A New Portrait of Carson

Copyright Sharon Watts.

Several days ago this new image of Carson popped up on the internet, and I liked it, so I tracked down its source and learned that the artist is Sharon Watts, who gave me permission to post it here. Thought y'all might enjoy seeing it, too.

HAPPY 93rd BIRTHDAY, CARSON!

From sister Rita Smith's introduction to The Mortgaged Heart --

[Carson] loved any occasion, any kind of to-do, such as a party or Christmas, and she loved to plan for them. She was planning a party when she died. Other women might dread birthdays, but they were big events in her life. With her hair freshly washed, she would put on one of her best robes and wait for the telegrams, flowers, and -- most important -- the presents. In the South, if one had no intention of giving a birthday present or a Christmas present, a card was sent. Carson hated cards because it meant that the sender was not going to give her a present.

Faculty-Student Reading Series

The parlors of the Smith-McCullers House were filled last evening with students and faculty members there to hear readings by ...


Dr. Aaron Sanders, featured faculty reader, and ...


Deena Brabant, featured student reader.

For Frankie

1519 Stark Avenue, Columbus, Georgia, February 13, 2010

From The Member of the Wedding --

John Henry had seen snow. Although he was only six years old, he had gone to Birmingham last winter, and there he had seen snow. Frankie had never seen snow.

...

[Frankie] could hold the snow globe to her narrowed eyes and watch the whirling white flakes fall until they blinded her. She dreamed of Alaska. She walked up a cold white hill and looked on a snowy wasteland far below. She watched the sun make colors in the ice, and heard dream voices, saw dream things. And everywhere there was the cold white gentle snow.

The Famous Carson/Marilyn/Isak Party

An article in Barnes & Noble Review reminded me that today, February 5, is the anniversary of the famous party Carson hosted at her house in Nyack, back in 1959. You know the party -- the one whose guest list included Isak Dinesen, Marilyn Monroe, and Arthur Miller, among others. We have a photograph of said party on exhibit in the McCullers House in Columbus. Read this very interesting account here.

Salinger on REFLECTIONS set?

Today's Huffington Post features an article by the acclaimed photographer Pat York, who took still photographs during the filming of Reflections in a Golden Eye. She reports that J.D. Salinger was present on the set! Read this very interesting piece here.

Robert Morgan was TERRIFIC last week, by the way.

If you notice that the walls look bare, let me explain that it's because we had to remove many of the exhibit panels in order to re-plaster and paint. This gave us an opportunity to re-visit the exhibits, though, so that's what we're doing. Stay tuned for an invitation to an unveiling of the "revisitation" when it's done.

In the meantime, we're still in full operation at the Carson McCullers Center for Writers and Musicians. Y'all come see us soon!

-- Cathy