Spring Conference

The heart and soul of the Cather Foundation can be found in the annual Willa Cather Spring Conference at the Cather Historic Site in Red Cloud. It is here that entrenched traditions of the Foundation are reinforced: kolache and coffee on Saturday morning, the service at Grace Episcopal Church, the St. Juliana Choir, the Passing Show Panel, country tours, banquets and luncheons comprised of the best of local cooking, and original performances on the stage of the Opera House Auditorium. Most important, members of the Cather Community from near and far renew acquaintances and share experiences. The Opera House and other historic buildings host a variety of presentations followed by open and invigorating discussions. In fact, the public discussions are uniquely robust.

We invite you to step into the heart of the Middle Ground and attend the 2008 Spring Conference. Below is a brief summary of the upcoming 2008 Spring Conference. Check this website for the official schedule and call 402-746-2653 to register. You won’t be sorry.

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The 2008 Willa Cather Spring Conference in Red Cloud, June 5, 6 and 7, promises to be one of the best ever! Literary experts from across the country will descend upon Red Cloud, all planning to share lively conversations with participants.

This year’s theme is “Cather and Her Contemporaries,” which includes discussions that involve authors such as William Faulkner, Bess Streeter Aldrich, Sarah Orne Jewett, Ernest Hemingway, Edith Wharton, and others—all contemporaries of Willa Cather. The Willa Cather Spring Conference is known for events that include animated public discussions. Keynote speaker for the Passing Show Panel is Dr. Charles E. Peek, professor of literature at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, who will lead a panel of distinguished Cather Scholars. The Passing Show Panel will be held in the restored 1885 Red Cloud Opera House. Other discussions will take place at various historic Cather-related buildings throughout the community, including the Cather Childhood Home and the Harling House, setting for My Ántonia. In addition, Joel Geyer, one of the producers of the nationally acclaimed NET film of Willa Cather’s biography, The Road is All, will be on hand to host the showing of the film Saturday afternoon.

A special focus of the Conference on Friday is the Country Tour of sites related to Cather’s novel One of Ours. Included on the tour is the George P. Cather House, a key setting for the novel. This home has not been on the Cather Spring Conference tour for a number of years and promises to be a highlight of Friday events. Richard Harris of the Web Institute in New York City will be available for the Country Tour. On Friday afternoon, Harris will be the Keynote Speaker for One of Ours, with discussion to follow. Rare artifacts directly connected to World War I, which have been collected by Harris, will be on display, and Barb Sprague of Red Cloud will be at the piano, playing World War I popular music throughout the Conference.

The Conference is being held in June to accommodate a Cather Symposium on Thursday, June 5th. Scholars from throughout the United States will be reading and discussing papers especially prepared for this event. The day culminates with a Vespers Service conducted by Dr. Peek, with hymns led by the popular St. Juliana Choir.

The Gallery at the Cather Center will feature the work of British artist Steve Joy. Joy’s paintings are monumental in scale and impact and present a rare opportunity to view work done by a celebrated international artist. Joy will be in the Gallery to discuss his work on Friday at 10:00 a.m. A reception for the artist is planned for 4:00 p.m. in the Gallery on Saturday of the Conference.

Participants will not want to miss special banquets, receptions, the locally prepared salad luncheon, and special tours available during the three-day event.

Capping the three-day Spring Conference is a dance theatre work by Laura Diffenderfer called A Wagner Matinee, which involves video, photography, and dance. The program is inspired by Willa Cather’s short story, “A Wagner Matinee.” Already a portion of the performance has been previewed in New York City. Following the premiere performance of the entire program on the stage of the 1885 Red Cloud Opera House at the conclusion of the Spring Conference, the program will eventually return to New York City. Tickets are available to the public. Call the Opera House Ticket Desk at 402-746-2641.

A Chocolate and Wine Reception follows the performance on Saturday evening.

For a detailed schedule of events and lodging information, visit http://www.willacather.org/ or phone toll-free 1-866-731-7304. Pre-registration for the Conference is requested.