Series Explores Arthurian Legend

OHIO STATE EXPLORES ARTHUR LEGEND IN EXHIBITS, FILMS, TALKS

     COLUMBUS -- The lore of King Arthur, Guinevere, Merlin, and
the knights and ladies of the Round Table will be explored during
the next three months in a series of free, public programs to be
held at The Ohio State University.

     Exhibits, films and lectures are part of "The Many Realms of
King Arthur," organized by The Ohio State University Libraries.

     An exhibit of printed materials and other items, primarily
from the libraries' collections -- including children's books,
modern fiction, theatrical costumes, games, songbooks and other
materials -- runs from Jan. 9 through March 23 in the Philip
Sills Exhibit Hall in the William Oxley Thompson Memorial
Library, 1858 Neil Ave.

     On Feb. 10, the exhibit will be joined by "The Many Realms
of King Arthur," a traveling exhibition sponsored by the American
Library Association and the Newberry Library of Chicago.  The
exhibition, funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the
Humanities, consists of eight-foot-high panels of illustrations
and stories about romance, chivalry, war and other events from
the days of King Arthur.

     "The themes that are presented in the legends of King Arthur
-- romance, family conflict, honor -- are still relevant today,"
said Sandra J. Cody, director of the Friends of the Libraries.
"Because the legend is so well known, it seems logical to have an
exhibit like this.  King Arthur appeals to people of many
different ages and backgrounds."

     The library is one of 62 around the country to host the
traveling exhibition.

     Related programming is sponsored by the Ohio Humanities
Council, the Friends of the Libraries, Ohio State's Center for
Medieval and Renaissance Studies, the Student Events Committee,
and Clean-Up and Recycling Backers Inc.

     The exhibits, lectures, films and children's programs are
free and open to the public.  There is a charge for the
conference.  The events are as follows:

                "The Many Realms of King Arthur"
                                
     Jan. 9-March 23 -- EXHIBITION:  King Arthur in the OSU
Libraries, Philip Sills Exhibit Hall, William Oxley Thompson
Memorial Library, 1858 Neil Ave.

     Feb. 1-28 -- EXHIBITION:  King Arthur Book Exhibit,
Reference Department, Grandview Heights Public Library, 1685 W.
1st Ave.

     Feb. 10-March 23 -- EXHIBITION:  The Many Realms of King
Arthur, Philip Sills Exhibit Hall, Thompson Library.

     Feb. 11 -- FILM:  Camelot, Lerner and Lowe's 1967 romantic
musical starring Richard Harris and Vanessa Redgrave, 7:30 p.m.,
Ohio Union Conference Theater, 1739 N. High St.

     Feb. 14 -- LECTURE: Courtly Love, by MaryLynn Saul,
lecturer, Ohio State Department of English, 3:30 p.m., 122
Thompson Library.
                                
     Feb. 14 -- BOOK DISCUSSION:  Arthurian Legends (Book and
Coffee Review Series), 12:15 p.m., Upper Arlington Public
Library.

     Feb. 15 -- LECTURE:  A Look at Medieval Romances (Adult
Program Series) by MaryLynn Saul, lecturer of English, 7 p.m.,
Upper Arlington Public Library, 2800 Tremont Road.

     Feb. 22 -- LECTURE:  Children's Literature and the Arthurian
Legend, by Patricia M. Dashiell, graduate student, College of
Education, 4:30 p.m., 122 Thompson Library.

     Feb. 23 -- LECTURE:  Geoffrey Ashe, London scholar and
author of The Discovery of King Arthur and The Arthurian
Handbook, will discuss King Arthur and his relationship with the
English monarchy, 7:30 p.m., Ohio Union Conference Theater.

     Feb. 24-25 -- CONFERENCE:  The Many Realms of Monarchy, The
Ohio State Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies.  Call
(614) 292-7495 for conference registration and information.

     Feb. 25 -- CHILDREN'S PROGRAM:  Journey to the Middle Ages,
featuring storytelling and crafts, 11 a.m., Upper Arlington
Public Library.

     Feb. 25 -- FILM:  Excalibur, the 1981 interpretation of the
Arthurian legend written and directed by John Boorman, 7:30 p.m.,
Ohio Union Conference Theater.

     March 2 -- LECTURE:  Arthurian Legends Through the Ages,
featuring moderator Alan Brown, associate professor of English;
Hans Keller, professor of medieval French literature; Claire
Simmons, assistant professor of English; and MaryLynn Saul,
lecturer of English, 3:30 p.m., 122 Thompson Library.

     March 4 -- CHILDREN'S PROGRAM and TOUR:  King Arthur Day,
featuring storytelling, music, period-related entertainment, and
a tour of the library exhibition.

     March 12 -- FILM: Monty Python and the Holy Grail, the 1975
cult classic starring Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam,
Eric Idle and Michael Palin, 2 p.m., Ohio Union Conference
Theater.
                                #
                                
NOTE:  Glossy illustrations, including King Arthur, Merlin, and
Sir Bedivere, are available from Sandy Cody.

Contact:  Sandy Cody, Friends of the Libraries,
               (614) 292-3387, cody.12@osu.edu ;
          Marti Alt, Ohio State Libraries,
               (614) 292-3035, alt.1@osu.edu
          Mary Ault, Upper Arlington Public Library,
               (614) 486-9021.


[Submitted by: REIDV  (reidv@ccgate.ucomm.ohio-state.edu)
               
Tue, 03 Jan 1995 16:18:34 -0500 (EST)]
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