GAINES CENTER FALL
NOVEMBER 1, 2018
NEWSLETTER THE GAINES CENTER WELCOMES 12 NEW FELLOWS Greetings from the Gaines Center for Humanities! This fall 2018 semester has been a busy one, as we’ve welcomed 12 new fellows into the Gaines Fellowship Program. These fellows come from all different majors and colleges across campus and that diversity is reflected in their junior-year jury projects, which they began introducing just last week. Since their initial orientation, the fellows have been busy with their seminar work, focusing on Memory, Memorial, and Identity. In the month of October the fellows traveled to the Lancaster Estate and enjoyed an informational tour with Dr. Paul Holbrook. Earlier that month, the fellows heard from Nate Cortas and Alyssa Mertka, who were awarded the European Travel Scholarship and shared their experiences over dinner with the fellows and faculty. A special thanks to Mrs. Zolondek for continuing to support that transformative experience for students. The annual holiday dinner for the Gaines Fellows will be hosted this year at Mayor Jim Gray’s home where the students will have an opportunity to view his private art collection and experience a personalized tour of the Courthouse renovation in Downtown Lexington. Finally, in early December the students will gather together for one final dinner to discuss overlaps and connections across their fall seminar units. Next semester the fellows can look forward to an equally stimulating seminar course as we welcome the Director of the School of Visual Studies, Dr. Robert Jensen, to teach their first unit. We are thrilled to continue to offer these seminal experiences for students and expect this new class to accomplish great things both here at the University and beyond.
2018 Bale Boone Symposium Fills the Worsham Theatre On September 17th , celebrated author and presidential historian Jon Meacham came to campus for the annual Bale Boone Symposium and spoke to a packed Worsham Theatre in the new Gatton Student Center. Lexington Mayor Jim Gray and countless other community members came out in droves to hear his remarks on the current political climate and where we can go from here as informed citizens. This event served as the capstone to the statewide literacy initiative Kentucky Reads: “All the King’s Men,” and was a wonderful collaboration with the Kentucky Humanities Council. Mr. Meacham combined humor and history to speak on everything from race to regional culture and the legacy and continued relevance of Robert Penn Warren’s work and his impact on literature and American culture. The lecture was followed by a reception where Mr. Meacham visited with guests and signed copies of his new book The Soul of America: The Battle for Our Better Angels.
The Gaines Fellows Return to China In May of this year, the current seniors traveled to China for the fourth consecutive year through a continued partnership with the UK Confucius Institute. Students flew into Beijing where they explored the Great Wall and the Temple of Heaven. They then took the Fast Rail Train from Beijing to Xi’an where they took in the breathtaking Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses. Finally, they concluded their two-week journey in Shanghai, where they explored the Ming Gardens, and the Oriental Pearl Tower. Throughout the experience, students were asked to submit daily reflections to help articulate the experience. Senior Alyssa Mertka writes, “Suzhou itself was a cacophony for the senses. Various smells wafted from restaurants, exhaust pipes, and gutters. As we entered the Humble Administrators Garden, the sounds and smells melted away and were replaced by a whole new assortment. Gray clouds hung over us as we walked through the gardens, but we only received a light sprinkling that felt refreshing in the heat.” The Center is currently developing a program for summer 2019 and we look forward to providing another international experience for the rising juniors.
A Message from the Gaines Center Associate Director Greetings from the Raymond Betts House! My name is Chelsea Brislin and as of September 17th, I am serving as the Associate Director for the Gaines Center. As a UK alumna myself, I am thrilled to take on this responsibility. I graduated from the College of Fine Arts (Art History and French) in 2011 and went on to earn my MA in Interdisciplinary Humanities from New York University. Most recently I completed my PhD in English here at UK through the College of Arts and Sciences. I have taught and researched extensively in my field of Appalachian literature and representation and have worked in UK administration since 2012, serving as the Recruitment Director for the Lewis Honors College (formerly the Honors Program) and the Director of Honors Pathways in the Gatton College of Business. I am thrilled to share that just this month we launched the search for the new Gaines Center Director and I feel confident that the process will move swiftly and smoothly. Until then, I will continue to work hard to preserve the vastly important traditions and culture of the Gaines Center, and hope to connect with important alumni like you along the way.