Poet, author on campus as artist in residence

Poet, spoken word artist and children’s book author Juan Felipe Herrera will be in residence on campus this week, through Saturday, April 12.

Herrera is a poet, performer, writer, cartoonist, teacher and activist who draws from real-life experiences as well as years of education to inform his work. He is currently a professor of creative writing at the University of California, Riverside.

Herrera will give a free public performance at 8 p.m. on Thursday, April 10, at the Hemsley Theatre in Vilas Hall. His weeklong residency is sponsored by the Arts Institute in cooperation with the Center for Humanities.

“The Center for the Humanities is very excited to co-sponsor this exciting residency,” says Lara Kain, Center for Humanities associate director. “He will provide a unique and inspiring experience both for the UW campus and the greater Madison community.”

The Center for Humanities is planning a Humanities NOW forum on the topic of immigration during Herrera’s visit. Since he began writing poetry, plays and children’s books, Herrera’s work has been devoted to the politics and identity issues of Latin American/U.S. immigration in the Latino/Chicano communities.

This includes his immensely popular children’s book, “Super Cilantro Girl/La superniña del cilantro,” and his most recent book of poetry, “187 Reasons Mexicanos Can’t Cross the Border.”

Herrera’s schedule includes visits to classes focusing on theater for young audiences, theater for cultural and social awareness, Mexico in the Chicano/a literary imagination, children’s literature and Chicano/a cultural studies.

Also being planned is a “mini-residency” at Lowell Elementary School on Madison’s east side. Lowell has a diverse population, including children whose first language is Spanish, and is very enthusiastic about having a guest artist.

More information can be found at Juan Felipe Herrera Residency. Contact Kate Hewson, 263-9290, with questions.