Creativity often blooms in moments of conversation, within the space of asking questions, and in the exchange of ideas and diverse perspectives. When poets, storytellers, and illustrators come to campus, they bridge the space between professional, real world advice and artistry. This is something that offers students a kind of glimpse into the ambition, persistence, and care that creates an artist’s life in the field. In a world that increasingly relies on imagination and empathy, these guest speaker events on campus remind students why the arts matter and how life depends on the creativity that comes with these practices. 

Both the English and Illustration departments are offering ample opportunities for students to engage with working professionals and hear the stories behind their work. This past week, CU Denver’s English Department held a featured reading through its Jake Adam York Memorial Writing Series. In addition, the Illustration Department, who also had a featured artist talk the same week, has more speaker events that will continue throughout November.  

Within the English Department in particular, the Jake Adam York Reading Series continues a long-standing tradition of bringing poets and prose writers to campus for readings. Originally, these speaker events were a part of the department’s annual creative writing readings; the series was renamed in honor of the late poet Jake Adam York, who was a professor in the English Department and a founding editor of Copper Nickel, the national literary journal that’s housed here at CU Denver. York’s work is known for its lyrical precision in addition to its subject matter, which centered on memorializing civil rights martyrs. York’s legacy continues to shape the spirit and intention of the series, which hosts four writers a year, balanced between both poetry and prose. Wayne Miller, a professor at the university, the coordinator of the writing series, as well as the editor of Copper Nickel, emphasizes the importance of inviting writers students can genuinely connect with. He describes the readings as “door-opening experiences for people who might find the page a little intimidating.”  

Earlier this year, Jennifer Loyd and Nini Berndt, both CU Denver alumni, returned as featured writers, something that underscores the program’s enduring sense of community. Most recently, the series welcomed Patricia Smith, a nationally acclaimed poet and performer. Her reading filled the room with the intense strength and poignancy that characterizes her work and has made her such an impactful voice in contemporary poetry. In an answer to one of the questions Smith was asked about spoken word poetry, she mentions that “everyone in the room is a poet having a conversation with each other,” which goes on to reflect that writing and its power lie as much within listening as they do within language itself. When asked why these readings are important, Wayne Miller mentions building community and “giving our students access to living writers,” along with the emphasis that these writers are people too.  

The feeling of connection that defines the Jake Adam York Series also extends into the Illustration Department, where talks from visiting artists invite students to thoughtfully consider the intersection of visual art and storytelling as well as how artistic practice translates into the professional world. The visiting artists consist of Pablo Rivera, a visual development artist at Netflix Animation Studios; Patrick Kelana, a concept artist at Brainbug, a studio specializing in concept art, illustration, and visual development for the entertainment industry; and Eli Minaya, a visual artist that is also recognized for his work on cards for Magic: The Gathering. 

According to Charles Valsechi, the Program Director for Illustration, artists were selected not only to reflect the interests of the senior illustration class but also to provide a range of perspectives across the field. With many of these students expressing interest in digital painting and concept art, the speakers are meant to act as inspiration in addition to providing relevant insight into industries that students may not have direct experience with solely within a classroom setting. Valsechi notes that Rivera and Kelana were selected for this series of artist talks due to being relatively new to the industry, an aspect that he feels is beneficial for students “in learning ways to break in and navigate things as a young artist.” Regarding Minaya, he states that his wide variety within illustration and freelance work can provide different insights, which can fill in some of the interest in other areas that may not be covered by the other artists as he’s been established in the industry for a longer period of time. 

While there’s a lot to learn from professors, having these guest speakers come into the classroom can help students bridge the gap between what is taught within the university and what actually happens within the industry. This is something that is valuable for students as they prepare to enter the arts and specific illustration field after graduation, an aspect further emphasized by Charles Valsechi, stating that students will “learn some specifics in industries where we don’t have personal experience.” This exposure and close conversation with professionals like Rivera, Kelana, or Minaya can also inspire students to not just fixate themselves on one ultra-specific career and instead to explore different paths and artistic endeavors within illustration. Regarding the impact he hopes these discussions and talks will have on students, Valsechi says he wants them to feel “that they have someone they could potentially ask questions of in the future and are inspired to learn, grow, and make stronger works in the days and weeks that follow” after the sessions. 

Through these speaker events, CU Denver showcases a wide variety of illustrators, writers, and poets in celebration of the various types of artists and the media they choose to create with. With the Jake Adam York writing series, it reflects the overall mission to make poetry and prose accessible and alive for students across campus. In a similar light, the Illustration Department’s visiting artist talks continue this initiative in their own way by offering students a direct introduction into the professional world of visual storytelling. Wayne Miller expresses hope that more students will engage with these readings as they continue. The arts matter, especially in a time that, due to the rise and advancement of technology, feels increasingly disconnected from real human experiences within and through art. By bringing in diverse voices and perspectives from the industry, whether visual or literary, these readings and artist talks remind students all across campus how these artistic practices continue to shape the way we look at, understand, and participate in the world.