LANSING-- An exhibit featuring photographs of Ernest Hemingway's summers spent in Michigan is on display during a statewide tour and is designed to promote reading while highlighting the influence the state had on his writing.
"Up North With the Hemingways" showcases scenes from times his family spent on Walloon Lake near Petoskey between 1899 and 1921.
Greg Parker, program and development officer for the Michigan Humanities Council, which is supporting the event, said the exhibit specifically encourages the reading of the "Nick Adams Stories," written between 1921 and 1933.
The series of short stories about a young man coming of age is better understood after seeing the photographs because they feature Michigan locations described in the book, he said.
"While this is not an autobiography, any author will have elements of themselves in their characters," he said, adding, "there are a lot of similarities" between Hemingway and the fictional character he created.
Parker said the stories reflect universal themes to which everyone can relate, including "coming to grips with the idea of death" and "confronting war and what it means to fight."
The MHC, an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, partnered with the Clarke Historical Library at Central Michigan University and the Michigan Hemingway Society to make this exhibit. It supports the Great Michigan Read program.
MHC Executive Director Jan Fedewa said the Great Michigan Read started this year and a committee reviewed about 55 books before selecting the "Nick Adams Stories" because of the book's "classic status, relevance to contemporary issues and Michigan ties".
She anticipates the program continuing with a book connected to Michigan by theme or author featured each year.
"This is the first time Michigan has ever embraced a one-book, one-state program for adults," she said, adding that the pilot project has been "extremely well-received" by hundreds of community organizations across the state.
She cited schools participating in essay contests, lecture series and a film festival.
"It gives rural and urban communities the opportunity to participate because everyone can relate to one aspect of the story," she said.
The exhibit began its travels to 28 locations in September and continues until July 7. Upcoming sites include Three Rivers Public Library in Three Rivers, Nov. 23-Dec. 10; Cadillac Wexford Public Library in Cadillac, Dec. 14-Dec. 31; Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan in Alpena, Feb. 15-March 3; Peter White Public Library in Marquette, March 14-March 31; and the Library of Michigan in Lansing, April 18-May 5. The final site will be the Alfred P. Sloan Museum in Flint, June 20-July 7.
More information on the exhibit and tour locations can be found at www.greatmichiganread.org*.
This story originally contained an incorrect Web site. The correct site is www.greatmichiganread.org.
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