In 2015, former Midwestern State University English Professor James Hoggard published Where Three Winds Meet, a book of poetry reflective of the life he has lived as a North Texan and illustrated by art from regional artists and photographers. To honor Hoggard, the Department of English, Humanities, and Philosophy will host Where Three Winds Meet: Art, Poetry, and Nature at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15, at the Wichita Falls Museum of Art at MSU Texas. A reception at 6:30 p.m. will precede the readings.

Five artists will each discuss one of their works in the book, followed by a faculty member or administrator who will comment, then read Hoggard's poem that is paired with the work. The artwork will be projected during the artists' comments and during the reading.

The program includes:

Photographer Ben Jacobi and Assistant Professor of English Greg Giddings on "When Four Tornadoes Joined."

Photographer Willetta Crowe and Tarleton State Professor of English Moumin Quazi on "Wearing the River."

Artist Lynn Connolly and Chair and Professor of English Dave Rankin on "Afternoon Late May."

Retired Professor of Art Liz Yarosz and Dean of the Prothro-Yeager College of Humanities and Social Sciences Sam Watson on "Mysteries of Attachment."

Professor of Art Catherine Prose and Assistant Professor of English John Schulze on "A Clown Show in the Sky."

Hoggard retired in 2013 as the Perkins-Prothro Distinguished Professor of English after teaching at MSU since 1966. Hoggard has published 22 books, including poetry, plays, short stories, novels, essays, and translations. In 1977, he was invited to join the Texas Institute of Letters, an honor society of writers founded in 1936 to celebrate Texas literature and to recognize literary achievement. He received TIL's short story award in 1989 and a translation award in 1998. He served twice as president of the TIL, and served as secretary-treasurer and treasurer. In 2005, he received the TIL's Lon Tinkle Award for his career in letters, an award nominated by the membership. He was named Poet Laureate of Texas in 2000.

The event is free and open to the public. It is also sponsored by the Bryan L. Lawrence Endowment.

Contact Schulze at john.schulze@msutexas.edu or 940-397-6249 for more information.