October 15, 2024

Written in the Stars cover
Kansans have long looked to the stars to define who we are. Ad astra per aspera, "To the stars through difficulty," reveals our aspirational visions grounded in a prairie sensibility. Through poetry, Written in the Stars continues this look toward the celestial to find connection and inspiration.

Humanities Kansas has invited Grant Wood Printmaking Fellow Matthew Willie Garcia to participate in an event featuring the current U.S. Poet Laureate. This event, In Praise of Mystery: An Evening with U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón, will take place on October 17, 2024, at the Stiefel Theatre for the Performing Arts. The event is being held to celebrate the release of Written in the Stars, of which both Limón and Garcia are a part.

The chapbook features 10 poems that reflect upon the stars and planets of the Kansas night sky with original illustrations by Garcia. Two essays and guiding questions engage readers in humanities-themed conversations. Edited by Megan Kaminski with poetry by Traci Brimhall, Megan Kaminski, Michael Kleber-Diggs, Hyejung Kook, Limón, Jesse Nathan, Elise Paschen, Naomi Shihab Nye, William Stafford, and Kevin Young. Essays Megan Kaminski and Christopher Auner.

...The celestial prompts us to reflect upon the passing of time, of what has been, and to speculate on what could be. The universe tells its story through these lights, and we see our own lives reflected in them.—Megan Kaminski, editor of Written in the Stars

Edited by Megan Kaminski with poetry by Traci Brimhall, Megan Kaminski, Michael Kleber-Diggs, Hyejung Kook, Ada Limón, Jesse Nathan, Elise Paschen, Naomi Shihab Nye, William Stafford, and Kevin Young. Essays Megan Kaminski and Christopher Auner.

The United States Poet Laureate Ada Limón will join Humanities Kansas, the Salina Art Center, Salina Arts and Humanities, and The Stiefel Theatre for a free poetry reading. This will be her first poetry reading in Kansas since becoming the 24th Poet Laureate of the United States in 2022. A book signing is planned for after the poetry.

Written in the Stars is made possible by the Friends of Humanities Kansas, the Sunflower Foundation, Kansas Tourism, and the Greater Salina Community Foundation.

 Learn more about the chapbook by visiting the Humanities Kansas website.

Learn more about the poetry reading by visiting the event link.