by Brooke Jansen ‘18
Central College has been awarded a grant to support a project called, “Out on the Wire: Storytelling in Radio, Cartoon and Narrative” with Jessica Abel. Thursday, Oct. 19, Abel’s presentations are free and open to the public at 4 and 7:30 p.m. Humanities Iowa is a state-based affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
A question and answer session with Abel, “Do You Suffer from Blank Page Syndrome?” is in Geisler Library, Room 202, Thursday, Oct. 19, at 4 p.m. Her presentation “The Dark Forest: Why We Get Lost in the Creative Process … and Why That’s a Good Sign” is in Cox-Snow Recital Hall at 7:30 p.m.
Jessica Abel is an American graphic novelist, artist, writer and storyteller. She has published many acclaimed works including the graphic novel “La Perdida,” which was featured in the New York Times Book Review, Entertainment Weekly, Spin and All Things Considered. The graphic novel also won two Harvey Awards and Time’s Best Comic of the Year in 2006.
Abel said her graphic novel “Out on the Wire” was inspired during an unrelenting bout of writer’s block. She listened to radio programs like “This American Life,” and she found herself absorbed by the narrative. This made Abel ask herself: what makes these stories so addictive? What can I learn from these radio storytellers that might enrich my own work as a graphic novelist? “Out on the Wire” chronicles that search and attempts to share insights about storytelling with fellow writers.
Joshua Dolezal, professor of English, says Abel’s work is impressive because she uses visual mediums to communicate complex, abstract ideas. Dolezal is working with professor of English Keith Ratzlaff, Pella Public Library director Wendy Street and Pella High School English teacher Suzanne Jones to share the workshops with area students and community members. It’s a perfect opportunity, Dolezal said, for other artists to find inspiration and persevere in their own creative work.