People will soon have the opportunity to hear award-winning and New York Times bestselling author Ross Gay speak in person at a free event downtown.
The Kenneth A. Spencer Lecture series is returning to Liberty Hall, and Gay will be its first in-person speaker in two years.
Gay is a poet and essayist. His books have received strong praises and accolades. His 2014 poetry book “Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude,” won the National Book Critics Circle Award. The same book earned him a Tufts award, one of poetry’s most prestigious honors. Other honors include fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, Cave Canem and the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference, according to a news release from The Commons at the University of Kansas.
A Washington Post critic called Gay’s latest book, “Inciting Joy: Essays,” a “gift.”
Gay is also an editor with the chapbook presses Q Avenue and Ledge Mule Press and is a founding editor, with Karissa Chen and Patrick Rosal, of the online sports magazine Some Call it Ballin’, according to the release. He also teaches at Indiana University and in Drew University’s low-residency MFA program.
Gay will be welcomed on stage at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16 at Liberty Hall, 644 Massachusetts St. Tickets are free but required, and they’re available at this link.
Anyone who needs special accommodations may contact The Commons staff for assistance at thecommons@ku.edu.
The Kenneth A. Spencer Lecture is “an endowed lecture, dedicated to bringing leading thinkers whose work applies across disciplines to address the University of Kansas and regional communities,” according to the release.
Read more about Gay and his work on his website, rossgay.net.
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Note: This post has been updated to correct the day of the event.
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