William Stafford Birthday Celeb. 2012

Join with the Hutchinson/Reno Arts and Humanities Council and friends in commemorating the birthday of William Stafford.




A celebration of the life and work of Hutchinson native William Stafford will take place at the Hutchinson Art Center, 405 N. Washington, Hutchinson, KS on Tuesday, January 17th, at 7:00pm. Gather with other fans of Stafford to discuss his life and work and read his poetry.




The poet William Stafford was born in Hutchinson, Kansas in 1914. He received a B.A. and M.A. from the University of Kansas and in 1954 his Ph.D. from the University of Iowa. Throughout his career Stafford published over sixty-five volumes of poetry and prose. In 1963 he won the National Book Award for his work "Traveling Through the Dark." In 1970 he was appointed Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress (a position now referred to as Poet Laureate). For over thirty years Stafford taught writing and literature at Lewis and Clark College in Oregon. Stafford wrote about everyday life and was widely respected for his uncanny ability to turn the smallest event-a car ride with his mother or a puff of air-into a sense of time and space. When asked by a publishing company to write his autobiography, he spent most of his account on the first fifteen years, that formative period where he learned in the big openness of Kansas that "everywhere we looked the land held us up." All are encouraged to participate in this event honoring one of America's most important poets. Come and enjoy the company and poetry of William Stafford in the spirit of the people and place he celebrated. Please plan on reading/sharing your favorite Stafford poem with the group.

Cake and ice cream will be served; the event is FREE and OPEN to the public.

For more information please contact:

Mark Rassette
Hutchinson/Reno Arts and Humanities Council
620/662-1280
hrah@cox.net

Category:

Music

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• William stafford
• Hutchinson
• Kansas
• Hutchinson art center