Legendary Cartoonist Lynda Barry in Conversation at Purchase College
Purchase College-SUNY will present Lynda Barry in conversation with Professor Robin Lynch – The Unthinkable Mind: Why Art Persists, on Thurs., Oct. 28, 2021, from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. The program, which is free and open to the public, will be dual delivery via Zoom webinar and in-person. The in-person event will take place at the Purchase College Humanities Theatre, Humanities Building, 735 Anderson Hill Road, Purchase, NY. Registration is required for both the webinar and in-person formats. Ms. Barry has been named this year’s Roy and Shirley Durst Distinguished Chair in Literature and will be participating in other upcoming events at Purchase College.
Lynda Barry is a leading cartoonist, writer, illustrator, playwright, and editor. Her comic strip, Ernie Pook’s Comeek, is a beloved classic, having been syndicated in alternative weeklies for more than two decades. She has authored 21 books, worked as a commentator for NPR, and had a regular monthly feature in Esquire, Mother Jones Magazine, Mademoiselle, and Salon.
Ms. Barry’s most recent book, Making Comics, was awarded the 2020 Eisner Award for Best Comics-Related Book + Best Publication Design. Her many awards and fellowships include the American Library Association’s Alex Award, the 2017 Milton Caniff Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Cartoonists Society, and a MacArthur Fellowship.
“Lynda Barry’s vibrant and original integration of media embodies the Purchase College ideal, bringing together the arts and liberal arts to inspire creativity and understanding,” said Aviva Taubenfeld, associate professor of Literature and director of the School of Humanities at Purchase. “As we return to campus after the traumas of the past year and a half, we are honored to have Barry help us draw and write our way back to joy.”
Anthony Domestico, an associate professor of Literature at Purchase and chair of the Literature Department, added, “The Roy and Shirley Durst Distinguished Chair in Literature is a unique position, allowing for a year-long relationship to develop between an artist and the Purchase community. We’re all looking forward to writing and drawing and thinking and imagining with Lynda Barry for the next two semesters.”
To register for the in-person event, visit https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf6-psMiYx7BVN12f_Fw1fo4_QU4RD7y0FC9ktOZy-3dCOmsA/viewform. Please note: Seats are limited and will be confirmed via email; all campus visitors and event attendees must show proof of vaccination or submit a negative PCR test within the last 72 hours.
Advance registration is also required for the webinar. To register, please visit: https://purchase.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ZMC4UtvSQLygWBBmN1Kr_g
As a small public college, Purchase is proud to introduce students to the level of expertise provided by the Durst Distinguished Lectures. Current and past Durst Lecturers have won an impressive array of the highest level of literary honors, including National Book Awards, MacArthur Foundation Grants, Pulitzer Prizes, Guggenheim Foundation Fellowships and Man Booker Prizes for Fiction.
The Durst Distinguished Lecture Series and the Roy and Shirley Durst Distinguished Chair in Literature are funded by the Roy and Shirley Durst Distinguished Chair in Literature Endowment. The mission of the Durst programs is to infuse the experience and intellect of leading writers into the Purchase community, while providing diverse opportunities for these writers to interact with students and influence campus life.
This season of Durst Distinguished Lectures will conclude with author Kaitlyn Greenidge on Nov. 9 in a virtual program. Other acclaimed guests will be featured in the spring as part of the series, which is a highlight of the Westchester cultural calendar.
For more information, please visit: https://www.purchase.edu/academics/school-of-humanities/lectures/durst-distinguished-lectures/; call 914.251.6550, or email [email protected].
About The Purchase PAC
Experience. Something. Real. The Performing Arts Center, Purchase College The Performing Arts Center, Purchase College (The Purchase PAC) is a four-theatre complex on the campus of Purchase College, SUNY, located 30 miles north of New York City in Westchester County, NY. The Purchase PAC is the hub of a creative community that brings together internationally acclaimed artists and rising stars, academic leaders and students of all ages, and community groups and individuals who recognize the power of the performing arts to spark creativity and connection. Professional Presenting Season The Purchase PAC presents a broad range of world-class performances by professional artists, offering music, dance, theatre, family programming, comedy, and film. Music events range from classical to jazz to pop and feature the leading artists of our time as well as emerging stars. As the major regional presenter of dance, programs have included only area appearances of several important traditional, contemporary, and folkloric companies. Theatre presentations reflect a deep commitment to presenting innovative ensembles, with a special focus on theatre for young audiences. The Purchase PAC’s ongoing initiatives also encompass artist partnerships, residency activities, and commissions. We support revitalizing efforts in the community to make the arts more accessible to broad and diverse audiences. Education & Engagement Through our Education and Engagement programs, The Purchase PAC creates opportunities for local K -12 students and multi-generational learners to participate in the artistic process. Purchase College The Purchase PAC is an integral part of the Purchase College community, hosting performances for the Conservatories of Music, Dance, and Theatre Arts. Purchase College students can take advantage of master classes, on-site training, internships, job opportunities, and ticket discounts. Facility Rentals An active facility rental business focuses on providing space and support to high-quality musical recordings, technical rehearsals, and community events.