Events at this location

Join us for an evening with writers John Cotter and Shanna Compton as they read from their recent works and engage in a dynamic conversation about language, perception, and shifting terrains of the senses. In dialogue with the 2025 NEA Big Read selection Deaf Republic by Ilya Kaminsky, Cotter and Compton will discuss their own work’s relation to sensory loss, adaptation, and poetic expression. Through readings, discussion, a collage slide show, and conversation with the audience, the writers will delve into how writing can give voice to altered perception and how language, music, and art are tools for navigating sensory change.

REGISTER HERE

Presented in partnership by SPACE and Mechanics’ Hall with the NEA Big Read of Deaf Republic, this event invites explorations of how we listen, perceive, and communicate.

In Ilya Kaminsky’s Deaf Republic, puppets serve as a form of resistance. As we explore our connections to community and collective action, we invite you to join us for an all-ages workshop that delves into a unique form of puppetry: the crankie.

A crankie is a moving panorama or story—an illustrated scroll that is often illuminated from behind.

During this workshop we’ll have a chance to build a miniature version using a matchbox. The idea is to explore narratives through imagery, words, or both. Come create your own crankie and discover how this ancient art form works on the miniature scale!

All materials are provided. Designed to have a low floor and high ceiling, this workshop is open to all ages and abilities.

LEARN MORE AND REGISTER HERE

This event is part of the BIG READ series, presented by SPACE Gallery and Mechanics’ Hall.

NEA Big Read is a program of the National Endowment of the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest.