Kevin Prufer remembers Russell Atkins in this month's issue of Poetry Magazine

Kevin Prufer says: "I think Russell Atkins is one of the most fascinating, unique, and brilliant poets of the 2nd half of the 20th century. He's also one of the most under-appreciated. He died earlier this year. Here's a piece I wrote about him for the Poetry Foundation and Poetry Magazine."

 

 

Permalink: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/articles/1637023/a-syntax-of-his-own-remembering-russell-atkins.

Russell Atkins
Memorial Service

Friday, September 13, 2024
2:00 p.m.

Nesbitt Funeral Home 
6415 Quincy Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44104

The short memorial service will include displays of Russell's books and final papers. Following the service, attendants may, if they wish, proceed to the cemetery and give brief remarks.

Obituary:
https://www.nesbittfh.com/obituary/Russell-Atkins

Cleveland Scene story:
https://www.clevescene.com/news/russell-atkins-cleveland-poet-who-made-strides-in-avant-garde-scene-dead-at-98-45062475

Cleveland Concrete

Check out this karl kempton essay elucidating some important Cleveland history in the field of concrete poetry.

"This article brings to light a group of individuals in Cleveland, Ohio out of which came the first American anthology of concrete poetry, cleveland concrete," published by rjs in 1966.

Read the entire piece at https://synaptry.blogspot.com/2021/12/synapse-essay-eleventh-cleveland.html.

An example of concrete poetry by Russell Atkins
(image courtesy of Aldon Nielsen's blog)

A Tribute to Russell Atkins - February 27th on Zoom

From our friends at Cave Canem:

Cave Canem invites you to celebrate this Black History Month by joining us in A Tribute to Russell Atkins. Poet, playwright and composer, Atkins’ work has had a devoted following since the 1950s, but he has found new audiences in the 21st century. At soon-to-be 96, Atkins has survived an extortionate conservatorship–during which time legally-appointed guardians went quickly through money earned from the resale of his family home, burned all his papers (opera, drama, poetry, journals, and correspondence with Langston Hughes and Marianne Moore)–and COVID19. Join us in honoring the tenacious artistry and longevity of this innovative virtuoso.  

Readings will be given by Janice Lowe, Daniel Gray-Kontar and Julie Ezelle Patton, along with a rare performance of Atkins’ “Objects for Piano” by pianist, Milena Gligić.  

This event is virtual. Click here to register.
Free and open to the public.

Celebrate Cleveland Legend Russell Atkins Nov. 19th

Diane Kendig writes:

Nov. 19th: BE In the Company of Russell Atkins

Book Launch  Party!

Saturday, November 19, 2016, 2:00-3:30 p.m.*

for In the Company of Russell Atkins:  A celebration...

Please join us for some tributes and poems from the book read by Yaseen Assami, John Donoghue, Dawn Lundy-Martin, M A Shaheed, Joan Nicholl, Okantah, P K Saha, Leonard Trawick, Ra Washington and editors Diane Kendig and Bob McDonough and others.

The poet Robert Creeley often pointed to "the company of poets," how it fuels our life and our work, and certainly those of us who have been fueled by the life and work of Russell Atkins-- which includes his work as poet, editor, composer, teacher, colleague, and friend--will want to be there in person or in spirit to salute him in his 90th year. 

The book was the brainchild of two of the "Friends of Atkins," Assami and Shaheed who asked Bob McDonough and myself to edit it. Assisted by Russell himself, we contacted many poets who knew of Russell's work, with a request that they send their thoughts on him and a few of their own poems. Twenty-seven responded, including Russell, who has written a new poem that will be in the book along with others by him. Then, George Bilgere graciously wrote an introduction to the resulting collection, which is being published by Red Giant. It will be available at Mac's Backs in Cleveland Heights and can be ordered by any bookstore and online at Amazon. But don't wait: join us on Saturday and get the first copies there. 

Russell Atkins plans to be there, and there will be time to greet him or meet him, if you never have met him before, to buy and sign books and eat cake in the reception to follow. Long live our company!

*at South Euclid-Lyndhurst Public Library

1876 S. Green Road, between Mayfield & Cedar Road

South Euclid, OH 44121

• Event notice on Diane's blog Home Again
• Belt Magazine: "Rediscovering Russell Atkins"

Requesting Support for Russell Atkins

Requesting Support for Russell Atkins 

M. A. Shaheed, with the support of Yaseen AsSami, Diane Kending and Robert E. McDonough, is attempting to convince the city of Cleveland and the East Cleveland Public Library to honor Cleveland poet, composer, editor, librettist, and literary and musical theorist Russell Atkins by naming the street on which he lived (in Cleveland) and perhaps a room in the East Cleveland Public Library after him. We are asking you to assist this effort by making a signed statement about the importance of his achievement; because this statement will be showed to more than one person, it is probably best not to make it a letter but instead one page or so, headed with something like “On Russell Atkins” and finishing with your signature and perhaps a brief bio indicating your position in the arts. If you would like to refresh your familiarity with Russell’s poetry, a good place is ; clicking on his name in the author list will bring you to all the poetry Russell Atkins had collected by 2000.

It will be very helpful if you can send this statement as an email attachment to M. A. Shaheed at <naamtaib@yahoo.com> as soon as possible, ideally within a week. By honoring Russell Atkins’ lifelong commitment to art and tremendous achievement, we also honor art itself.         

Robert E. McDonough                        

Russell Atkins: Celebrating the Living Legend

Diane Kendig reports from the East Cleveland Public Library event Russell Atkins: Celebrating the Living Legend.

R.A. with Honorary Doctorate

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Note added May 2015: A long (and horrifying) story about Russell Atkin's involuntary move out of his house, and the loss of his manuscripts, letters, and papers, can be found on Diane Kendig's blog: RUSSELL ATKINS: A Cautionary Tale for Aging Poets and Others

Ready for Levyfest?

Friday is Ohio Poetry Day, and here in Cleveland, this year that means one thing: first day of Levyfest

Ready for Levyfest?

• Levyfest Facebook Page
• Who was d.a. levy, anyway?

As an added bonus, if the weekend-long Levyfest isn't enough poetry for one city, on Saturday afternoon the East Cleveland Public Library is sponsoring a celebration of Cleveland legend Russell Atkins, with a reception following for poets to view some of the Atlanta University Center archival materials and share their own memories of Atkins and his work.

Friday, October 24th - 6-9 PM: An intimate reading and publishers' mixer at The Spotted Owl in Tremont - Join us for cocktails, poetry, and the release of the Renegade Flowers anthology! Stick around afterwards for cocktails and conversation!

Saturday, October 25th - 9:30AM - 5PM: Festival events at Cleveland State University's Michael Schwartz Library - Panels, readings, and discussions, including a curated tour of CSU's levy collections, documentary screening, and meet-and-greets!

Saturday, October 25th - 7:00PM - 10:30PM: The community reading series at Lava Lounge in Tremont, including readings hosted by The Writing Knights starting at 7:00pm (Knightmares Halloween show) and hosted by Deep Cleveland's Joshua Gage starting at 8 pm!
 
Saturday, October 25th - 7:00PM - Close: A knock-down, drag-out poetry experience at The Literary Cafe in Tremont hosted by the inimitable Steve Goldberg and Nick Traenkner, featuring several panelists and poets from the festival.

Sunday, October 26th - 10:00AM - 12:00PM: Levy memorial service at Edgewater park by the beach (Weather Permitting.)

On-Campus events at Cleveland State University's Michael Schwartz Library) for Saturday are listed here: http://engagedscholarship.csuohio.edu/levyfest/2014/campus/
Off-Campus events are listed here: http://engagedscholarship.csuohio.edu/levyfest/2014/community/

 Not all of the readings have been announced yet, but Joshua Gage has posted the line-up for the readings at Lava Lounge, 2061 West 10th Street, Tremont, on Saturday night.  Watch for:

•  8:10 Mary A. Turzillo
• 8:20 Jill Riga
• 8:30 Geoffrey A. Landis
• 8:40 Marissa Hyde
• 8:50 John Burroughs
• 9:00 Batya Weinbaum
• 9:10 dan smith
• 9:20 Elise Geither
• 9:30 Ryan Sagert
• 9:40 Marie Lillian Vibbert
• 9:50 Vertigo Xi'an Xavier
• 10:00-10:30 Open Mike

See you all there!

Celebrating the Living Legend: Russell Atkins

Contact: Sheba Marcus-Bey East Cleveland Public Library Phone (216) 541-4128 sheba.marcus-bey@ecpl.lib.oh.us

14101 Euclid Avenue East Cleveland, OH 44112

East Cleveland Public Library

East Cleveland, OH, October 25, 2014:  Four Friends of Russell Atkins, in collaboration with East Cleveland Public Library, is proud to present a program “Celebrating the Living Legend: Russell Atkins” on Saturday, October 25, 2014 from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm in the Greg L. Reese Performing Arts Center, 14101 Euclid Avenue, East Cleveland, OH 44112.

The event seeks to pay tribute to Cleveland’s long-standing iconoclast, who has been known as an avant-garde poet, dramatist, musical composer, and editor throughout his lengthy and productive career. The program will feature music, tributes, and readings of Atkins’ poetry. The 88-year-old Atkins will be in attendance. Atkins is the subject of a new book, Russell Atkins: On the Life and Work of an American Master (Pleiades Press), edited by Kevin Prufer, a native Clevelander now at the University of Houston, who will speak at the event.

In 1950, Atkins cofounded Free Lance, which is one of the oldest black-owned literary magazine. Through this publication of avant-garde writing, Atkins contributed to the development of New American poetry. During his career, Atkins corresponded with famous twentieth-century poets Langston Hughes and Marianne Moore.

The event is planned by four writers who have been helping Atkins in his recent transition to a nursing home: Yaseen AsSami, Diane Kendig, Robert McDonough, and Shaheed Mutawaf. “It was a difficult time,” said Kendig, “Much of his life’s work was destroyed in the move.” Their friendships with Atkins go back to creative writing workshops in the 1960s and 70s, and they wanted to rally to his support. “We had a birthday party for him in February,” says Kendig, “and writers came out from all over Cleveland and from out of state in a Northeast Ohio blizzard to be there, with cards pouring in front all over the U.S. He is clearly loved and respected.”

When the group contacted the East Cleveland Public Library for the event, Executive Director Sheba Marcus-Bey quickly responded with the invitation for the library to host the event. “We are happy to offer a venue and resources to celebrate such an esteemed, creative force. We are honored to host this event,” says Marcus-Bey.

Following with the program, there will be a reception and sale of the book. The public is welcome to attend. Further information is available through the East Cleveland Public Library, (216) 541-4128 and Diane Kendig, (330) 479-7132 or Mutawaf Shaheed (216) 272-1509.

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Russel Atkins, On the Life and Work of an American Master:
Reviews:

• Fringe
• Volta
• Verse Daily

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Russell Atkins

From Diane Kendig:
This year has been the best of times, it has been the worst of times for Cleveland poet Russell Atkins. The best is the new book on him by Pleiades Press, Russell Atkins: On the Life and Work of an American Master, ed. by former Clevelander Kevin Prufer and Michael Dumanis. Please consider ordering a copy from your favorite independent bookstore.

The worst was the forcible removal of Russell to a nursing home, without allowing him to take his possessions. Four of us have been visiting and assisting him in recovering from all this.

He has an 88th birthday coming up next week which we will be celebrating with his favorite cake on Thursday, Feb. 27th. If anyone would like to attend, please email Diane Kendig or Bob McDonough for the time and locale and so we have enough cake. If you can't attend but would like to wish him well, please send a card to

Russell Atkins
The Grande Pavilions
24613 Broadway Avenue
Oakwood Village, OH 44146


Diane Kendig
Web page: http://dianekendig.com/
Blog, Home Again: http://dianekendig.blogspot.com/

"This is an astounding tribute to one of the most innovative American artists, Russell Atkins, by a small, independent publisher, Pleiades Press. Prufer, a professor in the Creative Writing Program at the University of Houston , and Dumanis, a professor at Bennington College, put together this labor of love, paying homage to Atkins, this peerless yet largely unknown poet, composer, dramatist, theorist, and editor."

--Robert Fleming 

"Russell Atkins is an American original, representative of an often African-American or increasingly Hispanic American working class side of American culture and society which is at an ever increasing rate being dropped by the wayside. This is the down and out, every day underbelly of American cities. As Sean Singer argues, for Atkins “the urban environment is a vital source for [Atkins’] imagination. Urban life, and specifically black urban life, is important to his work. Cleveland, and the cultural imagination of Cleveland, are ‘main characters’ in most of Atkins’ work.” His writings are of a quirky, odd sort and there’s no easy “fit” for them, since there’s often nothing very fashionable happening in them—not now and not at the time he was writing. Born and raised in Cleveland, he’s never left. The majority of his published books come from small presses, with the possible exception of Paul Bremen’s Heritage Series published out of London in the 60s. In 1976, Cleveland State University brought out the largest selection of his poems entitled Here In The. There has been little attention given his work on any significant public level since. The inclusion of Russell Atkins’ work in the Unsung Masters series by Pleiades Press seems destined. He’s exactly of the sort whose work and life this project is meant to serve."

--Patrick James Dunagan

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• Rediscovering Russell Atkins, from Belt Magazine