Published: October 26, 2009 10:06 am      

Photojournalist to be featured at symposium

Renowned photojournalist James Nachtwey will be featured in The Role of Fine Arts in Political Discourse, a free public lecture that will be held at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma Oct. 29.

The Role of Fine Arts in Political Discourse is part of the second annual Ray and Mary Giles Symposium on Citizenship and Public Service.

Before the public lecture at 8 p.m. in Te Ata Memorial Auditorium, there is a scheduled panel discussion from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Davis Hall Amphitheater at USAO. The panel will be moderated by Katie Davis, assistant professor of drama at USAO, and features Cheyenne Arapaho artist Edgar Heap of Birds, UCO Professor Brett S. Sharp, editorial cartoonist Bruce Plante and artist Jeff Strokes.

Nachtwey specializes in photographing wars, conflicts and social issues across the globe and has received countless awards over the past three decades, including the World Press Photo Award, the Martin Luther King Award and the Dr. Jean Mayer Global Citizenship Award.

On his website, Nachtwey said, "I have been a witness, and these pictures are my testimony. The events I have recorded should not be forgotten and must not be repeated."

The symposium is operating through endowment funds created by the family of Ray and Mary Giles and held at the USAO foundation.

Both the lecture and the panel discussion are free events and open to the public.