Ilya Kaminski

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Ilya Kaminsky was born in Odessa, former Soviet Union in 1977, and arrived in the United States in 1993, when his family was granted asylum by the American government. He is the author of Dancing in Odessa (Tupelo Press, 2004), which won the Whiting Writer’s Award, the American Academy of Arts and Letters’ Metcalf Award, the Dorset Prize, and the Ruth Lilly Fellowship given annually by Poetry magazine. His anthology of 20th century poetry in translation, Ecco Anthology of International Poetry, was published by Harper Collins in March, 2010. Kaminksy’s poems have been translated into numerous languages and his books have been published in Holland, Russia, France, and Spain. Another translation is forthcoming in China, where his poetry was awarded the Yinchuan International Poetry Prize. Kaminsky, who has been near deaf since the age of four, has worked as a law clerk for San Francisco Legal Aid, and the National Immigration Law Center. He is a co-founder of Poets for Peace, which sponsors readings across the globe to support relief work. Currently, he teaches English and Comparative Literature at San Diego State University.

Body of the Poem: Performance, Movement and Breath
10 a.m. – Noon
Kalamazoo Public Library 
(For high school ages and up)

Join Danna Ephland and Denise Miller to explore “the body of the poem” through performance, movement, and breath. Danna Ephland is a poet and teacher with a background in dance; and Denise Miller is a poet, teacher, and co-director of Fire Historical and Cultural Arts Collaborative.

Finding the Power in Poems

10 a.m. – Noon

Washington Square Library, Kalamazoo

(For elementary and middle school ages) 

John Rybicki introduces ways to make music with language and paint so vividly with words that readers are steeped in a scene. Participants will find the imaginative and emotional power inside themselves. John Rybicki is a poet and teacher whose work has appeared in Best American Poetry.

Obsessed with Place

10 a.m. – Noon

Portage District Library

(For high school ages and up.)

Learn from award-winning authors Susan Ramsey and Bonnie Jo Campbell about the use of place in your writing. Bonnie Jo Campbell is a National Book Award finalist, and Susan Ramsey’s work has appeared in Best American Poetry.

Celebration of Community Poets

Poets representing many of our great cultural organizations celebrate poetry by reading from their own work. 

Rose Willey–Kalamazoo Book Arts Center      

Nate John Minor/DC Lavender–Black Arts & Cultural Center and Truth Tone Recording

Lizbeth Obregon–Hispanic American Council

Shawntai Brown–Fire

Alyssa Razo–Kinetic Effect

Avi Stotz-Ghosh, Elsie Jorgensen–Friends of Poetry