Free speech advocate, long time street performer, and all around rabble rouser Stoney Burke will take his loveable wisecracks to the Hannon Library tomorrow for a night of political comedy.
Thursday, January 28
5:00 PM, Meese Room
Free Admission
Stoney Burke first gained notoriety as one of the top street performers in Berkley. Since the ‘70s, Burke has made a name for himself through his crowd engaging act. Some people do not respond favorably to Burke’s work. According to Burke, he has been “arrested so many times practicing my free speech, I would bore you with the truth of it all.”
For Burke, the art of street preforming is more important than simple entertainment. Burke explains, “…I suppose it’s an ongoing experiment to see if the first amendment actually works in person.” He later explains, “I’m a political satirist, so I try to take chances talking about politics that maybe other people wouldn’t. I’m kind of old fashion in the way that I believe in the first amendment like some people believe in the second amendment. I think it’s important to take chances and speak your mind.”
In an age where South Park plays on televisions across America, and now more than ever the FCC allows obscene content on the airwaves, one has to ask if free speech advocates are still needed. For Burke, the answer is yes.
“There are a lot of free speech battles going on all across the world. I mean, there are bloggers in Pakistan that can’t dare mention that they don’t agree with religion. There’s school books in Tennessee that are being banned because they mentioned gay people.” he elaborates, “I’m not a big advocate of just saying the f word or b word. I mean, you can go to [my] book, I think there’s like one swear word. So I don’t think it’s a matter of doing the most gross [things]. Obviously my point is to enlighten people, not shock people.”
In addition to performing, Burke will also promote his latest book, Weapon:Mouth, My Adventures in the Free Speech Zone. In the book, Burke recounts his long career as an activist, street performer, and actor.
Burke will give away copies to guests that answer trivia questions correctly, and he will likely to sell and sign books at Omar’s afterwards.
Burke will present in the Hannon Library Meese Room at 5 PM. You can find Burke’s book Weapon:Mouth, My Adventures in the Free Speech Zone on Amazon.com.
By Alex Mesadieu
Travel to Cuba
Events & ProgramsWhat is it like for Americans to travel to Cuba? Come to this free presentation and learn all about it from world traveler Michael Goldman.
Thursday, February 18
5:30-6:30 PM
Meese Room
Goldman has traveled to twenty-two countries on four continents. He will share the ins and outs of the Cuban way of life while displaying dozens of photos taken during his journeys there. He will reveal how to connect with locals in Cuba, join in their culture, and have fun.
“Visiting Cuba was a joyful experience…the Cuban
people love Americans, they love to have fun and they love to share their music, art and passion. Although they do not have much in the way of money, technology or materials, what they lack in these things they more than make up with family, friends and old-fashioned simple pleasures. They drink rum, smoke cigars, play music, dance and have a passion that makes you wonder who has the better life, the rich American with his money, career, and smart phone, or they, who live with their children, parents and grandparents together in households filled with love and devotion.”
Michael Goldman
This event is free and open to the public, sponsored by the Friends of Hannon Library as part of their 2015-16 Speaker Series. Free parking will be available in the lot behind the library. For more information, contact Hannon Library Administration at libraryevents@sou.edu or 541-552-6816.
New Photography Exhibit
Displays & ExhibitsHannon Library is delighted to host this new collection of photography by student artist, Donica Burdette. This exhibit is on display in the library’s Retzlaff Gallery, located on the third floor, through March 2016.
I enjoy taking photos in my free time, usually in places where I am centered and calm. Photography has always been a creative outlet that I can partake in without the pressures of painting on a canvas. I’m directly capturing something that already beautifully exists in its essence. The photos design themselves since compositions, colors, shadows, and lines are already present in our world, it’s just my personal enjoyment to capture them.
I am a senior and art major here at SOU and have chosen painting and drawing as my core focus of study. With these mediums, I enjoy making organically inspired, imagined forms. Photography acts as a separate outlet to channel my creativity, where I can utilize my artistic skills and balance my visual processes.
I’ve never displayed my photography publicly and was excited and nervous to put together an exhibit for the Retzlaff Gallery in Hannon Library. Printing, matting, and hanging the images were new yet educating processes that I hope to do again.
~ By Donica Burdette
A Night of Political Comedy
Events & ProgramsFree speech advocate, long time street performer, and all around rabble rouser Stoney Burke will take his loveable wisecracks to the Hannon Library tomorrow for a night of political comedy.
Thursday, January 28
5:00 PM, Meese Room
Free Admission
Stoney Burke first gained notoriety as one of the top street performers in Berkley. Since the ‘70s, Burke has made a name for himself through his crowd engaging act. Some people do not respond favorably to Burke’s work. According to Burke, he has been “arrested so many times practicing my free speech, I would bore you with the truth of it all.”
For Burke, the art of street preforming is more important than simple entertainment. Burke explains, “…I suppose it’s an ongoing experiment to see if the first amendment actually works in person.” He later explains, “I’m a political satirist, so I try to take chances talking about politics that maybe other people wouldn’t. I’m kind of old fashion in the way that I believe in the first amendment like some people believe in the second amendment. I think it’s important to take chances and speak your mind.”
In an age where South Park plays on televisions across America, and now more than ever the FCC allows obscene content on the airwaves, one has to ask if free speech advocates are still needed. For Burke, the answer is yes.
“There are a lot of free speech battles going on all across the world. I mean, there are bloggers in Pakistan that can’t dare mention that they don’t agree with religion. There’s school books in Tennessee that are being banned because they mentioned gay people.” he elaborates, “I’m not a big advocate of just saying the f word or b word. I mean, you can go to [my] book, I think there’s like one swear word. So I don’t think it’s a matter of doing the most gross [things]. Obviously my point is to enlighten people, not shock people.”
Burke will give away copies to guests that answer trivia questions correctly, and he will likely to sell and sign books at Omar’s afterwards.
Burke will present in the Hannon Library Meese Room at 5 PM. You can find Burke’s book Weapon:Mouth, My Adventures in the Free Speech Zone on Amazon.com.
By Alex Mesadieu
Annual Southern Oregon Reading Another Success
Events & ProgramsSave the Date!
Events & Programs, Library NewsGet your calendars out and mark the date! The 2016 Book Fest is set for Saturday, October 8. This will be our 5th annual festival, and we’re looking forward to rolling out a great event for the wonderful literary community of Southern Oregon. We’ll have some blasts from the past as well as exciting changes, so stay tuned for more information.
If you would like to be on our mailing list for announcements, including early notification when applications open, send an email to libraryevents@sou.edu.