In the Company of Wolves

I became involved with the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame because I believe that Chicago has an important literary legacy deserving of attention. After two induction ceremonies where we celebrated historical writers, it was time to look at the contribution of writers living and working in Chicago.

The Fuller Award (Photo by 8 Eyes Photography)

After some discussion, it was unanimous, and we moved forward to create a new award, the Fuller, to honor a lifetime contribution to Chicago literature. (You can read more about the significance and symbolism of the award here.)

Poster & sculpture design by M.C. Matz (www.mcmatz.com)

There was no question in my mind that Gene Wolfe should be the person to receive the first Fuller Award.

His work is rich, innovative fiction worthy to stand beside many of the literary giants that have shaped not only Chicago’s literature, but modern literature as a whole.

There was briefly a question of “genre writing,” but if we take a look at the literary landscape, the fantastic is an important part of it. Homer, the greatest epic poet of Ancient Greece wrote about Odysseus’ adventures among gods and men. Dante’s La Divina Commedia drew upon medieval Christian mythology in a journey through Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven. Shakespeare incorporated folklore and fairies into his plays. Edgar Allen Poe, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Oscar Wilde all introduced elements of the supernatural in their works.

Considered to be some of literature’s greatest writers, many of their stories would likely be considered Fantasy and Science Fiction by today’s genre classification. Somewhere along the way, mainstream literature became aligned with realism, but if we look back on the literary spectrum, we see that much of it is saturated with the unknown, the mysterious—the fantastic.

Gene’s work is like that—fantastic and significant.

After talking with Gene and receiving his gracious acceptance, I corresponded with Neil Gaiman. A long-time champion of Gene’s writing, he was my touchstone. After Neil, I contacted others: writers, editors, family, friends; and they responded with overwhelming enthusiasm.

Again and again they confirmed what I believed, that people love Gene Wolfe.  Upon meeting Gene, a respect for the writer and his words evolves into a genuine affection for the man.

March 17, 2012 brought us a day of unseasonably warm weather and sunshine. We headed toward Barrington Hills, stopping for a delicious lunch at the Happy Buddha; and as I looked around the table during our meal, I was once again reminded how blessed I am to have these dear friends in my life. Many of them had been up late the night before, helping me to fold, cut, paste, and package. Even friends who couldn’t attend the event had pitched in to help in during the months before the event. (Thank you!)

A few quick errands, and we arrived at the Sanfilippo Estate for final touches and setup.

I love this photo of Trillian Stars in front of one of the many steam engines on the Sanfilippo grounds. (Photo by Kyle Cassidy.)

Soon after the guests arrived, and while I waited for Neil and Maria Dahvana Headley in the Carousel Pavilion, I received texts from the folks at the house with updates on guests’ arrivals and the progress of signings and check-in.

Teri Goulding pins the boutonnière on her father, Gene Wolfe. (Photo by Carl Hertz)

Bill Shunn Michael Swanwick, and James Wynn have already posted their accounts of the evening, accompanied by photos and videos.

Lawrence Santoro signs the beautiful commemorative posters created by M.C. Matz. (Photo by 8 Eyes Photography)

Others will surely do the same, and in many ways their perspective is better than mine because they entered into the evening as participants, stepping into the “container” that I helped to create with the assistance of talented friends. It’s like a magic trick, best enjoyed by the audience (but savored in a different way by those who know the trick).

Terra Mysterium (photo by 8 Eyes Photography)

The afternoon was a whirlwind of rehearsals, tours, photos, and the eventual start of the ceremony.

Gary K. Wolfe (Photo by 8 Eyes Photography)

After Gary K. Wolfe’s inspired introduction, Neil’s reading of “A Solar Labyrinth,” and his heartfelt presentation of the Fuller, Gene took the stage.

Neil Gaiman and Gene Wolfe (Photo by 8 Eyes Photography)

His speech was so gracious and genuine, so smart and witty—so very Gene.

Gene Wolfe (Photo by 8 Eyes Photography)

After Gene’s speech, I knew I could relax. I never doubted that Terra Mysterium’s performance of Gene Wolfe’s “The Toy Theater” (adapted by Lawrence Santoro) would be wonderful, and it was.

The Toy Theater, performed by Terra Mysterium (Photo by 8 Eyes Photography)

Once the organist R. Jelani Eddington took the stage, I slipped into the foyer where I could still hear the music.

Maria Dahvana Headley and Valya Dudycz Lupescu (Photo by Carl Hertz)

A small group of us had gathered there: Neil, Peter Straub, Carl and Mark, Audrey, Kyle, and Maria, and 8 Eyes Photography.

Neil and Valya (Photo by Carl Hertz)

Neil told me that Amanda had called at precisely the moment when one of the marionettes was singing “Coin-Operated Boy” during the audio-play. It made me smile. Neil had been such an invaluable ally, and I liked being able to slip in a little echo of Amanda into the evening; the song was a perfect addition to the story and the setting.

Neil Gaiman and Audrey Niffenegger (Photo by Carl Hertz)

So much followed, from fun photos on the grand staircase to the Great Coat Closet Party of ’12, while in the adjoining music salon Jelani played Star Wars on the 8,000-pipe Wurlitzer.

Great Coat Closet Party of ’12, (Photo by Carl Hertz)

I love this incredible circle of creative people in my life. They don’t all appear in the photos here, but I remember their contribution. I couldn’t have done it without them. The evening was proof that together we can make magic.

Kyle Cassidy, Valya Dudycz Lupescu, Trillian Stars, Peter and Beth Sagal, Neil Gaiman, Maria Dahvana Headley (Photo by 8 Eyes Photography)

After the performance and more photos, we moved to the magnificent Carousel Pavilion which looked so lovely lit up in antique lights. Chef Jeramie Campana of Wild Asparagus and his team treated us to a delicious meal.

(Photo by 8 Eyes Photography)

Peter Sagal was the perfect toastmaster, fabricating quirky biographical anecdotes for each speaker as he introduced them.

Peter Sagal (Photo by 8 Eyes Photography)

Each of the Special Guests who took to the podium offered his or her own perspective on Gene and his work, beginning with Gene’s daughter, Teri Goulding, who talked about how proud her mother, Rosemary, would have been.

Therese Goulding (Photo by 8 Eyes Photography)

Rosemary was not well enough to attend, and her absence was felt by all who loved Gene. In my own small way I had had tried to include her by attaching a few small sprigs of rosemary to Gene’s boutonniere.

Luis Urrea (Photo by 8 Eyes Photography)
Dr. Elizabeth A. Hull (Photo by 8 Eyes Photography)
Jody Lynn Nye (Photo by 8 Eyes Photography)

Following the speeches, dinner, dessert, and cordials, Greg Leifel, the Foundation Director at Sanfilippo announced that guests could ride the antique carousel. The crowd cheered, loudly, then ran to stand in line. What followed is best expressed in a few photos:

Michael Dirda (Photo by 8 Eyes Photography)
Terra Mysterium (Photo by 8 Eyes Photography)
Jill Thompson, Neil Gaiman, and Kyle Cassidy (Photo by 8 Eyes Photography)

Joy. Wonder. You can see it reflected on their faces in photos and in this video by Bill Shunn:

That carousel evoked such a joyful response. I could think of no better way to end an evening that honored a man whose stories delight so many people. To see his face lit up, to see him so happy—it was the perfect way to close the night.

Gene Wolfe and Rebecca Bushong-Taylor (Photo by 8 Eyes Photography)

Maura Henn, and Kyle and Trillian, were staying with us, and some of the guests met us back at our home. Joined by Peter Straub, Gary K. Wolfe and Stacie Hanes, Jennifer Stevenson, and others, we had cocktails, wine, and cheese, and sat around the living room relaxing in various stages of exhaustion and inspiration.

Then it was over.

When the house was quiet, Kyle, Maura, and Mark chatted while I fell asleep on the couch. In the morning it was like a fantastic dream.

I’ve been eagerly awaiting photos from the evening. Slowly they have begun to appear online.

(Photo by 8 Eyes Photography)
Maura Henn, Maria Dahvana Headley, Valya Dudycz Lupescu, Trillian Stars (Photo by 8 Eyes Photography)

The photos help to make it more concrete, just as writing this blog entry helps to tether it to reality, as if written words can keep An Evening to Honor Gene Wolfe from drifting off into that nebulous realm of dreams and memories.

In life, we are lucky to meet people who inspire us. Sometimes we encounter them through their work—stories and images that strike a chord. Sometimes we are lucky enough to have them for friends. This weekend was filled with both.

Valya Dudycz Lupescu, Gene Wolfe, Walter Dudycz (Photo by 8 Eyes Photography)

Thank you to everyone who helped to make it happen.

More pictures from the evening can be found at: 8 Eyes Photography

And more accounts of the evening by:

William Shunn

Michael Swanwick

Magic and Mischief

Trillian Stars

Win Two Dinner Tickets For An Evening to Honor Gene Wolfe

Wolfsword Press and the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame are sponsoring a contest to win 2 dinner tickets for An Evening to Honor Gene Wolfe held on March 17, 2012, at the Sanfilippo Estate in Barrington Hills, IL.

The evening celebrates the lifetime literary achievement of writer Gene Wolfe as he receives the first Fuller Award. The steampunk scifi literary extravaganza features performances by Terra Mysterium and R. Jelani Eddington. Special guests for the evening include: Gene Wolfe (of course!), Peter Sagal, Gary K. Wolfe, Neil Gaiman, Peter Straub, Michael Dirda Audrey Niffenegger, Luis Urrea, Kyle Cassidy, and so many more! (For more information on the event click here.)

GENE WOLFE WILL SELECT THE WINNER FROM THE FINALISTS!

The winner will be announced on our website by March 1. This will give everyone else time to purchase their tickets (Ticket sales end on March 5, 2012!)

THE CONTEST: Write a flash fiction story that features a wolf (or a Wolfe). This “theme” can be interpreted as broadly as you wish. The story must be at least 100 words but no more than 250 words (that includes the title). The story can be of any genre. It must be previously unpublished (that means in print or online).

The deadline is Friday, February 24, 2012 at 11:59pm CST. Any email submissions sent after that time will be deleted without consideration.

Send your submission in the body of the email (EMAILS WITH ATTACHMENTS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED!) along with your name, address, telephone number, and email address to [email protected]

A FEW FLASH FICTION TIPS 

Sometimes called sudden fiction, microfiction, or short shorts, the length of flashes can vary. For our purposes, the flash cannot exceed 250 words. Flashes should still contain classic story elements: protagonist, conflict, and resolution. The limited word length, however, dictates that some elements will remain unwritten or implied in the written story.

DISCLAIMER AND OFFICIAL INFORMATION:

      • Winner must provide his/her own transportation: airfare, bus fare, train fare, llama, airship.
      • If you are unable to attend, there is no substitution prize. You may, however, gift your tickets to someone else.

Good luck to you! We look forward to reading your stories and hope to see you on March 17th!

Conglomerations and Creative Ripples

Some moments make creative ripples in the Universe.

They may be quiet affairs of a half dozen or less people. They may be large gatherings, well-publicized and documented for posterity. Sometimes all we have are whispers, hints of an evening in letters and diaries.

• In the 1930s, J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis and the other “Inklings” met on Thursday evenings in C.S. Lewis’s rooms at Magdalen College. They also met on Tuesday nights at the Eagle and Child pub (affectionately known as the “Bird and Baby”) in a private back room for conversation and drinks.

• In Paris in the early 1900s , Gertrude Stein and her brother Leo hosted Saturday night dinner parties at their home. On any given Saturday, Picasso, Ezra Pound, Ernest Hemmingway, Alice B. Toklas, and others gathered.

• In Taos, New Mexico, Mabel Dodge Luhan and her husband welcomed poets and writers into their home for the second half of the twentieth century. Their guests included D. H. Lawrence, Ansel Adams, Willa Cather, Georgia O’Keeffe, and more.

• The Algonquin Round Table was the infamous setting for the wisecracks and witticisms of Dorothy Parker, Alexander Woollcott, Robert Benchley, Edna Ferber, and 24 other members.

• On June 11, 1965, American and European beat poets performed at the Royal Albert Hall for an impromptu event – the International Poetry Incarnation – that some argued marked the birth of London’s gestating counterculture.

Creative ripples.

Sketch of Gene Wolfe by Murray Ewing

On March 17, 2012, the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame will present its first-ever Fuller Award to Gene Wolfe, a brilliant writer whose work engages the imaginations of readers all over the world.

At the Sanfilippo Estate, guests are coming from all over the country to honor Gene Wolfe. In attendance will be: Neil Gaiman, Peter Sagal, Gary K. Wolfe, Audrey Niffenegger, Peter Straub, Michael Swanwick, Michael Dirda, Luis Urrea, and more.

There will be writers, artists, dancers, musicians, photographers, journalists, chefs, knitters, sculptors, and patrons from around Chicago—steampunk to hippy, gothic to folk, some in college and others well into their retirement. It’s going to be an incredible gathering of creative people, and you are invited.

When people talk about the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame’s first Fuller Award Ceremony, will you be able to recount your memory of Gene Wolfe receiving the award statue from Neil Gaiman? Or share a snippet of your conversation over the sweet table with one of your favorite living writers? Or recall the moving speeches and witty toasts given by some of Gene’s closest friends?

When people talk about an Evening to Honor Gene Wolfe at the steampunk mansion with the living marionettes and Gene’s words brought to life on stage and accompanied by the world’s largest restored five manual Mighty Wurlitzer, will you be able to say that you were there?

I hope you will.

Because like the musical machines collected by Jasper Sanfilippo at his “Place de la Musique,” this event is made more remarkable by the diversity of its parts, an audience coming together not only to honor a brilliant writer, but also to celebrate the whimsy and delight of art and imagination.

Join us for an evening that is sure to be wonder-filled.

Register for An Evening to Honor Gene Wolfe at the Sanfilippo Estate in Barrington Hills, IL  on Eventbrite