Skye Burn Talk to Launch WWU Exhibit on the Life and Work of Award-Winning Children’s Author and Illustrator Doris Burn Oct. 11
Local author and multi-dimensional artist Skye Burn will speak about the life and legacy of her mother, award-winning children’s author and illustrator Doris Burn, at Western Washington University at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 11 in Special Collections (Wilson Library 6th floor).
The event is free and open to the public.
Skye Burn has worked locally and internationally in the domains of art-infused leadership, social artistry, art-based social change, leadership education and community development. She is co-founder and former director of The Flow Project, a nonprofit organization offering research and education in art-infused leadership, and has served in multiple capacities on UNESCO-sponsored projects and initiatives.
During her presentation, entitled “The Strength of a Dream: A Daughter’s Portrait of a Northwest Children’s Author,” Skye Burn will provide a portrait of family stories, impressions, and memories of Doris Burn, including how her mother came to realize her life-long dream of becoming a children’s author and illustrator.
The event marks the launch of an exhibit featuring original manuscripts and artwork created by Doris Burn which will open at Western Washington University on Monday, Oct. 3, also in Special Collections. It will be available for viewing weekdays between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., excluding weekends and holidays, and is free and open to the public.
A long-time resident of the San Juan Islands, Doris (Wernstedt) Burn authored and illustrated the 1965 classic “Andrew Henry’s Meadow,” which won the Washington Governor’s Art Award. She also wrote the much-loved favorites “The Summerfolk,” and “The Tale of Lazy Lizard Canyon,” and served as illustrator for a range of other well-known children’s works.
The exhibit incorporates manuscripts and artwork, and explores some of the themes and aspects of Doris Burn’s work that have connected with readers across generations. The pieces on display were selected from a far larger collection of Burn’s original works, which were donated to Western Libraries Heritage Resources in 2015 as a gift of the Burn Family via the Doris Burn Legacy LLC.
The talk is being offered as a Heritage Resources Distinguished Speakers program. For more information about the exhibit and event, please contact Ruth Steele, Center for Pacific Northwest Studies Archivist, at (360) 650-3283 or Ruth.Steele@wwu.edu.