Books and Brews: The Bear by Andrew Krivak
Tuesday, January 21st 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
In an Edenic future, a girl and her father live close to the land in the shadow of a lone mountain and possess a few remnants of civilization: some books, a pane of glass, a set of flint and steel, a comb. The father teaches the girl how to fish and hunt, the secrets of the seasons and the stars. He is preparing her for an adulthood in harmony with nature, for they are the last two left. But when the girl suddenly finds herself alone in an unknown landscape, it is a bear that will lead her back home through a vast wilderness, which offers the greatest lessons of all, if she can only learn to listen. Borrow the book from the Willimantic Library, or your favorite library, and please sign up for this program. A cautionary tale of human fragility, of love and loss, The Bear is a stunning tribute to the beauty of nature’s dominion and was selected for this year’s Big Read at Eastern Connecticut State University.
Please Register: https://www.willimanticlibrary.org/event/books-and-brews-the-bear-by-andrew-krivak/
Willibrew 967 Main St.,Willimantic, CT 06226-2330
The exhibition When There Were No Maps and No Borders: The Grandeur of Nature presents eleven artists concerned about our planetary future
Tuesday, February 18th 5:00 p.m. Gallery Opening Reception
This exhibition is an intrinsic part of Eastern’s fourth consecutive National Endowment of the Arts, Big Read Award, inspired by Andrew Krivak's novel The Bear (2019). This exhibition expands the book's themes of nature’s grandeur into the world of visual art and borrows its title from Krivak’s earlier novel The Sojourns (2012).
Community Conversation on Environmental Awareness and Action featuring State Representative Susan Johnson and Windham Mayor Tom DeVivo
Tuesday, March 5th 1:45 p.m. in the Proscenium Theater, FAIC
This special event, part of Eastern’s Big Read program centered on The Bear, will bring together students, faculty, and local leaders to explore the intersection of literature, policy, and environmental responsibility.
Event Highlights:
- Welcome remarks from President Karim Ismaili
- Student discussions on The Bear and its themes
- Q&A session moderated by Prof. Martin Mendoza-Botelho
- Special insights from Patty Szczys on the Big Read initiative
Flint Knapping Survival Tools Demonstration
Saturday, March 29th 3:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Gain a deeper understanding of the survival techniques and tools featured in Andrew Krivick’s The Bear. Learn about arrow and tool making using local materials and see a demonstration with flint knapper and ESCU alumnus Bob Inman.
Rain date Sunday, March 30th 3:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Cost $5.00 for members & ECSU students, $10.00 for nonmembers.
Register by calling the CT Audubon Center at Pomfret (860) 928-4948 or email Trailwood@ctaudubon.org
Creative Writing Workshop In conjunction with Eastern Connecticut State University’s NEA Big Read program
Sunday, April 6th 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Join Trail Wood writing residency alums Debbie Slack and Katherine Hauswirth for a creative nature writing workshop at Trail Wood. The workshop will start with a brief reflection on ideas and themes in Teale’s writings and in Andrew Krivak’s The Bear. Then participants will be invited to sit quietly outdoors or walk the trails, jotting down observations, thoughts, and inspirations. The session will wrap up with an opportunity to share the afternoon’s nature writings, including moments of clarity, connection, curiosity, and wonder. Rain date Sunday, April 13th 1:30 - 3:00 p.m.
Cost $10.00 for CT Audubon members & ECSU students, $20.00 for non-members. Register by calling the CT Audubon Center at Pomfret (860) 928-4948 or email Trailwood@ctaudubon.org
📅 Date: April 8, 2025
⏰ Time: 6:30 p.m.
📍 Location: Fine Arts Instructional Center Concert Hall
🎟️ Free & Open to the Public
👉 Submit your question for the author »
Join Us for the Big Read Keynote Event!
Eastern Connecticut State University’s 2024-25 Big Read will conclude with a special keynote event featuring Andrew Krivak, acclaimed author of The Bear—the novel at the heart of this year’s community reading initiative.
Set in the New England wilderness at the dusk of humanity, The Bear is a poignant survivalist tale that explores the delicate balance between harmony and struggle with nature. As part of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Big Read, Eastern has worked with community partners to spark discussions on environmental themes through the lens of literature.
“I’m grateful to everyone at Eastern for choosing The Bear for its Big Read program," said Krivak, a National Book Award finalist. "I had no idea when I was writing The Bear that its mythic world would resonate so strongly, but I think the truth is, we all wonder what kind of story we’re currently writing about humanity’s stewardship of the planet, and if it’s a story we’ll be proud to tell decades, even centuries, from now. I’m excited to visit Eastern on April 8 to explore these questions and more.”
About Andrew Krivak
Andrew Krivak is an award-winning author whose works explore themes of history, survival, and human resilience. His debut novel, The Sojourn (2011), was a National Book Award finalist and won both the Dayton Literary Peace Prize and the Chautauqua Prize. He followed with The Signal Flame and The Bear, which received the Banff Mountain Book Prize, the Massachusetts Book Award, and was selected as an NEA Big Read title. His most recent novel, Like the Appearance of Horses (2023), was named one of Library Journal's Best Literary Fiction Books of 2023.
Eastern’s Big Read & Community Impact
Eastern Connecticut State University is the only Connecticut institution to receive an NEA Big Read grant for the 2024-25 cycle. In alignment with this year’s theme, “Where We Live,” the university has partnered with regional organizations to engage the community in conversations about The Bear and its environmental themes.
The Big Read at Eastern encourages students, faculty, and local residents to explore literature’s role in shaping our understanding of the world around us.
Don’t miss this extraordinary opportunity to hear from Andrew Krivak and be part of an important dialogue on literature, nature, and our shared future!
A Month of Big Read Events - Bloomfield Public Library
March 27th – April 24th
Individual Event Details
Creative Writing Workshop - Trail Wood Nature Journaling - Observing Spring
In conjunction with Eastern Connecticut State University’s NEA Big Read program
Saturday, May 3rd 1:30 p.m.
Nature journaling nurtures both creativity and ecological awareness. It improves focus and observation skills and can promote a sense of calm and clarity. Join us for a nature journaling workshop, where we will explore the natural world through the lens of local naturalist and writer Edwin Way Teale. We will a look at examples from Teale's work, providing inspiration and insight into his observational and scientific approach to nature writing. We will take a short hike around Trail Wood, where participants will make their own observations, take notes, and sketch or photograph the sights they encounter. Concluding by sharing our observations, reflecting on how each of us experiences “Where We Live” - theme of the 2024-25 Big Read. Rain date Sunday, May 4th 1:30 p.m.
Cost $10.00 for members & ECSU students, $20.00 for non-members. Register by calling the CT Audubon Center at Pomfret (860) 928-4948 or email Trailwood@ctaudubon.org
Trail Wood Nature Journaling - Observing Spring
Saturday, May 3rd 1:30 - 3:00 p.m.
Nature journaling improves focus and nurtures both creativity and ecological awareness. Join us for a nature journaling workshop, where we will explore the natural world through the lens of local naturalist and writer Edwin Way Teale. We will a look at examples from Teale's work, and his observational and scientific approach to nature writing. Followed by short hike around Trail Wood, where participants will make their own observations, take notes, and sketch or photograph the sights they encounter. Concluding by sharing our notes on “Where We Live” - theme of the 2024-25 Big Read. Rain Date Sunday, May 4th 1:30 - 3:00 p.m.
Cost $10.00 for members & ECSU students, $20.00 for non-members. Register by calling the CT Audubon Center at Pomfret (860) 928-4948 or email Trailwood@ctaudubon.org
Opening Reception of “Art in the Balance” – An Ephemeral Art Installation
Sunday, May 18th 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Inspired by Big Read book selection, The Bear by Andrew Krivak, ECSU Fine Arts students and alumni were challenged to create pieces made of natural materials to blend with the surrounding environment meet the artists and enjoy the beauty of Trail Wood with the added delight of their artwork. Installation closes June 15th. Free to all.
