calendar for details.

April 6 , 2009
Kelleys Island, OH

Through April 12 Matthew Modine is starring as Atticus Finch in Hartford Stage Company’s production of To Kill a Mockingbird, part of Hartford Public Library’s spring Big Read. Modine took a break from Atticus to share his personal response to “Why read?”

Matthew Modine in a quiet moment as Atticus Finch in Hartford Stage’s To Kill a Mockingbird. Photo © T. Charles Erickson

“After the age of eleven I was no longer able to keep up with other students my age.

“It was during a comprehension test. A story streamed single file along from a projector and each student was tested afterward. I failed miserably and was put into a class for “dummies.”

“The words looked like the news we see streamed at the bottom of a television newscast or along the side of a certain office buildings. For me, the words jumped and danced and placed themselves in an order all their own. This was 40 years ago, and no one knew what they now know about dyslexia. I certainly wasn’t stupid. I knew I wasn’t. I yearned for the knowledge that the books held and went about to teach myself tricks so that I could decipher the messages and ideas on the pages of books and magazines. I taught myself to conquer my mixed-up way of seeing and unlocked the door to so many great stories. This added effort made my love of books all the greater”

Matthew Modine

March 27, 2009
Washington, DC

This spring, Southern Ohio Performing Arts Association is sponsoring The Big Read Scioto County, a Midwestern celebration of Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird. Today’s Roadshow and Tell features just a few of the sublime projects created by students at South Webster High School for their Big Read project: Altered Books, Altered Minds, A Mockingbird Odyssey.  (We featured The Big Read Scioto County  and the art book project in yesterday’s blog post.)

Gifted Students Coordinator Sharee Price explained the class project. “An altered book is defined as any book, old or new, that has been recycled by creative means into a work of art. Art students at South Webster High School first studied and discussed the themes of  To Kill a Mockingbird.  They then worked together with their teacher, Mr. Brad Painter, and me, to make works of art that visually interpreted their ideas related to this story. Students began with books as a “canvas” upon which to make their work; they transformed the books into works of art by adding a variety of found materials.  Some of the books have become more sculptural and others have retained their original form. Whatever avenue the student has chosen, the end result becomes the artistic interpretation of the reader.”

Ashley Horner’s project transformed the book back into its original form — a tree.		Courtnie Charles’s painterly project deftly captured the novel’s idyllic setting.

Kim Scaff’s mixed media approach deftly the many ways in which Lee’s novel challenges accepted viewpoints.

All photos are courtesy of South Webster High School.

March 25, 2009
Ohio & Kentucky

One of the most rewarding aspects of being part of The Big Read team is having the opportunity to perform site visits with communities during their programming. It reminds us of why this program is so powerful in reaching out to whole communities. The Southern Ohio Performing Arts Association’s Big Read of To Kill a Mockingbird provided us with a wealth of activities to experience.

First stop on our whirlwind visit was the Tecumseh High School, which operates behind the fences of the Ohio River Valley Correctional Center — a maximum security youth prison that houses some of the state’s most violent youth offenders. Sitting in on the class’s book discussion was an eye-opening and moving experience. It was brilliantly rewarding to hear how these young men appreciated the multiple copies of the book that the Big Read grant had been able to purchase for their use, because typically they did not have access to so many new copies.

Here’s the Portsmouth Library all decked out to celebrate The Big Read.

During the discussion of the novel, a couple of the inmates explained how they assumed they would not like the book as it dealt with racism and justice. Some anticipated being offended by potential racial slurs and negative stereotypes. However, after early conversations on those topics, the inmates clearly found a great deal of value in reading this American classic together. As Tecumseh’s principal, Pat Buchanan explained while we toured the rest of the facility, many of the inmates have no experience outside the boundary of one street, let alone the state of Ohio. Most of them squarely fit the definition of reluctant readers. Reading this book allows these inmates the opportunity to follow Atticus’ advice and, “climb inside of [someone’s] skin and walk around in it.” We Big Read teamsters talk a lot about the transformative power of reading but speaking to these inmates brought that tenet vividly to life.

In a complete gear change, we spent the rest of the day on or around campus at Shawnee State University, listening to a lecture by Harper Lee’s biographer, Charles Shields and visiting Portsmouth Public Library, an original Carnegie library with its stunning stain glass ceiling still intact.

The Southern Ohio Museum, which we managed to squeeze into our wonderful day are featuring a Big Read program called Altered Books, Altered Minds, A Mockingbird Odyssey, honoring students from South Webster High School for the altered books they have created as part of the Big Read Project. For those who have not come across an altered book before, this process involves recycling a book by creative means into a work of art. Books can be rebound, painted, cut, burned, folded, added to, collaged, gold-leafed, rubber stamped, drilled, or otherwise adorned.

Next, we hit the road to reach Olive Hill, Kentucky by Friday’s mid-morning. Olive Hill Adult Learning Center (OHALC) also received a grant to read To Kill a Mockingbird, and our attendance at a meeting of partner organizers demonstrated their Big Read has surely gained the attention of the local movers and shakers. One of the smallest Big Read communities in the nation with a population of 2,100, Olive Hill is currently taking great strides in the realm of reading and public services. The city of Olive Hill very recently gained funding for its local volunteer-run library to become the first public library in Carter County after years of campaigning. OHALC’s upcoming programming includes a theatrical performance of Mockingbird, which will take place at the Olive Hill Historical Society. Housed in what was the Olive Hill High School, the building is currently under huge renovations since a massive snowfall caused the gymnasium roof to collapse.

For more information about both Southern Ohio Performing Arts Association and Olive Hill Adult Learning Center, Inc.’s programming visit the online Community Calendar of Events.

Guest post by Christine Taylor/Angharad Guy.

Photos courtesy of South Central Ohio Educational Service Center, and Angharad Guy.

March 16, 2009
Kelleys Island, OH

Remarkable what a little baggypants gimmickry will do.

Last month, the Erie County, Ohio, Big Read challenged all 128 winter residents of Kelleys Island to read To Kill a Mockingbird. I casually vowed that if everybody on Kelleys Island didn’t read a copy, I would eat one.

That’s when things got busy. All I can say is, not even my Jewish mother was ever this interested in what I did or didn’t eat.

First, the Sandusky Register weighed in. Reporter Jason Singer allowed as how, “Reading is not only good for your brain, but on Kelleys Island, it could save a national figure from terrible indigestion.”

Winter Residents of Kelleys Island, Ohio, eye the pizza table at a recent Big Read sign-up party.

I’m not sure about the “national figure” part, but the prospect of “terrible indigestion” already has me up nights thinking about it. Can I maybe inoculate myself now by eating a page a day, like King Mithridates taking a daily drop of poison to thwart assassination? (By the way, there’s even a word for this practice, mithridatization, that I’ve been waiting my whole life to use. Score!)

Mark Sarvas’ literary blog The Elegant Variation got into the Kelleys Island spirit too, asking “Can’t you just envision the frenzy around a lone holdout?”

In fact, I’ve been envisioning versions of just such a reading frenzy ever since I first enlisted in this The Big Read. Here in 21st-century America, we get bombarded by round-the-clock messages to do everything but read. In weaker moments, I get to feeling like a cultural outcast because I barely know, for example, who OutKast is. I know he makes music. I know he’s a “national figure,” if anybody is anymore. But I don’t know much else about him, and I feel I should. If a lone holdout on Kelleys Island gets to feeling the same way about Harper Lee — if The Big Read can co-opt peer pressure into working for literature instead of, as so often, against it — then that’s worth a little indigestion.

Next, Moby Lives picked up the story under the puckish headline “Nation’s highest ranking literary officer engaged in wagering.” Refreshingly, Moby downplayed the bibliophagia angle and focused on my promise if all of Kelleys Island does read the book: Pizza for everybody! Unfortunately, I’m almost as capable of eating myself sick on pizza as I am on a paperback.

So it seems my days as a literary circus geek are far from over. Ling Ma, of the San Francisco, Washington, and who knows how many other Examiners, noted that, “As of Monday, Kipen has received 70 pledges from Kelleys Island residents to read the book, and he only needs 58 more pledges to save himself from what could probably be the worst stomachache of his life.”

Again with the agita! Mercifully, my date with a stomach pump may have to wait after all. According to yeoman Kelleys Island library volunteer Elaine Lickfelt, “We have 114 on the ‘I will read’ list and 14 people who have said no. The pressure to read the book here is fierce.”

That’s 114, up from 70 in just a week — and Erie County doesn’t even hold its Big Read kickoff till this Saturday night! I sense a reprieve in the offing.

How are Elaine and Sandusky librarian Terri Estel generating such great participation? As Elaine tells it, “Keep in mind that some of the impetus here is coming from a population mostly secluded for two months, and at this point anything that goes on here takes on great interest, even if you have to read a book. The excitement is palpable…

“People see me coming with my green library bag and and start to scatter. Kim, who runs the Island Market with her husband Rob and son Elic [cq?], is also signing up readers. There is only one grocery open here in the winter so now when you go in to pick up whatever, you get accosted with the Big Read and a sign-up sheet.”

To recap: 114 reader pledges down, 14 to go. The Erie County Big Read starts this Saturday and runs through April. Full participation equals pizza for all; partial means a date with my internist. For the record, only the pizza party would be public; astute blog readers have noted that any eventual biblio-seppuku is on the honor system.

But I’m committed to this. My only regret is Kelleys Island’s book choice. I love all 281 pages of Mockingbird to pieces, but The Big Read’s book list is up to 30 books now. Couldn’t they have picked our Tolstoy novella instead?