WINONA LAKE — Grace Professor of English and Creative Writing Dr. John Poch will read from his most recent book of poems on Thursday, Oct. 10 at 7 p.m. at Atelier Gallery, 104 E. Center St., Warsaw.
“Having this opportunity at Atelier Gallery is important for several reasons,” said Poch. “This will be my first time reading from this book. Also, it is a privilege to read in this gallery space where the current Jason Myers show is hanging. I loved reading from my work on the Grace campus last year, and now I get the chance to take my poems into the community.”
Poch will be reading from his book of selected poems, “Cantiamo, Prendiamo Il Coltello (We Sing, We Take the Knife),” which was published in Italy by Ensemble Edizioni in 2022. The book is a facing page translation in both languages, translated by the Italian poet Pietro Federico, according to a news release from Grace.
The book gathers many of Poch’s best poems from his first seven collections as well as poems previously unpublished in book form. He will also read from “Dark Cathedral,” to be published with Slant Books next year. His reading will co-occur with contemporary Indiana-based artist Jason Myers’ exhibition in the gallery.
Sea Grandon, owner of the Atelier Gallery, invited Poch to participate in the gallery’s reading series when the two recently met. Grandon is an art advisor and attorney specializing in contemporary and emerging art. In March 2023, she opened Atelier, a contemporary art gallery, where she serves as the owner and director. She believes the arts in all forms are integral to fueling individual passion and fostering communal compassion.
“The Atelier gallery space is intimate and professional, and Sea curates nationally-known artists as good as in any New York or Los Angeles gallery,” said Poch.
An undergraduate art history minor, Poch has collaborated with dozens of artists in making books, paintings, photographs, poetry films and other works involving his poetry.
Poch is the author of eight collections of poems, which have been published in “Paris Review,” “Poetry,” “Five Points,” “Birmingham Poetry Review” and many other magazines. His first book of criticism, “God’s Poems: The Beauty of Poetry and the Christian Imagination,” was published by St. Augustine’s Press in 2022. He was a Fulbright Core Scholar at the University of Barcelona in 2014, and he is currently the series editor for the Vassar Miller Poetry Prize.
Poch teaches literature and creative writing courses at Grace College, and he advises the student editors of the Grace literary magazine Inkspot.
To learn more about Grace’s creative writing minor, visit grace.edu/programs/creative-writing-minor/.