Something Bigger Than Fact:
The Art and Life of Emily Carr
12:00 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2009
Corley Auditorium in Webster Hall
Admission: free

“Be careful that you do not write or paint anything that is not your own, that you don't know in your own soul.” These words of noted painter and author Emily Carr reveal one of the guiding principles of her life; a life spent in pursuit of the creative expression of the world around her. As a young woman, she studied painting in San Francisco, London, and Paris. In Europe, she was influenced by Les Fauves (the Wild Beasts) and her paintings, aggressively drawn and boldly colored, were out of step with contemporary taste. Consequently, her work languished unknown for years. She turned her attention to writing and found another medium for her prodigious creativity. Dr. James Lile will present some of Emily Carr’s paintings and selections from her writings to set her in the context of Canadian art and to demonstrate how her work can still speak to us today.

Dr. James Lile is an associate professor of theatre and head of the Theatre Department at Missouri Southern State University. He is co-editor of The Texas Theatre Journal to which he has contributed editorials and various other pieces. Dr. Lile teaches Theatre Appreciation and Theatre History. His primary research interest lies in 19th century American theatre and drama. Southern Theatre’s Emily Carr will be the sixth play that Dr. Lile has directed specifically for the themed semester program.