UNCA Poetry Reading Includes Colombian Award Winner

Juan Sanchez is an assistant professor of modern languages and literatures at UNC-Asheville.  He recently won the National Prize in Literature in his native Colombia for his book of poetry Altamar.  The title of the book translates to 'high sea'.  It's also the last name of Sanchez's great-grandfather.  The poems in the book are written from the perspective of water.  Sanchez has also done a lot study on indigenous cultures, and incorporates that into his poetry.  He recently returned from North Dakota where he visited the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, which has been protesting the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline through land they say is sacred to their tribe.  Sanchez helped put together https://vimeo.com/190289221" target="_blank">a documentary about the trip.  On Thursday November 17, Sanchez and two other UNCA professors - Jeremias Zunguze and Gilliam Jackson - will read their creative works in their native languages - Spanish, Portugese, Cherokee - at UNCA's Karpen Hall, Laurel Forum.  The reading starts at 5 p.m. and is free to the public.