Picturing the Text: Reflections by Lakes Writer-in-Residence Pamela Petro

The Lucille Geier Lakes Writer-in-Residence Program was created to bring distinguished writers—including poets, playwrights, novelists and journalists—to Smith for a semester each year.

Established in 2013 with a $1 million gift from alumna Jane Lakes Harman ’66 in memory of her mother, the program provides visiting writers with an opportunity to teach a writing-workshop-style class and meet with students in one-on-one conferences.

Pamela Petro, this year’s Lakes Writer-in-Residence, is teaching “Picturing the Text,” a course which allowed students to explore graphic novels, ancient tapestries and other word-and-image combinations as inspiration for their own writing.

Petro also created a performance piece this semester, “Under Paradise Valley.” The piece, which was performed on campus in March, evolved from a script based on a 2013 art installation Petro mounted at Historic Northampton.

Lenelle Moïse MFA ’04

Next spring’s Lakes Writer-in-Residence is Haitian-born poet, actress and playwright Lenelle Moïse. Moïse, who earned a master of fine arts in playwriting from Smith in 2004, is the author of Haiti Glass, a book of poetry, and the acclaimed 2008 Off Broadway drama, “Expatriate” —among other works.

To read an essay Petro created for Grécourt Gate about her experiences as a Lakes Writer-in-Residence at Smith, click on the arrow.