State Library Hosts Poetry Reading by Poet Laureate

When: Wednesday, April 30, 2008, 6:30 p.m.

Where: Louisiana State Library

Cost: Free

Age limit: All ages

Categories: Literary

Description: Dr. Darrell Bourque
FREE and open to the public.
Register

Although the poetry reading is free and open to the public, the State Library of Louisiana requests registration. You may call (225) 342-4931 or email: registration@state.lib.la.us to let the State Library know how many are in your party.

Time and Place:
Wednesday, April 30 at 6:30 p.m.
State Library
701 North Fourth Street
Baton Rouge, LA 70802

Reading:

Seminar Center on the 1st Floor

Wine & Cheese

Seminar Center Lobby

Program

6:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m..... Guests Arrive

7:00 p.m. – 7:15 p.m. …Call to Order

... Rebecca Hamilton

... Dawn Romero Watson

7:15 p.m. – 7:45 p.m..... Poetry Reading

7:45 p.m. – 8:30 p.m..... Book Signing

Press Release:

State Library To Host Poetry Reading By Poet Laureate

The State Library of Louisiana is pleased to present Dr. Darrell Bourque, Louisiana Poet Laureate, on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m., April 30. Dr. Bourque will read selections from his work, which has been described as coming from deep Louisiana, a voice reminding us of not only where we live but where we dream.

The Poet Laureate will read works from his books and two manuscripts which are still in progress, focusing on poems that highlight Louisiana experiences, locales and artists. The poetry reading is free and open to the public.

“Dr. Bourque’s contributions to the corpus of Louisiana art through his poetry are exceptional,” said Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu. Landrieu oversees the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, which includes the State Library. “I encourage everyone to come out and experience Louisiana through the vision of our Poet Laureate.”

“We at the State Library of Louisiana are honored to host this important event,” noted state librarian Rebecca Hamilton. “Dr. Bourque is a highly regarded poet. The Center for Louisiana Studies recently selected his latest work ‘The Blue Boat’ as the premiere issue in their new Louisiana Writers Series. His current projects include a collaborative book with poet Jack Bedell of Hammond and an independent poetry manuscript titled Ordinary Light.”

Dr. Bourque will be available for a book signing.

Although the poetry reading is free and open to the public, the State Library of Louisiana requests registration. You may call (225) 342-4931 or email: registration@state.lib.la.us to let the State Library know how many are in your party.

Dr. Darrell Bourque’s Biography

Darrell Bourque’s work has been called "primary and inimitable (Luis Urrea);" his voice, one of the "most genuine and interesting poetic voices (Sheryl St. Germain)." Ernest Gaines calls him a gifted poet with a vision as powerful as his poetic voice. Of Bourque’s poems Jean Arceneaux writes: "Darrell Bourque conjure dans sa poésie une intégration sublime de musicalité et image; elle est une célébration de la magie de la langue."

His first book-length publication Plainsongs (1994 and currently in a second printing), was published by Cross-Cultural Communications, Merrick, New York. It was the first in a series of Cajun Louisiana publications and Bourque became the series editor shortly thereafter editing two volumes, one by Beverly Mathern and one by Jean Arcenaux. The Doors Between Us (1997) was the inaugural issue of the Louisiana Literature Poetry Chapbook Series by Louisiana Literature Press of Southeastern Louisiana University. The University Art Museum of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette featured selected Plainsongs poems in Where Land Meets Sky (1999), a catalog to accompany an exhibit of Elemore Morgan, Jr.’s work. In 1999 Bourque published Burnt Water Suite. His latest work, The Blue Boat, was selected by The Center for Louisiana Studies as the premiere issue in their new Louisiana Writers Series.

Darrell Bourque is currently Professor Emeritus of English at University of Louisiana at Lafayette where he served as Director of Freshman English, Director of Creative Writing, Co-ordinator of the Interdisciplinary Humanities program, and as Head of the English Department in his last two years there. He also served as the Friends of the Humanities/Board of Regents Endowed Professor, the President of the National Association for Humanities Education and Editor-in-Chief of its journal, Interdisciplinary Humanities.

He was the recipient of both the UL Foundation’s Outstanding Teacher Award and Distinguished Professor awards as well as a College of Education Centennial Recognition Medal for Distinguished Achievement in 1998. The Acadiana Arts Council selected him for one of its Outstanding Artists of the Year awards.

In addition to writing, Darrell Bourque has given numerous readings in venues ranging from Bob’s Tree Preservation Center and Nursery in Church Point to Poet’s House in New York City. He is published in anthologies and in many journals including Mid-America Review, The Connecticut Review, and The New Mexico Quarterly and Alaska Quarterly. He continues to conduct workshops for the Acadiana Writing Project of the National Writing Project and has recently been a guest writer for the students in the Northern Michigan University writing program.