Tag Archives: BWW 45th Anniversary

BWW Celebrates 45 Years of Creative Community

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It was a beautiful day at Barrington’s White House to celebrate BWW’s 45th anniversary! Lots of stories got told and connections renewed amongst our community of writers and guests. Below are photos that capture some of the event and a poem by Jean Tolle, one of BWW’s founding mothers.

The day began with some BWW members gathered under the Catlow Theatre marquee honoring the occasion.

Inside Barrington’s White House BWW president Bev Ottaviano welcomes everyone and gives a champagne toast.

Barrington Village President Karen Darch reads a proclamation honoring the contributions of the Barrington Writers Workshop to the community.

Todd Arkenberg embraces one of BWW’s founding mothers, Jean Tolle.

Three panelists engaged the audience with their views on the writing life. They are from left Vu Tran, Rachel DeWoskin and Thomas Bradshaw.

BWW members celebrate 45 years together!

Here’s the poem Jean Tolle was inspired to write for the event. It includes a remembrance of some of those members who have passed. Let us all cherish the day.

Forty-Five Years!

by Jean Tolle

 Do they know how they

   inspired me

   encouraged me

   taught me?

  

  Gave me friendship?

 

Do they remember my

     stumbles

     lapses

     mistakes

 

     Gave me love?

 

For those I miss:
Jasmine Candlish, Linda Girard, Carol Scott, Vince Lombardo
Ray Spiess, Miriam Lykee, Marilyn Perry, Sollace Hotze
Gene Kimmet, Al Guthrie, Jack Roche

And others whose faces and work I recall, but whose names have skipped away.

 

 

Let’s Celebrate 45 Years of BWW!

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The Barrington Writers’ Workshop will be celebrating 45 years of creative community on June 17, 2023 beginning on the first floor of the White House in Barrington. Here’s what’s being planned for this fun and unforgettable event. Doors will open for BWW members and their ticketed guests at 1:00pm. BWW President Bev Ottaviano will give opening remarks at 1:30 followed with a champagne toast and appetizers. Barrington Village President Karen Darch will read a proclamation at 2:00pm honoring BWW’s history and ongoing influence in the village. This event is being held in collaboration with the Barrington Cultural Commission. Thank you, BCC.

At 2:30pm doors will open to public ticket holders for The Writing Life event to be held on the third floor of the White House. This portion of the BWW celebration will feature a panel discussion with distinguished authors and professors Vu Tran (University of Chicago), Rachel DeWoskin (University of Chicago) and Thomas Bradshaw (Northwestern University). The creative spirit in everyone will be inspired by topics including how a writer’s life constantly and unexpectedly dictates their artistic decisions, ways to be creatively brave and the role of the writer in today’s world.

Vu Tran

Vu Tran’s books include the Dragonfish and forthcoming novel, Your Origins. He teaches English and Creative Writing at the University of Chicago, where he is an Associate Professor of Practice in the Arts.

 

Author Rachel DeWoskin

Rachel DeWoskin

Rachel DeWoskin’s is a poet, former actor and author of Someday We Will Fly and Foreign Babes in Beijing. Three of her books are being developed for television. She is on the core creative writing faculty at the University of Chicago.

 

Playwright Thomas Bradshaw

Thomas Bradshaw

Thomas Bradshaw is a playwright, Guggenheim Fellowship recipient and professor in the MFA in Writing for the Screen and Stage program at Northwestern University. In addition to his several produced plays he served as a Consulting Producer on the Emmy and Peabody award winning Netflix mini-series When They See Us. He has had development deals with HBO/HARPO and FX/PLAN B, among others.

At 3:00pm the panel presentation will begin with a welcome and introductions by Rollin Potter, director of the Barrington Cultural Commission. A Question-and-Answer period will follow the presentation.

At the conclusion of the Q & A session guests will return to the first floor for a book sale and signing that will feature event speakers and BWW authors. A cash bar will be open until closing at 5:30pm.

For more information you may contact Bev Ottaviano or Mary Klest. There is no cost to BWW members. To purchase tickets for guests please visit The White House Events page at https://www.barringtonswhitehouse.com/events/ or call (224) 512-4066. Students 18 and under are FREE with paid adult admission. The White House is located at 145 West Main St in Barrington.

Enjoy the day!