Author Bruce Hopkins Coming to John G. Neihardt State Historic Site

The John G. Neihardt State Historic Site invites the public to a reading and book discussion at this month’s “Sunday Afternoon at the Museum.”  At 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 12, 2014, author Bruce Hopkins, a noted environmentalist, teacher, and writer from the Loess Hills region of Iowa, will read from his collection of essays and poetry Truth in the Rivers.

This work is illustrated with watercolors by Howard Horii, an artist and architect from the New York City/New Jersey area. Broken into three sections, the first follows Horii’s life from his time as a young Japanese American student in the 1940s in California, to relocation and internment in Arizona after the attack on Pearl Harbor, to Horii as a successful artist and architect.

The second section addresses the author’s experiences as a Black Studies teacher during the 1960s and his travels with African American colleagues to the East Coast and the Deep South during that time.  The third section explores ways to understand and learn from this difficult past.  Hopkins considers the necessity of education as a means to provide children with the means to face the civic and moral issues they will face.  This is a story of human resilience, determination in the light of adversity, and the human ability to sustain the creative voice in the face of difficulty.  We look forward to an afternoon of introspection, reflection, and mindful storytelling.

Several of Horii’s watercolors will be on display. Books—including Truth in the River and his other notable work When Foxes Wore Red Vests—will be available for purchase and signing.  Reception will follow the program.  We also invite you to peruse our selection of books and CDs as well as local beadwork.  The Neihardt State Historic Site is located at 306 W. Elm St., Bancroft, NE.  Both the program and reception are free and open to the public.  For more information, call 1-888-777-4667 or contact us through email at Neihardt @gpcom.net.  “Like” us on Facebook at John G Neihardt State Historic Site to stay informed about programming.