POET MICAH LING TO READ FROM HER WORKS ON FIRST FRIDAY

Art Spaces, Inc. – Wabash Valley Outdoor Sculpture Collection and Arts Illiana are pleased to announce a public reading by Indiana poet, Micah Ling, of her recent works at the Swope Art Museum on Friday, May 4 at 6 p.m.  This event is a part of the 2012 Max Ehrmann Poetry Competition.  The public is invited and there is no charge for the event.

Ling, one of three judges for this year's competition, earned her Master’s Degree in 20th Century American Literature and her Master of Fine Arts Degree in poetry at Indiana University. She teaches in the English Department at Franklin College, and in the MFA program at Butler University. She has two collections of poetry from Sunnyoutside Press, Three Islands, and, Sweetgrass.  They will be available for sale at the event.  Her third book, Settlement, is forthcoming this year. Ling won the 2011 Indiana Emerging Author award. 

The poetry competition was started in 2010 following the installation of a lifesize bronze sculpture of local poet Max Ehrmann, by artist Bill Wolfe, in downtown Terre Haute.  This is one of 12 sculptures now making up the Art Spaces Collection. Since that time thousands of locals and visitors have gained an awareness of Ehrmann's life and his writings, which are known worldwide.  This year the contest drew 503 poems were received from 386 individuals from Clay, Parke, Putnam, Sullivan, Vermillion and Vigo Counties, ranging from elementary school age to senior citizens.  18 prizes were awarded at a public ceremony on April 12.  The contest was sponsored by St. Mary-of-the-Woods College and other businesses, groups and foundations in Terre Haute.

Other upcoming events include a May 10 reading by Karen Kovacik in the Whitacker Conference Room in University Hall on the campus of ISU from 6-7 p.m., hosted by  OLLI at ISU.