A poetic reflection

How is it that so many of us forget about the UA's Poetry Center, the phenomenal, nationally-acclaimed walking archive of poetry, just down the way on Cherry? This is the same center that recently brought us a reading from W.S. Merwin, which filled the Arizona Ballroom with more than 500 people. For more than three decades, the Poetry Center has been bringing acclaimed poets to the UA, and it now houses a nationally acclaimed collection library of poetry containing over 35,000 items. In honor of its rich history, the Poetry Center is presenting "Retrospectives," an exhibit highlighting nearly forty years of Poetry Center readings and writings.

"Retrospectives" is a look at the early years of the Center's Visiting Poets and Writers Reading series and a tribute to small press publishing in Arizona since 1959, as well as a fascinating timeline of the history of the nationally renowned Center. The "Arizona Poetry Publishers" display features a variety of publications by university and small press publishers, including work by Chax and Kore Presses. "The Early Years" display features posters designed by University of Arizona artists, as well as photographs and books by some of the first guests of the Center's Reading Series, such as Richard Wilbur and Denise Levertov. Here one has the opportunity to witness founder Ruth Stephan's goal for the Center, to "maintain and cherish the spirit of Poetry." Stephan, both a poet and editor, founded the Poetry Center in 1960.

"Retrospectives" opens Monday, Oct. 5 with a reception in the Main Library at 5 p.m., which will include a brief introduction to the exhibit by Richard Shelton, poet and UA Regents Professor of Creative Writing, and Lois Shelton, who was Director of the Poetry Center for 20 years. The exhibition will be on display at the UA's Main and Special Collections libraries through Nov. 30. The Main Library is open 24 hours Sunday 11 a.m. to Friday 9 p.m., and Saturday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Special Collections is open Monday through Thursday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday noon to 4 p.m.