Guo, Barry, Global Georgia Initiative

The Willson Center for Humanities and Arts continues its stellar role of bringing distinguished guests to campus. This week offers terrific examples, beginning today with Irish author Kevin Barry:

Barry, author of the critically acclaimed 2011 novel "City of Bohane," will give a reading Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. at Ciné, 234 W. Hancock Ave. The event is hosted by the Jane and Harry Willson Center for Humanities and Arts in partnership with the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences department of English, and British and Irish Studies at UGA.

In addition to "City of Bohane," Barry has published two short story collections: "There Are Little Kingdoms" (2007) and "Dark Lies the Island" (2012). He won the 2013 International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award for "City of Bohane" and the 2007 Rooney Prize for Irish Literature for "There Are Little Kingdoms." Barry has also won the European Union Prize for Literature and the Authors' Club Best First Novel Award, and was shortlisted for the Costa First Novel Award.

Then for events on Thursdy and Friday, we're especialy looking forward to the first UGA visit by author and filmmaker Xiaolu Guo:

Guo will visit UGA Feb. 27–28 to present a screening and discussion of her film, UFO in Her Eyes, as well as a public lecture and conversation about her writing and films. The events are part of the 2014 Global Georgia Initiative, a program of the Jane and Harry Willson Center for Humanities and Arts.

The screening of the 2011 film will take place Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. at Ciné, 234 W. Hancock Ave. After the film, Guo will participate in a discussion with Antje Ascheid, an associate professor in the theatre and film studies department and the Willson Center’s associate academic director for arts and public programs, and Andrew Zawacki, an associate professor of English and director of UGA’s creative writing program. A public reception in the CinéLab will follow the screening and discussion.

On Feb. 28 at 4 p.m.,  Guo will lead the interactive talk “Beyond Chinamerica” in Room 148 of the Miller Learning Center. The discusison will be moderated by Karin Myhre, an associate professor of comparative literature.

These lectures are free and open to the public. Come out this week and take advantage of these great opportunities.