LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — With less than two weeks remaining for the 2023 NEA Big Read, the Lake County Library is hosting an array of events through March 25.
Lake County residents are invited to attend the following events at no cost.
Free copies of the book, “Postcolonial Love Poem” by Natalie Diaz, are available at each library branch and at all events while supplies last.
Big Read 2023 author events
Saturday, March 18: 1 to 3 p.m.
In-person and virtual. Join the Lake County Library and Lake County Friends of Mendocino College in welcoming the author of “Postcolonial Love Poem,” Natalie Diaz, for a virtual poetry reading, discussion, and question and answer session.
This event will take place on Zoom and will be livestreamed from the Mendocino College Lake Campus Round Room and all four branches of the Lake County Library.
Lake County residents can also tune in from home by clicking on the following link at the time of the event: https://lakecounty.zoom.us/s/94859414760. Webinar ID: 948 5941 4760 (no pass code needed).
Location: Zoom and Mendocino College, 2565 Parallel Drive, Lakeport
Museums of Lake County Family History Presentation
Wednesday, March 22, 5:30 to 7 p.m.
In-person. Come learn about preserving family history with our County Museum curators, and how it all relates to “Postcolonial Love Poem.”
Location: Historic Courthouse Museum, 255 N. Main St., Lakeport
Creative Club Sensory Writing Workshop
Saturday, March 25, 10 a.m. to noon
In-person. Join the Library Creative Club for an all ages sensory writing workshop. They will explore different tools for writing including natural inks, paints and more.
Inspired by the poem Ink-Light featured in the book in which Natalie Diaz writes, “Four strokes of dusk. Carbon black, Lamp black, Bone black, Hide glue—: I am the alchemist of ink. She answers me, "Quicksilver.”
Location: Lakeport Library, 1425 N. High St., Lakeport
Poets Laureate Reading
Saturday, March 25, 1 to 2 p.m.
In-person. Join Lake County's Poet Laureate Georgina Marie Guardado for a poetry reading featuring California's new State Poet Laureate Lee Herrick, Ukiah Poets Laureate Emeriti Linda Noel and Jabez Churchill, Alameda Poet Laureate Kimi Sugioka and Kansas State Poet Laureate Emerita Denise Low for a reading of original work and select poems by Natalie Diaz.
Location: Lakeport Library, 1425 N. High St., Lakeport
The National Endowment for the Arts Big Read, a partnership with Arts Midwest, broadens our understanding of our world, our communities, and ourselves through the joy of sharing a good book.
Since 2006, the National Endowment for the Arts has funded more than 1,700 NEA Big Read programs, providing more than $24 million to organizations nationwide.
In addition, NEA Big Read activities have reached every Congressional district in the country.
Visit https://www.arts.gov/initiatives/nea-big-read for more information about the NEA Big Read. Organizations interested in applying for an NEA Big Read grant in the future should visit Arts Midwest’s at https://artsmidwest.org/ for more information.
Georgina Marie Guardado is the Lake County Poet Laureate and Lake County’s Literacy Program coordinator.