The Master of Fine Arts Program in Creative Writing at Fresno State presented the Central California premiere of the documentary film “A Late Style of Fire: Larry Levis, American Poet” in a community screening at the historic Tower Theatre.
Tickets cost $10. Participants were also given the option to make a donation toward the creation of a new Larry Levis scholarship at Fresno State to benefit creative writing students. Proceeds from this film screening provided the startup funds for the scholarship, to be built by the Fresno State Creative Writing Alumni Chapter.
Time: 6:30 to 9 PM
Date: Friday, November 18, 2016
Location: The Tower Theatre (809 E. Olive Avenue)
The brilliant poetry and troubled life of Fresno State alumnus Larry Levis came to an abrupt halt when he died at age 49. This lyric documentary, which features a score by musician Sam Beam of Iron & Wine, conveys the intensities of contemporary poetry by probing a central question raised by the life of Levis: Is self-destruction an inescapable aspect of choosing a serious commitment to art? The film explores his childhood working alongside Mexican field hands in Selma, his friendships with America’s greatest poets, and his own words for answers.
The screening featured special appearances by director Michele Poulos; producer Gregory Donovan; and poet David St. John, who edited the posthumously released January 2016 collection of Levis’s poetry, The Darkening Trapeze, from Graywolf Press.
EVENT SPONSORS:
College of Arts and Humanities at Fresno State
The Tower Theatre for the Performing Arts
Fresno City College Friends of the Arts
Linnea Alexander
Fresno Poets’ Association reading series
Fresno State Creative Writing Alumni Chapter
Purchase the interview collection “Prismatics: Larry Levis & Contemporary American Poetry” from Diode Editions.
Fresno Writers dot com 