Diana Walker: Photojournalist
You’ve seen the photos, such as President and First Lady Reagan waving out of the hospital window or Presidential Candidate Al Gore kissing his wife at the 2000 Democratic convention. But there are also the photos you haven’t seen, of Madeline Albright at the end of a tough day, or Muhammad Ali in his prime. All of these photos, both public and private were taken by photojournalist Diana Walker. Join WFPL’s Robin Fisher as she talks with the Frazier International History Museum’s Kacie Carrico about the Diana Walker: Photojournalist exhibit.
Bruce Feiler
New York Times best-selling author Bruce Feiler comes to Louisville this week. He’s the author of “Walking the Bible”, which also became an award-winning PBS series, and Abraham, which explored the history of the common ancestor to three religions: Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.
His latest book is “Where God Was Born”, which was recently released in paperback. In it, Feiler travels Israel, Iraq, and Iran to find ways people of different faiths can unite against violence that is done in the name of religion. Feiler spoke with WFPL’s Stephanie Sanders about his journey through his own Jewish faith and what we can learn by visiting some of the world’s most historic sites.
John Corigliano and Joan Tower
John Corigliano won the Grawemeyer award in 1991 for his Symphony No. 1, a work dealing with personal loss in the face of the AIDS crisis. Joan Tower won the Grawemeyer in 1990 and continues to be one of the most performed, living composers today. WUOL Classical 90.5’s Daniel Gilliam spoke with Joan Tower and John Corigliano about winning the Grawemeyer award, teaching, and other interesting topics.
Winners of the Governor’s Awards in the Arts
Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher handed out his Governor’s Awards in the Arts last week. Among the winners are a public radio station in eastern Kentucky, a youth orchestra, and a former University of Kentucky basketball player.
Looking for Lilith Theatre Company
The Looking for Lilith Theatre Company is restaging one of its most acclaimed productions, “What My Hands Have Touched.” The company is celebrating its fifth anniversary. As part of that celebration, the group is hosting an appearance by Vickie Croston, the daughter of Rose Will Monroe, who is better known as the World War II icon “Rosie the Riveter.”
WFPL’s Rick Howlett spoke with Croston and the artistic director of the theatre group, Shannon Wooley.
Ky Governor Ernie Fletcher
Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher spoke this week to the Downtown Louisville Rotary Club. Fletcher is seeking re-election this year, but faces Republican challengers in the May primary. Last week, Fletcher also presented his spending plan for the state’s surplus money to the General Assembly.
Louisville Improvisors
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be an actor? To learn lines, make sure you follow the stage direction, change costumes, is that what you picture? Well, picture this, three guys, no lines, no costumes, just making it up as they go along. That’s the Louisville Improvisors. Join WFPL’s Robin Fisher as she talks with Chris Anger and Alec Volz of the Louisville Improvisors about improvisational theatre, what it is and how it works.
The Somali Bantu
The series “Different Diasporas in Louisville” examines the cultures different immigrant communities bring to the city. WFPL’s Stephanie Sanders learns more about the Somali Bantu community and how their journey has been less a story about maintaining a culture and more about survival.
Critical Thinking
For the final installment of his series on critical thinking in Kentucky’s colleges and universities, Kentucky Public Radio’s Charles Compton looks at reactions and concerns from students about changes that are occurring in higher education.
World War Two Pilots
Segregation and racism may have kept two World War Two pilots apart most of their lives, but today they have developed a strong friendship.
B-17 bomber pilot Herb Hielburn, a white man, and Tuskegee Airman John Leahr, an African-American, talk with WFPL’s Julie Goodwin about their story of growing up in the same Cincinnati neighborhood but living parallel but separate lives.
Floyd Central Theatre Program
If your memories of high school theater are of bad musicals and even worse costumes, you are in for a big surprise! The high school musical is alive and well, and international, in Southern Indiana. WFPL’s Robin Fisher talks with Chris Bundy, Director of Theatre Arts for Floyd Central High School about high school theater programs, international festivals and just what is in the water in Southern Indiana that makes these programs so great.
Denny Crum Court
The basketball court at Louisville’s Freedom Hall is being named Denny Crum Court in honor of the former U of L coach who led the Cards to 675 victories and two national championships. WFPL’s Rick Howlett reports.
Critical Thinking
Kentucky Public Radio continues its series this week on critical and creative thinking in Kentucky’s colleges and Universities. This week, Kentucky Public Radio’s Charles Compton explores the hurdles such organizations have the make to put such training on its list of priorities.
James Ramsey
With an Orange Bowl victory among the school’s recent accomplishments, University of Louisville President James Ramsey focused his attention on the university’s athletic program during his recent State of the University address. Ramsey says the successes in the sports department allow the rest of the university to shine on a bigger stage.
American Bloomsbury
Known as the Transcendentalists, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Henry David Thoreau, Louisa May Alcott and Margaret Fuller are all icons of early American literature. Susan Cheever, in her new book “American Bloomsbury”, brings them and others to life in Concord, Massachusetts in the late 1800’s. Listen in as WFPL’s Robin Fisher as she talks with Cheever about this extraordinary group of people. What Cheever terms, a “genius cluster.”
