Renowned poet Pinsky will land at GU, SFCC
When it comes to poets, Robert Pinsky might be the closest thing to a rock star.
Three terms as U.S. poet laureate, from 1997-2000. Founder of the Favorite Poem Project, which allowed thousands of Americans from all walks of life to share their favorite works of poetry. Creator of a best-selling translation of Dante’s “Inferno.” Winner of multiple awards and a Pulitzer nominee. Poetry editor for the online magazine Slate.
He’s written poetry, prose, essays and the libretto for an opera.
Oh, yeah. He’s even appeared on an episode of “The Simpsons.”
Guess what, Spokane. Robert Pinksy is coming to a college campus near you. Two of them, in fact.
Pinsky will talk at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in Gonzaga University’s Cataldo Globe Room as part of the college’s Visiting Writers Series.
Upping the “coolness” quotient? His reading will be accompanied by a jazz quartet of GU students – Jordan Gorenberg on piano, Kit Wendtland on bass, Adam Gallion on drums, and Daniel Shortt on guitar. Earlier in the day, Pinsky will participate in a question-and-answer session at 1:30 p.m. the Foley Teleconference Room. Both events are free and open to the public.
The next day, he’ll be at Spokane Falls Community College reading his works in the Sn-w’ey’-mn Auditorium (aka Building 24, Room 110), beginning at 11:30 a.m. This talk also is free and open to the public.
For information on Pinsky, visit http://barclayagency.com/pinsky.html or check out his page on Facebook. The Favorite Poem Project is online at www.favoritepoem.org.
Get Lit! on deck
Of course, Pinsky isn’t the only big-name poet coming to town. Another former poet laureate, Ted Kooser, is among the headliners at this year’s Get Lit! Festival. Kooser will speak the morning of April 15 at the Lincoln Center, 1316 N. Lincoln St. The festival will run April 10-15 at various locations. For details on talks by Kooser, fellow headliners Susan Orlean and Steve Almond, Jess Walter and Colson Whitehead, and Lois Lowry, as well as the authors who will hold readings and workshops, visit http://outreach.ewu.edu/ getlit/home.xml.
On deck at Auntie’s
March is looking busy at Auntie’s Bookstore. At 2 p.m. Saturday, North Carolina State Professor W. Jason Miller will discuss his book “Langston Hughes and American Lynching Culture,” centered on the 36 poems Hughes wrote about lynching and its implications. At 1 p.m. March 11, regional author Eva Gayle Six will talk about her novel, “Jennie’s Tiger,” which is based on the memoir of her ancestor Jennie Wooding. Gunther Schuller, artistic director of the Northwest Bach Festival, will talk about his memoir, “Gunther Schuller: A Life in Pursuit of Music and Beauty,” at 2:30 p.m. March 17. Sarah Conover will discuss “Easy to Love But Hard to Raise,” about special-needs children, at 7 p.m. March 22. And Lidoña Wagner will talk about her paintings and her illustrated book “Pilgrimage: Wonder, Encounter, Witness” at 7 p.m. March 23. At 7 p.m. March 28, former state Rep. Mary Ellen McCaffrey will discuss “Politics of the Possible: The Decade our American Democracy Worked,” co-written by Anne M. Corbett. And at 1 p.m. March 31, C. Mark Smith will be on hand to sign copies of “Raising Cain: The Life and Politics of Sen. Harry P. Cain.”
Auntie’s is at 402 W. Main Ave. For information on other events at Auntie’s, visit www.auntiesbooks.com or call (509) 838-0206.