Join us for a light-hearted, interactive conversation about the role of translation and interpretation in art and literature. The event will include discussions and activities guided by Mónica Nainsztein, translator and founder of SpanishOne Plus; and María Harrington, founder of CASA de ESPAÑOL, Center for Language and Culture. Whether you are a CASA student, Crocker regular, or a wonderful community member, all those interested are welcome.

No need to be bilingual—or to have read the book to participate. We'll be using the work of María Gainza's novel—Optic Nerve, El nervio óptico—as well as other guided writing and audio examples (provided a week prior) to examine how culture and meaning are gained and lost between languages.

Optic Nerve is a must-read for art lovers, if only because of Gainza's phenomenal descriptions and amusing art history anecdotes. Though Gainza started writing art pieces right after college, she says she didn’t find her voice until she switched to writing in Spanish, around when she was 28. “It was like I opened the tap,” she says. “Or if I was painting: it was like I went from having only three colors and then I suddenly I had a whole palette.” (Literary Hub, 2019).