“This book puts a focus on our community and what happens when you’ve lost everything in the world and how you deal with survival,” said Niki Motley, a Hamilton resident organizing the event.
Written by Canadian author Emily St. John Mandel, the story follows the Traveling Symphony, a small troupe of Shakespearean actors and musicians who dedicate themselves to keeping remnants of art and humanity alive.
When the world ends, what is is that keeps people alive? The book explores this question by showing art, poetry and music capture culture and humanity and lead to a sufficient existence. The book even goes so far as to transcend dividing issues of race and religion to show that when it comes to survival, differences are irrelevant.
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The entire month of October is filled with events related to the novel, including a visit by the author to Hamilton.
Upcoming events include:
The Pod People Book Club: 6 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 11 at Lane Community Technology Center, 10 Journal Square. Discussion of "Station Eleven" and corresponding podcast, Apocalypse Prepping on a Budget by the New Yorker Radio Hour.
What's Art Got To Do With It: 6 p.m. Oct. 11 at Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park/Museum of Antiquities, 1763 Hamilton Cleves Road. Enjoy wine and cheese as leaders in Hamilton's art world discuss the impact of art in our daily lives. Guest speakers include: Ian Mackenzie-Thurley, executive director of the Fitton Center for Creative Arts; Paul Stanberry, music director of the Butler Philharmonic; and Jenn Acus-Smith, local artist and Street Spark program manager.
Art As Healing: noon to 1 p.m. Oct. 12 at the YWCA, 244 Dayton St. Learn how great works of recovery can evolve from art. Book review and brown bag lunch (bring your own).
Post-Apocalyptic Foraging: 10 to 11:30 a.m. Oct. 13 and Oct. 14 at Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park, 1763 Hamilton Cleves Road. Enjoy a walking tour for food in nature led by Mary Spillman, Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalist.
Make Art, Build Community, and Beware the Tyrant: Shakespearean Wisdom in 'Station Eleven': 7 p.m. Oct. 16 at Miami Regionals Hamilton Downtown, 221 High St. Dr. Tom Flanigan and Dr. Katie Kickel will present Shakespearean themes in this year's selected novel.
Deconstructing Books Workshop: 6:30 to 8 p.m. Oct. 18 at Sara's House, 254 High St. Learn to reuse books in a lovely, artistic way. Join us for a craft workshop learning to recycle old books with paper folding and making beautiful new art pieces. Fee applies. Registration required by calling 513-668-6789.
Totes & Quotes: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Oct. 20 at Lane Community Technology Center, 10 Journal Square. Decorate canvas bags and mugs with our favorite quotes and scenes from this year's One City One Book selection. All supplies will be provided and creator of the project that most aptly conveys the book will receive a prize. Ages 16 and older. Registration is required by calling 513-785-2727.
An Evening with 'Station Eleven' Author Emily St. John Mandel: 7 p.m. Oct. 22 at Miami Regionals Hamilton Wilks Conference Center, 1601 University Blvd. A discussion with the author of this year's book, moderated by Dr. Kelli Johnson, Miami University associate professor of English.
Plagues: Then and Now: 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 24 at Fort Hamilton Hospital, 850 Eaton Ave. Jennifer Mason, EMS coordinator, and Sonja Kranbuhl, Fort Hamilton Hospital Foundation director, will present the history of pandemics and the "containment of diseases" and current emergency response to biologic threats.
Storytelling and the Graphic Novel: 6 to 7 p.m. Oct. 25 at Future Great Comics, 528 Main St. Jordan Schotz presents an examination of storytelling through graphic novels such as the one presented in "Station Eleven."
Film: 'Contagion' (2011, PG-13): 7:30 p.m. Oct. 26 at Fitton Center for Creative Arts, 101 S. Monument Ave. Soon after her return from a business trip to Hong Kong, Beth Emhoff dies from what seems to be the flu. Her young son dies later the same day. Thus begins the spread of a deadly infection. As the contagion spreads to millions of people worldwide, societal order begins to break down as people panic.
Graphic Novel Workshop: 10 a.m. to noon Oct. 27 at Fitton Center for Creative Arts, 101 S. Monument Ave. Love comics and graphic novels? Then learn to create your own! This workshop will show participants strategies for writing and developing comics that will get you started on creating your own graphic novel. Learn basic techniques for outlining a plot, roughly storyboarding actions and events, laying out a page and inking penciled designs. Fee applies. Registration required by calling 513-863-8873.
Unless otherwise noted, all events are free and open to the public.
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