NDSU Press, in collaboration with Bismarck’s Veterans Memorial Public Library, is set to host the debut reading of “Thunderbird,” the newest collection of poetry by North Dakota Associate Poet Laureate Denise K. Lajimodiere, NDSU assistant professor of educational leadership.

The event is scheduled for Sunday, May 7, at 2:30 p.m. at Bismarck Veterans Memorial Public Library in Bismarck, North Dakota. It is free and open to the public.

At the heart of “Thunderbird” is a poetic discourse on the historical, cultural, medicinal and spiritual properties of the birch tree, which Lajimodiere uses in her birch bark biting art.

The numbered, signed, limited edition copies of “Thunderbird” are assembled and printed at the Braddock Letterpress Print Museum by publishing interns. Each copy includes an original piece of birch bark biting art.

“NDSU Press is thrilled to merge student experience with the literary and visual arts in this project, which features Lajimodiere's poetry, birch bark biting and the art of letterpress printing,” said Suzzanne Kelley NDSU Press editor in chief. “Our thanks go out to Allan Burke and The Braddock News Letterpress Museum for facilitating this hands-on endeavor.”

Lajimodiere is an enrolled citizen of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, Belcourt, North Dakota.

For more information, contact Kelley at 701-231-6848, 701-799-3064 or suzzanne.kelley@ndsu.edu.

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