David Shapiro (poet)
Encyclopedia
David Shapiro is an American
poet
, literary critic, and art historian. He has written some twenty volumes of poetry, literary, and art criticism. He was first published at the age of thirteen, and his first book was published when he was just eighteen.
, Shapiro grew up in Newark and attended Weequahic High School
then Columbia University
, from which he holds a B.A. and a Ph.D. in English. He subsequently studied at the University of Cambridge
, from which he holds degrees with honors.
He achieved brief notoriety during the 1968 student uprising at Columbia
, when he was photographed sitting behind the desk of President Grayson L. Kirk
wearing dark glasses and smoking a cigar; Shapiro later described the cigar as "horrible".
, the first book on Jim Dine
’s paintings, the first book on Piet Mondrian
’s flower studies, and the first book on Jasper Johns
’ drawings. He has translated Rafael Alberti
’s poems on Pablo Picasso
, and the writings of the Sonia
and Robert Delaunay
.
His sonnets on the death of Socrates
are the basis for Unwritten, a song cycle by Mohammed Fairouz
.
and National Endowment for the Arts
fellowships, been nominated for a National Book Award, and been the recipient of numerous grants for his work.
, The Bronx
, New York City
, with his wife and son.
Jacket
magazine features:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
, literary critic, and art historian. He has written some twenty volumes of poetry, literary, and art criticism. He was first published at the age of thirteen, and his first book was published when he was just eighteen.
Education and teaching
Born in Newark, New JerseyNewark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
, Shapiro grew up in Newark and attended Weequahic High School
Weequahic High School
Weequahic High School is a public high school in Newark in Essex County, New Jersey. The school is operated by the Newark Public Schools and is located at 279 Chancellor Avenue....
then Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, from which he holds a B.A. and a Ph.D. in English. He subsequently studied at the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, from which he holds degrees with honors.
He achieved brief notoriety during the 1968 student uprising at Columbia
Columbia University protests of 1968
The Columbia University protests of 1968 were among the many student demonstrations that occurred around the world in that year. The Columbia protests erupted over the spring of that year after students discovered links between the university and the institutional apparatus supporting the United...
, when he was photographed sitting behind the desk of President Grayson L. Kirk
Grayson L. Kirk
Grayson Louis Kirk was president of Columbia University during the Columbia University protests of 1968. He was also a Professor of Government, advisor to the State Department, and instrumental in the formation of the United Nations.-Early life:Kirk was born to a farmer and schoolteacher in...
wearing dark glasses and smoking a cigar; Shapiro later described the cigar as "horrible".
Works
Shapiro wrote the first monograph on John AshberyJohn Ashbery
John Lawrence Ashbery is an American poet. He has published more than twenty volumes of poetry and won nearly every major American award for poetry, including a Pulitzer Prize in 1976 for his collection Self-Portrait in a Convex Mirror. But Ashbery's work still proves controversial...
, the first book on Jim Dine
Jim Dine
Jim Dine is an American pop artist. He is sometimes considered to be a part of the Neo-Dada movement. He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, attended Walnut Hills High School, the University of Cincinnati, and received a BFA from Ohio University in 1957. He first earned respect in the art world with...
’s paintings, the first book on Piet Mondrian
Piet Mondrian
Pieter Cornelis "Piet" Mondriaan, after 1906 Mondrian , was a Dutch painter.He was an important contributor to the De Stijl art movement and group, which was founded by Theo van Doesburg. He evolved a non-representational form which he termed Neo-Plasticism...
’s flower studies, and the first book on Jasper Johns
Jasper Johns
Jasper Johns, Jr. is an American contemporary artist who works primarily in painting and printmaking.-Life:Born in Augusta, Georgia, Jasper Johns spent his early life in Allendale, South Carolina with his paternal grandparents after his parents' marriage failed...
’ drawings. He has translated Rafael Alberti
Rafael Alberti
Rafael Alberti Merello was a Spanish poet, a member of the Generation of '27....
’s poems on Pablo Picasso
Pablo Picasso
Pablo Diego José Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno María de los Remedios Cipriano de la Santísima Trinidad Ruiz y Picasso known as Pablo Ruiz Picasso was a Spanish expatriate painter, sculptor, printmaker, ceramicist, and stage designer, one of the greatest and most influential artists of the...
, and the writings of the Sonia
Sonia Delaunay
Sonia Delaunay was a Jewish-French artist who, with her husband Robert Delaunay and others, cofounded the Orphism art movement, noted for its use of strong colours and geometric shapes. Her work extends to painting, textile design and stage set design...
and Robert Delaunay
Robert Delaunay
Robert Delaunay was a French artist who, with his wife Sonia Delaunay and others, cofounded the Orphism art movement, noted for its use of strong colours and geometric shapes. His later works were more abstract, reminiscent of Paul Klee...
.
His sonnets on the death of Socrates
Socrates
Socrates was a classical Greek Athenian philosopher. Credited as one of the founders of Western philosophy, he is an enigmatic figure known chiefly through the accounts of later classical writers, especially the writings of his students Plato and Xenophon, and the plays of his contemporary ...
are the basis for Unwritten, a song cycle by Mohammed Fairouz
Mohammed Fairouz
Mohammed Fairouz is an Arab American composer.Having fulfilling many commissions and created a substantial body of frequently performed works, he is considered one of the most sought after composers of the young generation. Fairouz began composing at an early age and studied at the New England...
.
List of works
- January: A Book of Poems–Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1965
- Poems From Deal–E P Dutton, 1969
- An Anthology of New York Poets (co-editor)–Random House, 1970
- A Man Holding an Acoustic Panel–E P Dutton, 1971 (National Book Award Nominee)
- The Page Turner–Liveright, 1973
- Lateness: A Book of Poems–Overlook/Viking, 1977
- Introduction to John Ashbery’s Poetry–Columbia University Press, 1979
- The Writings of Sonia and Robert Delaunay (co-translator)–Viking, 1979
- Jim Dine–Abrams, 1981; Alecta Press (German edition and translation)
- Lateness (Watercolors by Lucio PozziLucio PozziLucio Pozzi is a Milanese painter and performance artist.His work is in the collections of the P.S. 1 Contemporary Art Center; the Museum of Modern Art; the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago; the Art Gallery of Ontario; the New York Public Library; the Detroit Institute of Arts; Giuseppe Panza;...
)–Generations Press, Paris, 1981 - To An Idea–Overlook/Viking, 1984
- Jasper Johns–Abrams, 1984
- House (Blown Apart): A Book of Poems–Overlook/Viking, 1988
- Mondrian: Flowers–Abrams, 1991
- The Selected Poems of Jacques Dupin (co-translator)–Wake Forest, 1992
- The Eight Names of Picasso (co-translator)–Gas Station Editions, 1992
- After A Lost Original (etching by Terry Winters)–Solo Press, 1992
- The Green Lake is Awake: The Selected Poems of Joseph Ceravolo (co-editor)–CoffeeHouse Press, 1994
- After A Lost Original–Overlook Press, 1994
- Body of Prayer (Shapiro, Govrin, Derrida)–Cooper Union Press, 1998
- A Burning Interior–Overlook Press, 2002
- Rabbit Duck (Collaborative with Richard HellRichard HellRichard Hell is a singer, songwriter, bass guitarist, and writer.Richard Hell was an innovator of punk music and fashion. He was one of the first to spike his hair and wear torn, cut and drawn-on shirts, often held together with safety pins...
) – Repair, 2005 - New and Selected Poems (1965–2006)–Overlook Press, 2007
Awards
Shapiro has won National Endowment for the HumanitiesNational Endowment for the Humanities
The National Endowment for the Humanities is an independent federal agency of the United States established by the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965 dedicated to supporting research, education, preservation, and public programs in the humanities. The NEH is located at...
and National Endowment for the Arts
National Endowment for the Arts
The National Endowment for the Arts is an independent agency of the United States federal government that offers support and funding for projects exhibiting artistic excellence. It was created by an act of the U.S. Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government. Its current...
fellowships, been nominated for a National Book Award, and been the recipient of numerous grants for his work.
List of fellowships, honors, awards and grants
- Gotham Book MartGotham Book MartThe Gotham Book Mart, in operation from 1920 to 2007, was a famous midtown Manhattan bookstore and cultural landmark. The business was located first in a small basement space on West 45th Street near the Theater District, it then moved to 51 West 47th Street, then spent many years at 41 West 47th...
Avant-Garde Poetry Award–1962 - Bread Loaf Writers Conference, Robert Frost Fellow–1965
- Merrill Foundation, Grant–1967
- Book of the Month Club Writing Award–1968
- Clare College, Cambridge University–Kellett Fellowship, Awarded by Columbia College–1968–1970
- Woodrow Wilson Fellowship–1970
- Clare College, Cambridge University–First Honors, Book Prize, Scholar–1970
- Columbia University, NDEA Grant–1970–1971
- National Book Award, Nominated–1971
- Creative Artists Public Service Grant–1973
- Council for the Humanities, Grants–1973, 1976, 1978
- Columbia University, Chamberlain Fellowship–1976
- American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters, Zabel Prize–1977
- National Endowment for the Humanities, Fellowship–1979–1980
- National Endowment for the Arts, Creative Writing–1980
- Princeton University, Faculty Fellow–1985–1986
- National Endowment for the Humanities, Fellow, USCS at Santa Cruz–1987
- Asia Society Colophon Award–1998
- Graham Foundation Grant–1990
- The America Awards for Literature, Belles Lettres–The Green Lake is Awake: Selected Poems of Joseph Ceravolo (Co-Editor)–1994
- Fund for Poetry–1995
- Foundation for Contemporary Arts Grants to Artists Award, 1996
Personal life
Shapiro lives in RiverdaleRiverdale, Bronx
Riverdale is an affluent residential neighborhood in the northwest portion of the Bronx in New York City. Riverdale contains the northernmost point in New York City.-History:...
, The Bronx
The Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, with his wife and son.
Sources
Further reading
- Thomas Fink, The Poetry of David Shapiro, Farleigh Dickinson University Press, Madison & Teaneck, NJ, 1993; ISBN 0838634958
- Thomas Fink & Joseph Lease, Burning Interiors: David Shapiro’s Poetry and Poetics, Farleigh Dickinson University Press, Madison & Teaneck, NJ, 2007; ISBN 978-0-8386-4155-2. Includes essays by Paul HooverPaul HooverPaul Hoover is an American poet and editor born in Harrisonburg, Virginia.His work has been associated with the New York School poets and innovative practices such as New York School and language poetry....
, Joanna Fuhrman, Stephen Paul Miller, Denise Duhamel, Noah Eli GordonNoah Eli GordonNoah Eli Gordon is an American poet. Gordon was educated at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He currently teaches at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Gordon currently writes the chapbook review column for the book review publication Rain Taxi...
, Ron SillimanRon SillimanRon Silliman is an American poet. He has written and edited over 30 books, and has had his poetry and criticism translated into 12 languages. He is often associated with language poetry. Between 1979 and 2004, Silliman wrote a single poem, The Alphabet...
, Tim Peterson, Timothy Liu, more. - New York QuarterlyNew York QuarterlyThe New York Quarterly is a popular contemporary American poetry magazine. Established by William M. Packard in 1969, Rolling Stone Magazine has called the NYQ "the most important poetry magazine in America."- History :...
, Issue 65, has an extensive interview with David Shapiro.
External links
- Ron Silliman on Shapiro's New and Selected Poems
- the Presence of Genius: Rodger Kamenetz on New and Selected Poems review which appeared in the Jewish Daily Forward, July 18, 2007
- Written and Rewritten to Order: The Gift of Generative Possibility in the Work of David Shapiro essay by Noah Eli GordonNoah Eli GordonNoah Eli Gordon is an American poet. Gordon was educated at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He currently teaches at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Gordon currently writes the chapbook review column for the book review publication Rain Taxi...
- Annotated Torso of an Interview David Shapiro in conversation with Sam Lohmann, March 2009
Jacket
Jacket (magazine)
Jacket is an on-line literary periodical edited by the Australian poet John Tranter. The first issue was in October 1997.Each new number of the magazine is posted at the Web site piece by piece until the new issue is full, when the next issue starts. Past issues remain posted as well...
magazine features:
- Jacket Magazine, issue 23 this issue includes a David Shapiro Feature, with numerous links to essays, reviews, poems (6 poems from A Burning Interior) , and an interview of Shapiro conducted by John TranterJohn TranterJohn Ernest Tranter is an Australian poet, publisher and editor. He has a long list of achievements in writing, publishing and broadcasting...
- The Terror of the Poet David Shapiro in conversation with Kent Johnson, an interview by email conducted in 2009
- A Conversation with Kenneth Koch Shapiro’s 1969 interview with the late Kenneth KochKenneth KochKenneth Koch was an American poet, playwright, and professor, active from the 1950s until his death at age 77...
.