Sunday, March 4, 2012

Open Letter To York University Dean – Is This How Canada Honours A National Treasure?


IRVING LAYTON – Centenary Celebrations  EVENTS LISTINGS (alphabetical by Province)
 http://deanjbaker.wordpress.com/irving-layton/irving-layton-centenary-celebrations-events-listings-alphabetical-by-province/

I am writing to call to your attention the fact that Irving Layton, who taught for many years at York, and whom I was privileged to know
does not yet at this time have anything in York University to commemorate the fact of his teaching there, his poetry, and his position
in the world of Literature.
I find that the fact that such a thing was turned down when he died a disgrace; and even more so approaching the centenary of his birth on March 12.
This is a poet whose work and life affected thousands of students for the better; who had an influence on media and letters, songwriters,
critics and whom changed forever the way poetry was viewed.
Irving Layton began the process of public acknowledgement of poetry in Canada, and in the USA, through those he influenced as alive,
vital, and passionately relevant.
Prior to his work and readings, it was unheard of to believe a current generation could be as great in its work as past, dead centuries and thus
never as relevant.

Irving single-handedly changed and broke this barrier, as he prophetically said he would.

He was a light to which poets and writers and critics as diverse as William Carlos Willams to Allen Ginsberg and Michael Hamburger turned and remained looking upon as a source of inspiration.
Through Allen Ginsberg he influenced Odetta, a folk artist, who influenced Bob Dylan.
He taught, influenced and inspired Canadian poets for whom he was and is The Poet such as Al Purdy, Gwen MacEwen, Milton Acorn, John Newlove, and Leonard Cohen. His poems were taught in
schools in the 1960′s.
And throughout the ’60′s and later his influence was felt through newspapers, radio, and television.
Leonard Cohen,who dedicated his latest book to Irving, has called him "Canada’s greatest poet."

He was the first poet awarded the Governor General’s prize for Poetry.
He was twice nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature.
With such seminal influences, coupled with the above facts, it is nothing but amazing that through a passive lack nothing exists to commemorate, at the University where he taught for many years,
such a figure in Literature and the Arts.

Is this how Canada honours one of its most significant national treasures?

I, and many others, hope this is rectified sooner than later as such a process of neglect needs to be corrected and such a poet publicly acknowledged by some permanency.
Not to do so is to not recognize the significance of Poetry, Literature, and the Arts, an especially untenable position for a university.

I am looking forward to hearing from you that this will begin, and in what regards it is chosen to be done.
Thank you for your attention.

Sincerely,
Dean J. Baker

©Dean J. Baker

http://irvinglayton.ca
NOTE: if you agree, and believe Irving Layton ought to be honoured for his position and accomplishments in Poetry, feel free to email: Dean, Faculty of Fine Arts, York University

basyoung@yorku.ca

IRVING LAYTON – Centenary Celebrations  EVENTS LISTINGS (alphabetical by Province)
http://deanjbaker.wordpress.com/irving-layton/irving-layton-centenary-celebrations-events-listings-alphabetical-by-province/

Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material that appears here or has appeared here without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. All material is covered by international intellectual property laws. All characters are the sole property of ©Dean J. Baker and have been so since 2005-2006. They may not be used in any form. Failure to comply with this will be taken as copyright infringement and plagiarism and acted upon with all and full legal means. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Dean J. Baker with appropriate and specific direction to the original content, and the author is informed.

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Canada’s Greatest Poet – Irving Layton

Canada’s Greatest Poet – Irving Layton

A celebration marking Irving’s 100th birthday on March 12. A friend whose company I always looked forward to and still miss.

The man who taught Leonard Cohen, influenced scores of poets, writers, songwriters, he inspired hundreds if not thousands from the unknown to dedicated writers such as Allen Ginsberg who would always quote his work with William Blake, and students still fortunate enough to know poetry is alive in Canada.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Irving-Layton-Centenary-HUB/305476089472566?sk=info

Read his work. You’ll be honored.

http://www.irvinglayton.ca/

©Dean J. Baker
Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material that appears here or has appeared here without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. All material is covered by international intellectual property laws. All characters are the sole property of ©Dean J. Baker and have been so since 2005-2006. They may not be used in any form. Failure to comply with this will be taken as copyright infringement and plagiarism and acted upon with all and full legal means. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Dean J. Baker with appropriate and specific direction to the original content, and the author is informed.
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