This December 17, as part of our city’s annual “Joy to the Word” program, The Nunnery and the Chippewa Valley Writers Guild are joining forces to charm and delight our region’s citizens with their most wintry songs and stories. Settle in for a streamed event featuring stories courtesy of former Wisconsin poet laureate Max Garland, UWEC’s Director of Multicultural Affairs Dang Yang, UWEC English Professor Kaia Simon, and writer Sarah Jayne Johnson, all accompanied and with original music by The Nunnery. Also featuring original visuals by Erik Elstran. So kick back, grab the eggnog, and enjoy live entertainment from some of the finest writers, musicians, and artists in the valley.
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READ ON FOR INFO ON OUR PERFORMERS!
DANG YANG
Dang Yang is the Director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA) at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Prior to joining UWEC, Yang served as the Diversity Manager at CVTC, where he supported multicultural students, students with disabilities, international students, and nontraditional occupation students. Yang also spent several years serving as the Multicultural Recruitment & Retention Coordinator at UW-Stout where he provided direct support services for traditionally underrepresented pre-service teachers in training. Yang is a life-long learner who is passionate about social justice advocacy and continues to be involved in numerous equity initiatives. Yang is an avid reader and enjoys active outdoor activities all year round. He lives in the Chippewa Valley with his partner and children.
MAX GARLAND
Max Garland is the former Poet Laureate of Wisconsin. His latest book is The Word We Used for It, winner of the Brittingham Poetry Prize. Other works include The Postal Confessions and Hunger Wide as Heaven. He’s received a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship and has been included in Best American Short Stories. Born in Kentucky, where he worked as a rural letter carrier on the route where he was born, he’s lived and taught for many years in Eau Claire, served as Writer-in-Residence for Eau Claire, and is possibly still a member of a local band.
SARAH JAYNE JOHNSON
Sarah Jayne Johnson has been part of the local writing scene since 2013. In addition to her creative work, she is also the creative director at Odd Humyns and Community Coordinator for the Midwest Artist Academy. She lives in Eau Claire with her husband Tyler, and their three demanding pets."
KAIA SIMON
Kaia Simon teaches classes in writing and rhetoric for the English department at the University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire. Her favorite winter activities are cross country skiing and finding cozy places to curl up with books.
B.J. HOLLARS
B.J. Hollars is the author of several book, including the forthcoming Go West Young Man: A Father and Son rediscover America on the Oregon Trail. He is the founder and director of both the Chippewa Valley Writers Guild and the Midwest Artist Academy. He teaches English at UW-Eau Claire and is a columnist for the Leader Telegram’s Sawdust Stories series.
THE NUNNERY
The Nunnery is a solo act of Sarah Elstran. Creating melding meditative, lush soundscapes with layered vocal loops and catchy hooks. More of an experience than just a sound, The Nunnery's somewhat-improvised performances are informed by the spaces in which they occur. Many of her shows are accompanied with live visual projections. The projections are my way of communicating a thought without words, a feeling without description. Her hope is that these songs and performances give you a sense of peace, a space to understand your own heart.