Postcards From Vacationland

In its sixth year, PLYMOUTHREADS invites you to join us in celebrating Minnesota’s glorious outdoors and all that nature inspires. Start by reading this year’s book choice, Vacationland, by Minnesota author, Sarah Stonich. From the book jacket: “On a lake in northernmost Minnesota, you might find Naledi Lodge - only two cabins still standing, its pathways now trodden mostly by memories. Vacationland is a moving portrait of a place - at once timeless and of the moment, composed of conflicting dreams and shared experience. Sarah Stonich, whose work has been described as “unexpected and moving” by the Chicago Tribune and “a well-paced feast” by the Los Angeles Times, weaves...tales of love and loss, heartbreak and redemption into a rich novel of interconnected and disjointed lives.”

A new aspect to our 2015 program is graphic art. Harry Pulver, Jr., a professional artist and graduate of Wayzata High School in Plymouth, has accepted a commission from PLYMOUTHREADS and the Plymouth Arts Council to create four original 8”x12” pieces rendered in oil pastels. Each piece will represent one of the four seasons of Minnesota’s vacationland, in the style of picture postcards. Mr. Pulver often works in a wonderfully playful cartoon style, but also delivers some intense, saturated, modernist pieces. His many clients include 3M, General Mills, Target and The Wall Street Journal.

Last year, PLYMOUTHREADS asked residents to compose Six Word Memoirs. The displayed results were quite popular and many requested that the activity be repeated, since this enables members of the community to communicate with and learn about each other in an easy, entertaining, and vital way. We were told, “Everyone loves to write on a wall!” Your voices have been heard, and the response is a new writing challenge.

This year, all residents of Plymouth are invited to write and submit short tales as Postcards From Vacationland (a.k.a. Prehistoric Tweets), about your experiences of our Minnesota vacationland - whether you vacation, work, live or play there. You may write 10 to 20 words (like a postcard), or up to 140 characters (like a “tweet”). Or, you may choose to express yourself the way the book’s character, Cassi, does, through Haiku (14 to 17 syllables). Here are some examples of Haiku for Postcards:

Exploding campfire sparks / ruddy marshmallows crinkling black / delicious!

Ripples holding sunset hue / framing primal loon lament.

Delicate white Trillium / legally protected Prima Donna / trumps Minnesota deep-freeze.

To submit your Postcard, just go to www.SurveyMonkey.com/s/PostcardsFromVacationland and fill in the blanks. Submissions will be collected throughout January and up until February 20th. They will be turned over to a designer, printed, and then your messages will surround each enlarged print of Pulver’s art on public display in the beautiful entrance hall of Plymouth Library from mid-March through April 19th.

At Plymouth Creek Center, March through mid-April, look for the display of the 4 original commissioned art pieces.

The 2015 program of events also includes (FREE admission to all events):

Kickoff Celebration - Sunday, March 22, 2 p.m. at Plymouth Library. Artist, Harry Pulver, Jr. will speak about his process of creating art for PLYMOUTHREADS, and talented Wayzata High School senior, Andrew Stern, will entertain you with a stand-up comedy performance about adventures in Minnesota’s vacationland. Mr. Stern recently played the role of King Arthur in the WHS production of Spamalot.

Join the Discussion - Saturday, April 11, 2 p.m. at Plymouth Library. Read Vacationland by Sarah Stonich, then join other community members for a lively discussion about the book.

Campfire Songs - Thursday, April 16, 6:30-7:30 p.m. at Plymouth Library. Sing-along with live guitar, mandolin, and harmonica music. For all ages and families. Bring a flashlight and blanket!

Meet the Author, Sarah Stonich - Literary Night of Primavera, Sunday, April 19, 6:30 p.m. at Plymouth Creek Center. Ms. Stonich will speak, answer questions, and sign books. Magers & Quinn Booksellers will be present offering Stonich’s books for purchase, while you enjoy refreshments.

For more details, go to the PLYMOUTHREADS web page at: www.plymouthartscouncil.org/enjoy/plymouth_reads

Or, send an email to: plymouth_reads@mail.com

Co-sponsored by the Plymouth Arts Council, Friends of Plymouth Library, Hennepin County Library - Plymouth, City of Plymouth Parks & Recreation