November’s Final Thursday Reading Series comes one week early (on November 21) due to Thanksgiving. The featured reader will be Paul Brooke, a Professor of English at Grand View University and editor of Cities of the Plains: An Anthology of Iowa Artists and Poets, which features 57 artists and poets and highlights the immense talent of the state. Brooke will be joined on stage by regional contributors to the collection.
The Final Thursday Reading Series takes place (**don’t forget: one week early) at the Hearst Center for the Arts in Cedar Falls, Iowa. There will be an open mic at 7:00 p.m. (bring your best five minutes of original creative writing). Paul Brooke and friends take the stage at 7:30. The featured reading will also be simulcast on Zoom. Click HERE to register for a link.
Interview by Tomiisin Ilesanmi.
TOMIISIN ILESANMI: “The Cities of the Plains” is a symbolic title. What was the inspiration behind this choice, and what do you intend to convey with this introduction?
PAUL BROOKE: It comes from a poem from Mona Van Duyn and, of course, it relates to Cormac McCarthy as well. But in the poem she writes of "fabulous bouquets of persons" and I immediately thought about the talent pool of artists and poets in the state. It also suggests that we meld the urban and the rural throughout our work. Notice that the cover is the capital with the prairie underneath showing both aspects of the title.
TI: This anthology portrays diverse artistic expressions across Iowa. Was this an intentional setup, or did you experience an organic shift while compiling the project?
PB: It was all very intentional as we have a diverse group of artists/poets and I wanted it to show the cross section of folks who are doing this good work. This also makes the anthology very surprising and gives a wonderful selection of art and poems.
TI: The early poems in this collection challenged my preconceived perception of an “Americanized and stereotypical” Iowan depiction. Can you explain how you addressed those expectations and provided a more nuanced perspective on these themes?
PB: That was purposeful as I wanted the anthology to be multicultural, leaning into interdisciplinary connections. This meant that writers like Vi Khi Noa needed to set the stage. Also, the artwork really helped to explode that "Americanized and stereotypical" label. So many artists are doing ground breaking work that the old convention seems wrecked.
TI: Why are Iowa poets and artists often disregarded or dismissed?
PB: I think there is a stereotype about
Iowa that we are all farmers or some such nonsense. But there is this
amazing pool of talent which I believe flourishes in Iowa because Iowa
gives us the time and space to be super creative and innovative.
TI: What makes the artistic community of Iowa distinct and why do you think it was important to showcase these artists in this collection?
PB: There had not been a poetry anthology like this done since 1996 and it was high time to showcase these artists and poets. It gives all of them a publication, a place to read/present their work, and a way to connect. I have been mentoring many of the poets in this collection and try to invite them to read when the opportunity arises.
PB: I have worked on more massive projects but this is the most rewarding for me since I have helped many young artists and poets. For some of them, this was a first publication. For others, it reinforced their skill/talent. We need more of this in Iowa. We must celebrate each other and support our artists and writers in every way possible.
