Very glad to be at the Kenneth Koch celebration last night at the New School, seeing friends & listening to reminiscences. Highlights were Ron Padgett's "Traveling with Kenneth"; a succinct & evocative account of finding the art (in the widest sense) scene in the 1950s by a former Paris Review editor, Maxine Groffsky; Charles North reading 2 uncollected poems; & a sweet short video from Alex Katz, frail but full of fire. His former students revered him & still do. Because the evening was homage, there was no acknowledgement that of the 13 participants, only one was a woman & one was non-white (who had never met Koch & didn't make clear why he'd been asked). An old friend I hadn't seen in ages said he was a great teacher but unsupportive, even nasty, to the women students. He was Of His Times, to be sure.
NauenThen
PSA: Kenneth Koch at 100
February 27, 2025
One of my favorite poets turns 100 today. The Kenneth Koch Literary Estate and the New School are celebrating his life and work on Monday, March 17, 7-9, at the New School Auditorium, 66 West 12th Street.
Koch, who taught at The New School from 1958 to 1966, was a poet, teacher, playwright, fiction writer, collaborator with artists, and a major poet of New York. Participants include Jim Jarmusch, Lucy Sante, Jim Dine, Alex Katz, Ron Padgett, Charles North, Tony Towle, and more.
A great night! Put it on your calendar!