Jack Ledbetter

THOUSAND OAKS, CA - Faculty and administrators from California Lutheran University will read excerpts from Western-themed American poetry and literature at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 8, in the William Rolland Gallery of Fine Art on the Thousand Oaks campus.

“Readings from the West” is the last in a series of salon-style events celebrating the “Western Salon” exhibit on display through Saturday, Sept. 15.

Four English faculty members, two English professors emeriti, and the university editor will participate in the informal salon gathering. Professor emeritus and current lecturer Jack Ledbetter will read paragraphs from Hector St. John de Crevecoeur’s “Letters from an American Farmer;” assistant professor Jacqueline Lyons will read works by poets from Western states; University Editor Kevin Matthews will read from works by Robert Louis Stevenson and John Steinbeck; associate professor Marja Mogk will read from an Elmore Leonard short story; professor emeritus and former campus pastor Gerry Swanson willread selections by Terry Tempest Williams; lecturer Ken Weitz will read from the writings of Joan Didion; and professor Joan Wines will read pieces by Louis Lamour.

This Western American art exhibit features more than 60 paintings along with sculptures, drawings and fine art prints. Former game show host Bob Eubanks and his family recently donated many of the works to CLU. Others are on loan from the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum.

The CLU English Department is sponsoring the free event. The gallery is located inside the William Rolland Stadium on Olsen Road between Campus Drive and Mountclef Boulevard. Parking is available in the Gilbert Sports and Fitness Center lot. For more information, contact Ledbetter at ledbetter@callutheran.edu or 805-495-6814.