The Center for Great Lakes Culture at Michigan State University has announced the winners of the third annual Great Lakes Culture Awards.
The awards recognize books, museum exhibitions and Web sites that contribute to an understanding and appreciation of the cultures of the Great Lakes region.
"Each of this year's winning works has used new and innovative approaches to explore and express the cultural life of our region," says C. Kurt Dewhurst, director of the center.
"Through the imaginative use of technology and interactive design, they underscore the power and importance of 'place' in our lives."
Established in 1999, the Center for Great Lakes Culture is dedicated to the understanding and interpretation of the cultural history and expressions of the diverse peoples, traditions and customs of the Great Lakes region and the region's interaction with the world.
It is part of the College of Arts and Letters at Michigan State University and is housed in the MSU Museum in East Lansing.
Nomination deadline for next year's competition is Dec. 1. Nominations should be made directly to the Center for Great Lakes Culture. Further information is available at http://www.greatlakes.msu.edu
Winners of the third annual Center for Great Lakes Culture Awards include:
BEST BOOK AWARD (NON-FICTION)"Windjammers: Songs of the Great Lakes Sailors" by Ivan H. Walton with Joe Grimm. Publisher: Wayne State University Press, 2002.
In this book, the late Ivan H. Walton, who devoted his life to the study and promotion of Great Lakes literature and culture, and Joe Grimm, an author and Detroit Free Press editor, present stories, lyrics, musical scores and illustrations relating to the songs of the sailors who worked on the five Great Lakes during the 19th century. Fifteen of the songs are performed on an accompanying CD by folksinger Lee Murdock. Readers learn about shipping life on the Great Lakes and its influence on the region's cultural heritage.
BEST BOOK AWARD (FICTION/POETRY)"Borealis," poems by Jeff Humphries and woodcuts by Betsy Bowen, University of Minnesota Press, 2002.
This book, a collection of poems, is itself a work of art, with stunning black-and-green woodcuts interspersed throughout the text and an unusual 4 "ยข-inch by 10-inch format. The poems and woodcuts have a haunting quality that captures the mystery and beauty of the northern landscape. The art and words are sharp and crisp in both line and language.
BEST EXHIBITION"Schooner in the Sand: Unlocking the Secrets of a Great Lakes Shipwreck." Michigan Historical Museum, Michigan Historical Center, Lansing, 2002. Director: Phil Kwiatowski.
This exhibition highlighted the excavation of a small, unidentified Great Lakes fishing schooner found in 1990 at the mouth of the Millecoquins River in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The landowners of this site, the Hiawatha Sportsmen's Club, donated the artifact collection to the Office of the State Archaeologist of Michigan. These artifacts formed the core around which an engaging and interactive exhibit was built. The exhibit told two stories: how this ship and its cargo represented the early history of travel, trade and daily life on the Great Lakes, and how archaeology and historical research can help unlock the mysteries and stories of the region's maritime past.
BEST WEB SITE"Seeing the Light: Lighthouses of the Western Great Lakes" http://www.terrypepper.com/lights/ Author/publisher: Terry Pepper and Sue Pepper, 2002.
Since 1999, the Peppers have been scouring the western Great Lakes to photograph and document hundreds of lighthouses on the great inland waterways. The site features stunning photography, clear and extensive commentary, illustrations, photographs, maps and detailed discussions of lighthouses of many sizes and descriptions. The site was chosen over competing nominations for its ease of navigation and sustainability of content. It will be a permanent resource for information on Great Lakes lighthouses far into the future.
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