Mothership: Coral Reefs and Psychedelic Plants as Trauma Medicine and Eco-Sacrament

Presenter:  Greg Wrenn

JMU English Professor Greg Wrenn will read from his new eco-memoir Mothership: A Memoir of Wonder and Crisis, which is about how endangered coral reefs and psychedelic plants helped save his life. From the tide pools in Florida where he grew up, to Indonesia’s Raja Ampat archipelago and the Amazon rainforest, this is his search for wholeness when talk therapy and pharmaceuticals did little to help. Along the way, as his ecological conscience wakes up, he takes readers underwater to the last pristine reefs on earth, and into the psyche. Written with prophetic urgency, Mothership ultimately asks if doses of nature will be enough to save us before it’s too late. 

A former Stegner Fellow at Stanford University, Greg Wrenn is the author of Mothership: A Memoir of Wonder and Crisis, an evidence-based account of his turning to psychedelic plants and endangered coral reefs to heal from complex PTSD, and Centaur, which was awarded the Brittingham Prize. His work has appeared in HuffPost, The New Republic, Al Jazeera, The Rumpus, Kenyon Review, New England Review, The Iowa Review, and elsewhere. As an associate English professor at James Madison University, he weaves climate change science into literary studies. He lives in the Shenandoah Valley with his husband and their growing family of trees. 

Elvis: From Memphis to Vegas

Presenter: Clay Authur

Join Clay Arthur as he leads you on a musical tour of the King of Rock and Roll!  Stops along the way include anecdotes, trivia (with prizes, of course!) as well as live renditions of some of the King's biggest hits.  It's a show that will have you tapping your toes and singing along!  

Clay Arthur is an accomplished musician and entertainer from Strasburg, VA. He owns DCA Financial Group, LLC and spends his days serving clients as a Financial Advisor.  Outside of his wealth management practice, he has spent years pursuing his passion for music through musical theater, solo and band performances and many tribute shows! Clay loves entertaining and honoring the music and artists of the past!