Kentucky’s New Poet Laureate

What a great day Tuesday, April 24 was for St. John’s member Jane Gentry Vance! At an impressive ceremony in commemoration of the annual Kentucky Writer’s Day, Jane was inducted as the new Kentucky Poet Laureate for 2007-2008.

A large crowd filled the Kentucky Capitol Rotunda, including many people from St. John’s, there to congratulate Jane and celebrate her wonderful honor.

The ceremony was opened with a statement and introductions by Midway resident Lori Meadows, Director of the Kentucky Arts Council. The program continued with recitations of their prize-winning work by two Kentucky high-school students, readings of their poetry and prose by the five previous poets laureate, and Jane’s reading of the title poems from her two published books, A Garden in Kentucky and A Portrait of the Artist as a White Pig.

Jane’s acceptance speech was an eloquent and beautiful tribute to Kentucky writers and storytellers, as well as a gracious appreciation of the honor which had been bestowed upon her. A reception for honorees and attendees followed the ceremony.

                         jane                        

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