The Center for Regional Heritage Research at Stephen F. Austin State University will host the exhibit “Pineywoods Summer Haiku” starting at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1, at the Nacogdoches Historic Depot, 101 Old Tyler Road.
The exhibit, which celebrates the natural heritage of Nacogdoches and the beautiful Piney Woods of East Texas, was created by Dr. Judith Lauter, poet and former director of SFA’s Human Neuroscience Laboratory.
Lauter was a neuroscientist for more than three decades, teaching and directing at universities around the country. In 2001, she founded the laboratory at SFA and remained with the university until her retirement in 2012. In addition to scientific articles and books, Lauter has published poems in a number of journals. She won two Hopwood Awards for poetry, an Academy of American Poets prize and the Norma Lowry Memorial Prize. Since her retirement, she has produced six books of poems and images.
This exhibit will feature a gallery of large color reproductions of 20 pairs of photo-and-haiku experiences captured by Lauter for her book “Pineywoods Summer Haiku.” The exhibit reflects a midsummer day deep in the pine forests of East Texas, in and around Nacogdoches, and pairs color photos with insightful, graceful haiku poems. This experience allows for an exploration of the color, life and energy of summer “behind the pine curtain” in the gardens, forests and lakes of this area.
A formal opening for the exhibit will be held at 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 3. The evening will include a reception and welcoming remarks from Dr. Jerry Williams with the Center. Following the opening remarks, Lauter will present a reading of her book with a meet-and-greet and book signing to follow.
The exhibit will continue through Nov. 7. Hours are 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tuesdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fridays and by appointment only on Thursdays. The event is free and open to the public.
There will be an accompanying workshop held from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 18. The workshop is free, but space is limited. Please contact Kelley Snowden at snowdenkelle@sfasu.edu to reserve a spot.
