Oregon State University has given the 2021 Stone Award for Literary Achievement to Lynda Barry.
The author and artist is best known for a comic strip named "Ernie Pook's Comeek" that was published in alternative newspapers for more than 30 years. She’s also written 21 books and contributes to several magazines.
The award comes with a $20,000 honorarium, OSU said. Past recipients include Joyce Carol Oates and Tobias Wolff. It was last awarded in 2019 to author Colson Whitehead. The award honors "American authors who are dedicated to mentoring upcoming writers," according to the university. Barry teaches writing workshops geared toward non-writers.
“With Lynda Barry, we’re reaching beyond the traditional literary world, and honoring a writer who not only composes across genres — memoir, nonfiction, fiction, workbooks — but also combines text and image in her work,” said Susan Jackson Rodgers, a professor in OSU’s College of Liberal Arts and former Master of Fine Arts program director.
Barry is scheduled to speak at OSU's Corvallis campus on April 29, 2021. The university said the event may be held virtually, depending on policies regarding in-person gatherings at that time.
