By Courtney Walsh, Staff Writer
Hofstra University's department of English kicked off their seventh annual "Great Writers, Great Readings" Series on Wednesday Oct. 6, with Slovenian poet Tomaž Šalamun. "Great Writers, Great Readings" was launched by The University in an attempt to illustrate the importance of reading and writing in receiving a liberal arts education.
Phillis Levin, an English professor at The University and author of four books of poetry opened for Šalamun,
"It's a great pleasure for me to introduce Tomaž Šalamun, and yet I realize that some of you don't know a thing about where he is from," said Levin.
Many of Šalamun's audience consisted of students who were required to attend the presentation for class credit, however, there were a few of Šalamun's true fans present including Amy King, a professor at Nassau Community College.
"He's out of this world," King said when asked what it was about Šalamun that appealed to her. "American's should be exposed to poetry from other countries… he's the most famous poet in Slovenia. This room should be crowded."
King is a long time fan of Šalamun, but other audience members came out of simple curiosity.
"I saw in the Hofstra brochure that he was a leader of the European avant-garde, and thought wouldn't it be interesting to see a poet from Slovenia," said Joy Romeka who attended the event with her husband Ken Kelly.
Šalamun has earned himself a reputation as one of Europe's most prominent poets, and just as Romeka read a leave of the European avant-garde, the French expression avant-garde which is used to classify a people or actions that are experimental or novel, usually in association with the arts. Šalamun published his premier collection of poetry titled Poker in 1966 at the age of 25 and since then he has composed more than 30 collections of poetry in both English and Slovenian. Šalamun's poetry utilizes both polyphony and surrealism, and is inspired by fellow poets such as Charles Baudelaire and Charles Simic.
"I am draw inspiration from how I live, how I dream and what happens to me," said Šalamun who's originally wanted be pianist.
"I kind of of stumbled into poetry, I never wanted to be a poet it just happened," he said.
Šalamun first came to the United States in the early 1970's when he spent two years at Iowa on the International Writing Programme, and has remained ever since.
Šalamun selected a number of his pieces, reading some in English and others in his native tongue. He finished to tumultuous applause, and remained afterward for book signings and purchases.
"I really did enjoy his readings, I just let my mind wander and take in every description," said Hofstra freshman Corinne Zerfoss.
During the program Levin also formally announced The University's, Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing program, which became available at the start of the semester.
"Great Writers, Great Reading" will have it's next event on November 3,2010 at 3 p.m. in the Monroe Lecture Center Theater and will feature Pulitzer Prize winning poet Stephen Dunn.
For more information, call (516) 463-5410 or visit hofstra.edu/gwgr.
(Courtney Walsh/The Chronicle)