Tags
Dave Newman, Ed Ochester, Jan Beatty, joan bauer, Judith Vollmer, Lori Jakiela, Michael Simms, Michael Wurster, Poetry, Terrance Hayes, The Brillo Box, Toi Derricotte
Poetry in Pittsburgh is a highly favored art. The city and its region seem to generate poets due to the environs. On September 20, 2012 poets in Pittsburgh (some of them from differing realms but now Pittsburghers due to current locale) gathered together to pay tribute to Ed Ochester, a fellow poet of significance and worth. Mr. Ochester was the head of the English Department of The University of Pittsburgh for many years and the guiding spirit behind The University Of Pittsburgh Press which has published some of the best poets in The United States and world wide. This gathering began at 7pm at the Brillo Box restaurant and bar located at 4104 Penn Avenue in the Bloomfield neighborhood in Pittsburgh. It was held on the second floor which has a full stage and a bar and is decorated in lavish maroon hues. The poets for that evening included Lori Jakiela, Michael Wurster, Dave Newman, Michael Simms, Jan Beatty, Judith Vollmer and of course Ed Ochester. The atmosphere was charged with energy as each poet took their opportunity to thank Ed Ochester for his significant place in poetry and in their lives. Ed Ochester’s wife May and son Ned were present for the event and just as happy as he was. The event was very natural, very low key and went very smoothly. Amongst some of the poets who gathered for this event were Toi Derricotte, the guiding light of Cave Canem; Terrance Hayes, one of the most amazing poets Pittsburgh has produced from grass roots and a Professor of Poetry at Carnegie University. Joan Bauer, a producer and supporter of many poetry events in Pittsburgh was also there and many other Pittsburgh Poets. Refreshments were served, including homemade chocolate chip cookies which very delicious. This was a very important reading and well attended. Michael Simms is an excellent poet but his presence there was also as the publisher of volumes of Ed Ochester’s poetry through the magnificent Autumn House Press. Ed Ochester’s mentoring of poets and his contact with other poets and poets like him who do the same help to keep the art of poetry communal and alive make poetry a more vital art.
White Gardenia Poetry Press 