In The Round, the region’s premier Native American and Indigenous creatives speaker series, returns to BGSU on March 24 with creators of ‘Fry Bread’

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – In The Round, the region’s premier speaker series featuring Native American and Indigenous creatives, returns to Bowling Green State University this spring to feature a lecture and joint activity with the Wood County District Public Library.

On Friday, March 24 at 5:30 p.m., In The Round welcomes Kevin Noble Maillard and Juana Martinez-Neal, author and illustrator of “Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story” for a free public lecture in Olscamp Hall Room 101. Parking is available in Lot N.

Noble Maillard and Martinez-Neal also will speak in the atrium of the Wood County District Public Library on Saturday, March 25 at 10 a.m.

About 'Fry Bread'

The multi-award-winning children’s book “Fry Bread” uses powerful verse to tell an evocative story of family, history, culture and traditions. The picture book depicts an intergenerational group of Native American family members and friends as they come together to make fry bread. On the surface a simple food requiring minimal ingredients to create the fried dough, frybread has a complex history involving both pain and perseverance and is seen by some Indigenous peoples as a symbol of Native unity and pride.

The New York Times Book Review described “Fry Bread” as a “wonderful and sweet book [that] takes a staple food of many tribes across the country and uses it to think about family, history, memory and community ... Lovely stuff.” In its starred review, Booklist notes “‘Fry Bread’ celebrates the thing itself and much, much more … Maillard and Martinez-Neal bring depth, detail and whimsy to this Native American food story, with text and illustrations depicting the diversity of indigenous peoples, the role of continuity between generations and the adaptation over time of people, place and tradition.”

About the author and illustrator

Kevin Noble Maillard is a professor and journalist who lives with his family on the 13th floor of a 115-year-old bank in the heart of Manhattan. He is a regular writer for the New York Times and has interviewed politicians, writers, tribal leaders and even some movie stars. His debut children’s book, “Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story,” won the 2020 Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal and was a 2020 American Indian Youth Literature Picture Book Honor Winner. When he was 13 years old, he won a fishing derby for catching 72 fish in two hours. Originally from Oklahoma, he is a member of the Seminole Nation, Mekusukey band. Follow Kevin Noble Maillard’s Instagram here.

Juana Martinez-Neal is the recipient of the 2019 Caldecott Honor for “Alma and How She Got Her Name” (Candlewick Press), her debut picture book as author-illustrator. She is a New York Times bestselling illustrator and recipient of the 2020 Robert F. Sibert Medal for “Fry Bread: A Native American Story” (Roaring Brook) and the 2018 Pura Belpré Medal for Illustration for “La Princesa and the Pea” (Putnam). Martinez-Neal was named to the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) Honor list in 2014 and was awarded the SCBWI Portfolio Showcase Grand Prize in 2012. She was born in Lima, Peru, and lives in Connecticut with her husband, three children and two dogs. Follow Juana Martinez-Neal’s Instagram here.

About 'In The Round'

In The Round, a speaker series featuring Native American and Indigenous creatives seeks to render visible to the BGSU and local communities the artistry, activism and presence of contemporary Native American and Indigenous artists. This series is an extension of the BGSU Land Acknowledgment, which provides a foundation upon which the University can build purposeful and sustained practices that seek to decolonize the institution.

In The Round features Native American and Indigenous creatives who work in the areas of the arts at BGSU: fine art, graphic design, music, creative writing, film and theater. The series offers opportunities to enrich the learning, experiences and perspectives of all members of our campus and local communities.

By engaging contemporary Indigenous and Native American artists, this series challenges erroneous and harmful stereotypes that continue to permeate American society today. Exposure to the artists’ works and techniques through which they share their experiences, worldviews and reactions to the cultural and historical moment in which we all find ourselves facilitates growth and dynamic learning opportunities for students, staff, and faculty.

Follow In The Round’s award-winning Instagram account, intheroundbg, for the latest news and exclusive extras related to the speaker series. In The Round’s Instagram has been recognized with digital and social media awards from GD USA (Graphic Design USA) and UCDA (University and Colleges Designers Association). Contact In The Round by emailing BGSUlandack@bgsu.edu.

Save the date

This fall, In The Round welcomes filmmaker, photographer, graphic designer and WGA screenwriter Ryan RedCorn to campus for a free lecture on Friday, Sept. 8, 2023, at 5:30 p.m. RedCorn currently is a writer on the award-winning FX series, “Reservation Dogs,” which is a Hollywood rarity with its all-Indigenous writer’s room, crew and regular cast members. Location to be determined.

Support for In The Round

In The Round is made possible by BGSU Arts Unlimited, WBGU-PBS, Wood County Public Library, Glanz Family Research Award for Interdisciplinary Faculty Innovation and Collaboration, Jane Labino Black Fund, BGSU President’s Office, Division of Diversity & Belonging, Division of Research and Economic Engagement, University Libraries, College of Arts & Sciences, College of Education and Human Development, College of Health & Human Services, College of Music, School of Art, School of Cultural and Critical Studies, BGSU Ethnic Cultural Arts Program (ECAP), Institute for the Study of Culture and Society, Department of English, Department of Theater & Film, Division of Graphic Design, Arts Village, and the Mazza Museum.

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