A Week of Willa Cather

Black and white portrait of a woman seated, wearing a large feathered hat and a pearl necklace. She gazes calmly towards the camera, dressed in early 20th-century attire, against a blurred backdrop.

A Week of Willa Cather

JANUARY 15–19

Plan to attend a variety of special programs listed below that celebrate Willa Cather and her novels, with an emphasis on My Ántonia. While you’re at The Joslyn, be sure to seek out Tim Youd’s (American, b. 1967) work Willa Cather’s My Ántonia, on view in the Mammel Gallery (Hawks Pavilion H8).

A man with long hair holds a cello, wearing a red shirt, while standing next to a woman with dark hair holding an oboe, wearing a gray jacket. They stand against a textured wall with a mix of green and blue colors.

BEL CANTO DUO, A LIVE PERFORMANCE OF FOUR CATHER TABLEAUX

Wed, Jan 15; 6–7:30 pm in Abbott Hall

Joslyn Members: $10, General Public: $20; walk-ins accepted as space allows.

Originally commissioned by the National Willa Cather Center, Four Cather Tableaux is a live, immersive music experience for audiences of all ages. Bel Canto’s evocative suite brings together Cather’s texts with imagery of the Great Plains. Bel Canto Duo was founded in 2016 by looping artist and cellist, David Downing, and oboist, Darci Gamerl. Bel Canto Duo’s mission is to create meaningful connections and community through their evocative, cross-genre classical crossover music. Their compositions combine lyrical, poignant lines with healing music techniques–creating rich orchestral-inspired sound.

My Antonia: The Story of an “American Novel”

Sat, Jan 18; 1:30–2:30 pm in Abbott Hall

THIS PROGRAM IS FULL and registration is closed; walk-ins accepted as space allows.

Join us for a talk presented by Ashley Olson, executive director of the National Willa Cather Center. Heralded by critics following its publication and a novel that is part of today’s literary canon, My Ántonia’s worldwide appeal is demonstrated by its translation into more than thirty languages. This talk examines the novel’s inspirations and creation, as well as ways the book still speaks to modern readers through topics like immigration and assimilation, migration and colonialism, class divisions and labor, rural life and landscapes, and the #MeToo movement. Olson’s program is offered through the National Endowment for the Arts Big Read program, which supports community reading programs centered around a single book.

A woman with shoulder-length brown hair smiles at the camera. She is wearing a black blazer, a rust-colored blouse, and large, intricate gold earrings. The background is a plain dark gray.

The Four Cather Tableaux, A Film Screening Experience

Sun, Jan 19; noon–4 pm in Abbot Hall

A free, 35-minute drop-in film experience; begins at noon, 1 pm, 2 pm, & 3 pm
(drop in anytime between noon and 4 pm)

Bel Canto Duo’s original immersive film, The Four Cather Tableaux, highlights the masterful work of American author, Willa Cather. Commissioned by the National Willa Cather Center in 2023, the evocative suite combines imagery of the Great Plains paired with Cather’s texts, creating a mesmeric and powerful experience for audiences of all ages. Bel Canto Duo was founded in 2016 by looping artist and cellist, David Downing, and oboist, Darci Gamerl.

Cover of "My Ántonia" by Willa Cather: features an illustration of two blue flowers with green stems. The text includes "100th Anniversary Edition" and "Introduction by Jane Smiley." The background is off-white.

Visualizing Literature: Book Club for Art Lovers

Two options:
Wed, Jan 15, 1–2:30 pm
Sat, Jan 18, 10:30 am–noon
BOTH SESSIONS ARE FULL and registration is closed; walk-ins accepted as space allows.

Joslyn Members: free, General Public: $10

January book selection: My Ántonia by Willa Cather (Vintage Classics, March 6, 2018 edition). Visualizing Literature explores connections between the literary and visual arts through moderated book discussions and gallery tours led by trained Visualizing Literature Volunteers. Discussions begin in the Community Room located in the Hawks Pavilion and conclude in the galleries. As part of this week and with the generous support of the National Willa Cather Center, we are offering a free copy of the 100th anniversary edition of My Ántonia to Visualizing Literature participants (up to 70). Details about requesting a book are provided in the registration process.