February 3, 2014

Flannery O’Connor in Spotlight at 2014 Georgia History Festival

Savannah, Ga., February 3, 2014 – With only one day until the Savannah kickoff of the 2014 Georgia History Festival the Georgia Historical Society released additional details about the kickoff events.

“Choosing to spotlight Flannery O’Connor as our Featured Historical Figure has opened up new opportunities to showcase her life and work for the 2014 Georgia History Festival,” said W. Todd Groce President and CEO of the Georgia Historical Society. “Through a confluence of events, like the November 2013 release of her Prayer Journal we are be able to offer two events about her legacy that will give Festival attendees the opportunity to see the two sides of Flannery O’Connor, the life she lived and the stories she left behind.”

On Tuesday, February 4, 2014 the Georgia Historical Society will present “A Beautiful Prayer: The Savannah Debut of A Prayer Journal by Flannery O’Connor”. This deeply spiritual journal, recently found among her personal papers offers a glimpse into the life of this Savannah native and famed American author. The Journal was written during a two year period when O’Connor was part of the writers workshop in Iowa City. It was also during this time that she began the work that would eventually become her first novel Wise Blood.

The lecture will be given by Dr. William Sessions, a personal friend of O’Connor and scholar of her work with selected readings from the journal by Mary Lawrence Kennickell a close friend of the O’Connor family from their time in Milledgeville. The event will be held at the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist in Savannah adding a third personal element to the evening since it was there that Flannery and her family worshiped.

On Thursday, February 6, the Georgia History Festival will present a screening of John Huston’s adaptation of Wise Blood, based on the O’Connor novel at the Lucas Theatre for the Arts in Savannah. Preceding the film will be a brief discussion moderated by GHS Senior Historian Dr. Stan Deaton with Stratton Leopold (producer/actor Wise Blood), and Flannery O’Connor scholar Dr. Bruce Gentry (Georgia College & State University), discussing the making of the film in Savannah, how the novel translates to the big screen, and O’Connor’s enduring influence on the arts and contemporary popular culture.

Savannah-based artist Panhandle Slim will be showing selected paintings related to Flannery O’Connor at the February 6^th Wise Blood screening. The paintings will be showcased in the lobby of the Lucas Theatre for guests to enjoy before and after the screening.

A Beautiful Prayer is FREE and open to the public. Tickets are required for the screening of John Huston’s Wise Blood. Tickets are $8.50 or $5.00 with student ID and can be purchased through the Savannah Box Office online, by calling 912.525.5050, or visiting the box office at 216 E. Broughton Street.
For more information on “A Beautiful Prayer” or the screening of John Huston’s Wise Blood, please contact Patricia Meagher at 912.651.2125 ext. 153 or email PMeagher@GeorgiaHistory.com.