Dr. Jenny Mueller Receives Writing Residency Awards for Summer 2022
Lebanon, IL (03/24/2022) — Dr. Jenny Mueller, a professor of English at McKendree University, has recently received writing residency awards for this summer at three nationally-known artist residency programs: Centrum in Port Townsend, Wash.; PLAYA in Summer Lake, Ore.; and Wildacres Retreat Center in Little Switzerland, N.C.
Mueller will travel to pursue writing projects in residence at each site during the summer. Her projects include her third book of poetry and a researched essay about how our diminishing access to the sight of stars, caused by light pollution, affects the reading of poetry.
"Because of my essay topic, I'm looking forward to the access to darker night skies in all of these places," Mueller said. "They are all in rural or coastal locations, with much less artificial light at night than I experience here in St. Louis."
Residencies give writers and artists a way to travel and write with fellow artists who seek time for disciplined work, reflection and collegial engagement.
"I am looking forward to the company of other artists working in various disciplines," Mueller said."This inspires better creative work on my part, and a better sense of innovative work going on in all the arts. This is knowledge and inspiration that I pass to students in my classes."
