SUNY Canton Living Writers Series Brings Award-Winning Poet

CANTON, NY (03/07/2013)(readMedia)-- A noted poet will share his vivid memories of the complicated issues surrounding identity and race as part of SUNY Canton's Spring 2013 Living Writers Series.

Iain Haley Pollock will speak at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 27, at the Kingston Theater. The event is free and open to the public.

Pollock's collection of poetry, "Spit Back a Boy," won the prestigious Cave Canem Poetry Prize, which recognizes exceptional first books by African-American poets.

His childhood experiences of growing up the son of an African-American mother and white father influenced his work, and the title of his book.

Pollock's work has also appeared in the Poetry Society of America's "In Their Own Words" feature and publications, including AGNI, American Poetry Review, Boston Review, Callaloo, Drunken Boat and Indiana Review. He will discuss his personal connection to the larger world of poetry as well as read some of his own works.

SUNY Canton Assistant Professor of English Philip K. LaMarche, who created the Living Writers Series, said "Pollock's poetry nimbly weaves between the worlds of blues and jazz, love and loss, black and white, all with a stunning dexterity, sincerity and beauty."

This is the second semester of the Living Writers Series. LaMarche said he arranges guest lectures to correspond with his Living Writers Course curriculum so that students enrolled in the class can read the books by authors scheduled to visit the College.

The last installment of this semester's series will be Siobhan Fallon, author of the much-heralded book "You Know When the Men Are Gone," at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 24, in the Kingston Theater. The event is free and open to the public.

SUNY Canton offers a variety of career-driven bachelor's degrees in addition to its associate and certificate programs. In the past year, the College added two new bachelor's degrees and expanded its facilities with a new athletic center, nicknamed Roos House, and the Grasse River Suites Residence Hall. The College's faculty members are noted for their professional real-world experience in addition to their academic credentials. SUNY Canton OnLine offers flexible and convenient online courses and programs. The College's 14 athletic teams compete as provisional members of the NCAA Division III as well as the USCAA.

-www.canton.edu-