Michael Gizzi
Encyclopedia
Michael Gizzi was an American poet
.
and Thomas Gizzi. He spent part of his childhood living in Ohio and lived in East Greenwich, Rhode Island for three years (10th, 11th, and 12th grade) of high school. His parents moved up to Pittsfield, Massachusetts and he returned to Rhode Island as an undergraduate student at Brown University. He graduated from Brown University
with a Bachelor of Arts
in 1976 and returned to Brown to earn his Master of Fine Arts
degree in English in June 1977. He attended the Masters program with Keith Waldrop who, ultimately, connected him to the Burning Deck community of poets and artists. He was married to his first wife, fellow artist, Ippy (Patterson) and had his daughter Pilar at this time and they purchased a home in Rehobeth, Massachusetts. He worked for seven years as an arborist and tree surgeon in Southeastern New England to support his family.After receiving his MFA, Michael Gizzi moved out to the Berkshires in Western Massachusetts where he worked collaboratively with Clark Coolidge on a Jack Keuroac inspired series. This work with Coolidge cemented a long lasting friendship in work and in life. In the early 1990s, Gizzi began teaching English and creative writing at Lenox High School
, which he did for several years. In the late 1990s, he moved back to Providence. At this time he was married to his second wife, RISD graduate and collage artist, Barbieo (Barros). He worked as adjunct faculty and visiting professor at Roger Williams University
and Brown University. He officially started work as an adjunct creative writing professor at Roger Williams University in 2005 and worked for three more years as a visiting professor there. Due to financial constraints, Roger Williams could not ask Gizzi back in the fall of 2009. He worked as a visiting professor in literary arts at Brown during this time, as well, and coordinated a number of poetry readings and projects such as the Down City Poetry Series on campus. During this period, Michael Gizzi established himself in literary circles as an author and editor through his connection to the Waldrops and other noted poets. He authored over ten books of poetry, including: Bird As, Avis, Species of Intoxication, New Depths of Deadpan, and No Both. Both of his wives, Ippy and Barbieo, contributed artwork for covers of his books. His works were published by Burning Deck, Hard Press, Roof, among others and he would work as an editor for a few of those companies. An indicative reflection of these relationships is highlighted in his work as editor of "Lingo" Magazine which functioned as a component of Hard Press from 1992 - 1998. During this time he edited works from writers such as Bernadette Mayer, Jim Brodey, Merrill GilFillan, and Trevor Winkfield. In 1996 (and 2007) Gizzi was award the Gertrude Stein Award for Innovative Writing. In early 2000 Gizzi collaborated with Craig Watson (who he met for the first time in 1976 at the Waldrop's home) to open the publishing company Qua Books. There first published work was John Ashbery's As Umbrellas Follow Rain in 2002. Their second published work was George Stanely's A Tall, Serious Girl in 2003. He worked on outside projects as well, such as lyrics for music scores. Michael Gizzi died on Monday, September 27th, 2010 in his Providence home at the age of 61.
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...
.
Life
Michael Gizzi was born in Schenectady, New York in 1949 to Carolyn and Anthony Gizzi. He had two brothers, PeterPeter Gizzi
Peter Gizzi is an award-winning American poet and renowned editor of the American poet Jack Spicer. He attended Brown University, New York University and the State University of New York at Buffalo.-Life and career:...
and Thomas Gizzi. He spent part of his childhood living in Ohio and lived in East Greenwich, Rhode Island for three years (10th, 11th, and 12th grade) of high school. His parents moved up to Pittsfield, Massachusetts and he returned to Rhode Island as an undergraduate student at Brown University. He graduated from Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
with a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1976 and returned to Brown to earn his Master of Fine Arts
Master of Fine Arts
A Master of Fine Arts is a graduate degree typically requiring 2–3 years of postgraduate study beyond the bachelor's degree , although the term of study will vary by country or by university. The MFA is usually awarded in visual arts, creative writing, filmmaking, dance, or theatre/performing arts...
degree in English in June 1977. He attended the Masters program with Keith Waldrop who, ultimately, connected him to the Burning Deck community of poets and artists. He was married to his first wife, fellow artist, Ippy (Patterson) and had his daughter Pilar at this time and they purchased a home in Rehobeth, Massachusetts. He worked for seven years as an arborist and tree surgeon in Southeastern New England to support his family.After receiving his MFA, Michael Gizzi moved out to the Berkshires in Western Massachusetts where he worked collaboratively with Clark Coolidge on a Jack Keuroac inspired series. This work with Coolidge cemented a long lasting friendship in work and in life. In the early 1990s, Gizzi began teaching English and creative writing at Lenox High School
Lenox High School
Lenox High School is a historic school at 109 Housatonic Street in Lenox, Massachusetts.The school was built in 1908 and added to the National Historic Register in 2004....
, which he did for several years. In the late 1990s, he moved back to Providence. At this time he was married to his second wife, RISD graduate and collage artist, Barbieo (Barros). He worked as adjunct faculty and visiting professor at Roger Williams University
Roger Williams University
Roger Williams University, commonly abbreviated as RWU, is a private, coeducational American liberal arts university located on in Bristol, Rhode Island, above Mt. Hope Bay. Founded in 1956, it was named for theologian and Rhode Island cofounder Roger Williams...
and Brown University. He officially started work as an adjunct creative writing professor at Roger Williams University in 2005 and worked for three more years as a visiting professor there. Due to financial constraints, Roger Williams could not ask Gizzi back in the fall of 2009. He worked as a visiting professor in literary arts at Brown during this time, as well, and coordinated a number of poetry readings and projects such as the Down City Poetry Series on campus. During this period, Michael Gizzi established himself in literary circles as an author and editor through his connection to the Waldrops and other noted poets. He authored over ten books of poetry, including: Bird As, Avis, Species of Intoxication, New Depths of Deadpan, and No Both. Both of his wives, Ippy and Barbieo, contributed artwork for covers of his books. His works were published by Burning Deck, Hard Press, Roof, among others and he would work as an editor for a few of those companies. An indicative reflection of these relationships is highlighted in his work as editor of "Lingo" Magazine which functioned as a component of Hard Press from 1992 - 1998. During this time he edited works from writers such as Bernadette Mayer, Jim Brodey, Merrill GilFillan, and Trevor Winkfield. In 1996 (and 2007) Gizzi was award the Gertrude Stein Award for Innovative Writing. In early 2000 Gizzi collaborated with Craig Watson (who he met for the first time in 1976 at the Waldrop's home) to open the publishing company Qua Books. There first published work was John Ashbery's As Umbrellas Follow Rain in 2002. Their second published work was George Stanely's A Tall, Serious Girl in 2003. He worked on outside projects as well, such as lyrics for music scores. Michael Gizzi died on Monday, September 27th, 2010 in his Providence home at the age of 61.
Awards
- 2007, 1996 Gertrude Stein Award, for Innovative Writing
- 1995 Fund for Poetry Grant
- 1991, 1987 Massachusetts Foundation Grant
Works
- My Grandfather's Pants, Bench Press (1973)
- Carmela Bianca, Bonewhistle Press, 1974, ISBN 9780914298083
- Bird As, Burning DeckBurning Deck PressBurning Deck is a small press specializing in the publication of experimental poetry and prose. Burning Deck was founded by the writers Keith Waldrop and Rosmarie Waldrop in 1961.-Overview:...
(1976) - Avis, Burning Deck (1979)
- Species of Intoxication, Burning Deck, 1983, ISBN 9780930901103
- Just Like a Real Italian Kid, The Figures (1990)
- Continental Harmony, Roof Books, 1991, ISBN 9780937804414
- Egyptian in hortulus, Paradigm Press, 1991, ISBN 9780945926191
- Interferon, The Figures, 1995, ISBN 9780935724738
- No Both, Hard Press/The Figures, 1997, ISBN 9781889097169
- Cured in the going bebop, Paradigm Press, 2001, ISBN 9780945926610
- New Depths of Deadpan. Providence, RI: Burning Deck Press, 2009, ISBN 9781886224964
Non-fiction
- "Robert Creeley: In Appreciation", 7 April 2005, The Providence Journal