Chicago Literary Hall of Fame to Honor Gene Wolfe

Supporters of the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame and members of Chicago’s literary and arts communities will gather at the incredible Sanfilippo Estate on March 17, 2012, to present Gene Wolfe with the first “Fuller Award,” acknowledging an outstanding lifetime contribution to literature.
 
The Master of Ceremonies for the evening will be Gary K. Wolfe, Professor of Humanities and English at Roosevelt University and award-winning editor and critic.  Neil Gaiman, Peter Straub, Luis Urrea, Michael Swanwick, Michael Dirda, and Audrey Niffenegger are just a few of the many luminaries set to pay tribute to the writer whose body of work, including the Chicago-set Free Live Free, distinguishes him as one of the city’s finest literary treasures.
 
“Gene Wolfe is one of the premier writers of science fiction and fantasy in the past fifty years,” said Chicago Writers Association board member and writer Valya Dudycz Lupescu. “His writing stretches beyond the limitations of genre. We are planning an unforgettable evening to celebrate his work at Sanfilippo Estate.”
 
Guests can attend just the performance and award presentation, which includes a staged reading of one of Gene’s short stories, adapted by Chicago writer Larry Santoro and performed by members of Terra Mysterium. After the reading, guests will be treated to a concert by R. Jelani Eddington, one of the world’s most accomplished pipe organists on Sanfilippo’s 80-rank, 8,000 pipe organ.
 
Those who purchase a Dinner Ticket will head to the Carousel Pavilion following the performance to enjoy dinner and desserts featuring delicacies from Barrington’s own chef Jeramie Campana of Wild Asparagus.
 
The Chicago Literary Hall of Fame invites you to experience the fantastic evening amidst a private collection not accessible to the public at large. Proceeds from the event will go toward a permanent home for the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame, currently housed at the Cliff Dwellers Club of Chicago. For additional information on the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame, please visit www.chicagoliteraryhof.org.
 
“We need a space that will enable us to permanently exhibit the story of Chicago’s great literary heritage,” said Chicago Literary Hall of Fame Executive Director Donald G. Evans. “Our mission is to preserve and promote Chicago’s literature and as we enter Year Three we’ve set ourselves to really make a difference in our community and beyond.”
 
The cost of a Ceremony Ticket for the tour, award presentation, and performance is $65 per person.
 
The cost of a Dinner Ticket, which includes dinner, tableside wine service, dessert, and a coffee station with specialty liqueurs and cordials, is $150 per person or $1,400 for a table of ten.
 
Tickets, which must be purchased in advance, are available online at genewolfesanfilippo.eventbrite.com/.
 
About the Chicago Writers Association
The CWA is a federally registered 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization with over 300 members, ranging from aspiring novelists to published authors, journalists, and poets. The CWA dedicates itself to promoting the four C’s of writing—creativity, commerce, craft, and community—by: fostering a visible, supportive writing community; providing genuine, constructive feedback and access to resources; assisting writers at all levels to achieve their writing goals; building a bridge to unite all facets of Chicago’s diverse literary culture; and promoting Chicago as a place of literary distinction.

Contact Information

Valya Dudycz Lupescu

Event Planning

Chicago Literary Hall of Fame

valyadl@gmail.com