NEWS (events are below)
Sam Stephenson was awarded a 2019 Guggenheim Fellowship in April 2019. More about his plans can be found at the Guggenheim Fellowship webpage for him.
A one-hour interview with Sam Stephenson by WFIU Public Radio: Indiana Public Media in their Profiles series. Talks about background in eastern North Carolina, studies in Economics and idea of value, parenting, and new project on the LA band, Jane’s Addiction. June 30, 2019.
What Wasn’t There. A brilliant essay by London based Canadian writer, Emily LaBarge, in which she favorably includes Stephenson’s Gene Smith’s Sink in a discussion with writing by Nathalie Legér, Fleur Jaeggy, and Lydia Davis. January 14, 2019.
Outspoken Podcast. An oral history interview with Sam Stephenson at Cal. State Fullerton’s Center for Oral and Public History when he was there for the annual Hansen Lecture. Unique discussion of childhood and youth in Washington, N.C. with mentions of a new manuscript with a working title of “Which Direction Home.” January 2018.
“A Very Particular Bird.” A short film, “Chuck-will’s-widow,” by Jem Cohen, based on a chapter of Gene Smith’s Sink, with a written introduction by Cohen. The Paris Review. December 7, 2017.
“Framing the Shadows.” Vince Passaro with a long piece on Gene Smith’s Sink and Sam’s previous Smith books in Harper’s magazine. December 2017.
“Music in all Things.” A new interview with Sam in a one-hour public radio piece by David Brent Johnson on WFIU Public Radio / Indiana Public Media. November 27, 2017.
Gene Smith’s Sink is “a brilliant and unorthodox biography” – Nate Chinen, longtime New York Times writer, in a piece on Sonny Clark on WBGO.org. October 24, 2017.
“a lyrical marriage of artists and subject matter” – The Paris Review on Jem Cohen’s film “Chuck-will’s-widow” based on a chapter in Sam Stephenson’s book, Gene Smith’s Sink. October 17, 2017.
“Writing Roundabout: An Interview with Sam Stephenson.” The Paris Review. An inside look at the making of Gene Smith’s Sink with TPR’s managing editor Nicole Rudick. September 7, 2017.
“What to Read This Month,” from FanFair section of September 2017 issue of Vanity Fair, a recommendation of Gene Smith’s Sink.
“Gene Smith’s Documentary Obsessions.” Literary Hub. August 23, 2017. The Prologue of Gene Smith’s Sink published here, along with photographs of Smith’s darkroom sink which is now Sam’s desk.
“…Sam Stephenson presents his newest masterpiece.” The Process of Not Knowing: Sam Stephenson and Allan Gurganus in Conversation. FSG Work in Progress. August 18, 2017.
“W. Eugene Smith, the Photographer Who Wanted to Record Everything.” Review and feature on Gene Smith’s Sink. By Sean O’Hagan. The Guardian. London. August 6, 2017.
EVENTS
2018
Tuesday, August 14, 2018. 7 pm. Launch event for paperback edition of Gene Smith’s Sink at Magers & Quinn Booksellers. Minneapolis, MN. Featuring a short film by Jem Cohen based on a chapter in the book and a discussion moderated by Steve Marsh.
Thursday, August 2, 2018. 7pm. Newport Restoration Foundation. Newport, Rhode Island. Gene Smith’s Sink reading and multi-media and discussion.
Wednesday, June 6, 2018. MAST. Bologna, Italy. Gene Smith’s Sink event featuring readings by Sam, a multi-media presentation, and discussion.
Friday, March 23, 2018. Big Ears Festival. Knoxville, TN. Gene Smith’s Sink event featuring reading by Sam, a short film based on Sink by Jem Cohen, and live performances by Rachel Grimes, Áine O’Dwyer, and Jason Moran.
Wednesday, February 28, 2018. The Durham Hotel. 6pm to 7pm, cocktail hour. 7pm to 8pm, Gene Smith’s Sink event featuring reading by Sam Stephenson, a short film based on Sink by Jem Cohen, and Q&A moderated by novelist Allan Gurganus. For more information and to RSVP go HERE.
2017
Tuesday, September 19, 2017. New York Public Library. 6:30pm. Journalism and Art: Past and Present. A conversation between Sam Stephenson and photographer Eugene Richards, moderated by Arezoo Moseni. More information to come soon.
Wednesday, October 25, 2017. Hansen Lecture in Public and Oral History. Titan Student Union Pavillion. California State University at Fullerton. 5:30pm. More details to come.
Thursday, October 26, 2017. Wide Angle with Gene Smith: An Evening with Sam Stephenson and The Paris Review. National Sawdust. Brooklyn. 7:30pm. (Photos of event HERE).