Presenter
Presented by Mr. Peduto
Body
WHEREAS Creative Nonfiction is a new literary genre born in Pittsburgh, and refers to the union of hard-hitting fact-based journalism with the dramatic techniques of the most dramatic forms of literature; and
WHEREAS, 412: The First Annual Pittsburgh Creative Nonfiction Literary Festival ("412") will be held from November 8 - 14, 2004 at various exciting venues around our city; and
WHEREAS, such modern literary luminaries as John Edgar Wideman, Richard Nash and Lee Gutkind will participate in the activities surrounding 412, which will include readings, workshops, panels and parties showcasing creative nonfiction from Pittsburgh and beyond; and
WHEREAS, famed novelist and memoirist John Edgar Wideman, born in Pittsburgh and one of Peabody High School's most illustrious graduates, has been honored with several major literary awards and is the only writer to have been awarded the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction Twice; and
WHEREAS, Richard Nash is Publisher of Soft Skull Press, one of the most visible and respected alternative publishers in this country, and currently teaches others to create and maintain local institutions to support writers and their work; and
WHEREAS, Lee Gutkind, the author of a dozen books and recognized internationally as the "godfather behind creative nonfiction," founded the creative nonfiction MFA program at the University of Pittsburgh and the Creative Nonfiction Journal and was one of the first professors to teach creative nonfiction on the university campus; and
WHEREAS, nationally prominent Pittsburghers Dennis Palumbo, Hilary Masters, Albert French, Dinty Moore, Michael Rosenwald and others are returning home to celebrate 412.
Title
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh salutes three literary giants who will participate in 412: The First Annual Pittsburgh Creative Nonfiction Literary Festival: famed writer and favorite son John Edgar Wideman, Publisher Richard Nash for not being afraid to take risks in a new literary form, and the writer and founder of creative nonfiction, Lee Gutkind, for his vision and guidance in helping to form a new literary genre.
SPONSORED BY COUNCILMAN WILLIAM PEDUTO
CO-SPONSORED BY COUNCILWOMAN TWANDA CARLISLE, COUNCILMEN LEN BODACK, ALAN HERTZBERG, JIM MOTZNIK, LUKE RAVENSTAHL, GENE RICCIARDI, DOUGLAS SHIELDS AND SALA UDIN