Trumbull Art Gallery

Biography / Administrative History

In the Spring of 1987 Artist and Curator at the Trumbull Art Gallery, William Mullane organized a major celebration of Kenneth Patchen's work in his home town of Warren, Ohio. Kenneth's sisters and other members of Patchen's family were involved in four days of events, commemorative poetry readings and exhibitions. During this first gathering the Ohio Arts Council decided to sponsor an annual Kenneth Patchen Festival to celebrate the poet's work beginning in 1989.

Account of Events:

Kenneth Patchen: An Exhibition of painted poems, books, sculptures and documentation on Kenneth's early years in Warren, Ohio, Mar 7-Apr 5, 1987. Trumbull Art Gallery (TAG) with the cooperation of the Kenneth Patchen Archives located at the UCSC presented an exhibit. In addition to presenting Patchen's works, the exhibit explored the Warren from 1910-1930 in an attempt to document the community, industry, and schools, which influenced the writer's vision. Special program was held on Mar 5, 1987 at Kent State University Trumbull Campus featuring Kenneth's wife Miriam, who spoke about her late husbund's work and read his poetry.

Kenneth Patchen: Literary Festival, Apr 27-30, 1989. Scheduled events consisted of exhibition of Patchen' Art; production of Patchen play Don't Look Now (Apr 28, 30, May 5-7, 1989), video presentation of "Kenneth Patchen; an Art of Engagement", readings, panel discussion, presentation on Kenneth Patchen Archive, and a tour of Kenneth Patchen Coffee Shop at Trumbull Memorial Hospital. "Don't look now" opend at the Kent State University Trumbull Campus theatere for a two week run. It was directed by Joel Climenhaga, poet, playwright and professor of speech and theatre from Tarkio College, Missouri. Some of the program participants included Miriam Patchen; poet, teacher, freedom fighter Dennis Brutus; poet, artists, publisher Lawrence Ferlinghetti and Patchen bibliographer Larry Smith.

Kenneth Patchen Festival: A Celebration of the Arts, Apr 27-29, 1990 Scheduled events included a reading by Miriam Patchen, panel Discussion of "The Role of the Small Press in American Letters", video presentation of "Kenneth Patchen and Art of Engagement", reproduction of Kenneth Patchen's radio play "City Wears a Slouch Hat" undet direction of Joel Climenhaga, soundscaped by Gary Boggess, and an exhibit of Patchen's silkscreens. Program participants included Dennis Brutus, Carlos Cortez, C. M. James, Miriam Patchen, Bern Porter, Larry Smith, Jonathan Williams, and Al Young.

Kenneth Patchen Mail Art Festival, 1991. Project was sponsored by the Kenneth Patchen Festival Group, and was housed at the Trumbull Art Gallery in Warren, Ohio. C. M. James, the event organizer, culminated year's worth of mail art from around the world.

Chronology

• Mar 7 - Apr 5, 1987 : Kenneth Patchen: An Exhibition of painted poems, books, sculptures and documentation on Kenneth's early years in Warren.
• Apr 27 - 30, 1989 : Kenneth Patchen: Literary Festival
• Apr 27 - 29, 1990 : Kenneth Patchen Festival: A Celebration of the Arts
• 1991: Kenneth Patchen Mail Art Festival

From the guide to the Kenneth Patchen Festival records, 1927-1991, 1989-1991, (University of California, Santa Cruz. University Library. Special Collections and Archives)