The idea of an American Writers Museum seems to me long overdue. The literate world has known and prized American writers since the generation of Emerson and Thoreau. Whitman and Emily Dickinson have influenced poets and readers in English and in translation into many languages. The great current continues, and a museum honoring and portraying American writing would be an honor to the suffering and vision from which our literature came.
W.S. Merwin, former U.S. Poet Laureate
From the website,
americanwritersmuseum.org
Friday night, the American Writers Museum, a new enterprise based in Chicago, will co-host a fundraiser with the Oak Park Public Library in the second-floor Veterans Room at 7. Writer and media personality Rick Kogan (Chicago Tribune, WGN Radio) will be on hand to interview two of Oak Park’s best known writers, novelist Elizabeth Berg and journalist/author Alex Kotlowitz.
Debby Preiser, the library’s events coordinator, was contacted several months back by Nike Whitcomb, executive director of the AWM, which plans to open the museum in 2016.
Originally she asked if OPPL would host a traveling exhibit from the museum in the gallery space this month (which is happening). The exhibit previously appeared at the Evanston Public Library in January, the Gail Borden Public Library (Elgin) in February, and will head to Highland Park Public Library in April.
Then Whitcomb called back and asked whether they were game to hold a fundraiser. Executive Director David Seleb agreed.
Don Evans, an Oak Parker, who founded the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame, put the word out to that organization’s supporters.
Kogan said he was asked to moderate, and doesn’t know a lot about the museum at this point, but says, “I’m always for honoring authors who deserve honor. That’s one of the reasons I have been hosting the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame bashes.”
His list of Chicago literary lions includes the likes of “Bellow, Terkel, Algren, Royko, Willard Motley, John Bartlow Martin, Gwendolyn Brooks, Sandburg … the more the merrier.”
Kogan plans to ask Berg and Kotlowitz about their work, their work habits, the changing world of publishing, “and, surely, how place (Oak Park specifically) informs their work.”
Kotlowitz readily agreed to join in when asked.
“I’m a big supporter of the museum, or the idea of the museum, and love the idea that, if it happens, it might happen here in Chicago.”
So he’s more than willing to “talk it up.”
In fact, he says, “It’s kind of astonishing that there’s not a museum celebrating American writers. Literature and nonfiction have helped us make sense of ourselves and others, and have helped to get at truths that politics or scholarly work or commentary can’t access. Books have gotten us through hard times. They’ve provided comfort and succor. They’ve made us feel less alone. Just the very act of storytelling is an act of hope. We should celebrate that.”
His list of Chicago-area writers, past and present is also long.
“So many,” he says. “Studs Terkel, of course. Richard Wright. Nelson Algren. I know in mentioning contemporaries I’m going to leave some out, but here a handful whose work I so deeply admire: Chris Ware, Stuart Dybek, Sara Paretsky, Aleksandar Hemon, John Conroy. There’s a vital, exciting collection of Chicago writers at present.”
As to why Oak Park seems to attract and produce so many writers, Kotlowitz says, “I have no idea, but it does provide good company.”
He’ll be in good company on March 6, including Berg and Kogan.
“I’m a huge fan of each, both personally and of their work,” he says.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Hors d’oeuvres, desserts and beverages will be served. Onsite parking is free, but admission is $75. Checks should be made out to “Oak Park Public Library.” Centuries & Sleuths Book Store will be on hand with author titles for sale.
Space is limited. Call Debby Preiser at 708-697-6915 for more information.