Convention Theme: Open Book
by Gloria J. Hochstein, 2013 Convention Chair
A Sigma Tau Delta convention in Portland, Oregon, and the theme of "Open Book" are a natural combination. In addition to the natural beauty of Oregon, with its forests, mountains, and shorelines, Portland is known for being the inspiration to hundreds of writers who live there and write about their city. Portland is also known for being the home of Powell's Bookstore, the largest independent bookseller in the world!
Everything about the 2013 Sigma Tau Delta Convention connects us with language, writing, reading, and books, including the speakers of Anne Fadiman and Ursula K. Le Guin and Tim Egan, the Common Reader Ex Libris, and the theme of "Open Book."
The theme "Open Book" is enticingly ambiguous. It could be a command to open a book and start reading. Or a call to literacy for all. Maybe it is simply the description of an object—an open book, a beautiful thing in itself. It could also mean an assertion of honesty and forthrightness with nothing hidden from an open book. Or "Open Book" could be a rejection of censorship by advocating that all books be open to all readers.
In truth, "Open Book" means all of those and more. The graphic image was designed by a visiting Chinese artist who came to the U.S. in order to experience the "open book" of American education, which encourages creativity. Chen Zhang's design allows for viewers to see many possible representations of the theme. Some viewers see two books facing each other in an exchange of words and ideas. Others see an e-book or notebook or tablet. Still others see that repeated image of open books as encouragement to continue gathering books, reading books, and writing books. And perhaps others even see the mountains and valleys of Oregon, our geographical destination for 2013.
Open your own books and your imaginations and join us in Portland, Oregon, March 20-23, 2013, to think, talk, hear, and write about all of the possibilities raised by the "Open Book" theme, the graphic image, and the Portland setting.
Mahatma Gandhi once said, "We do not need to proselytize either by our speech or by our writing. We can only do so really with our lives. Let our lives be open books for all to study." Come be an open book with Sigma Tau Deltans from around the world!