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“Coffee Table Books Live,” the meet-the-author and book-signing series hosted by the South Pasadena Arts Council (SPARC), features Dana Gioia and Ron Koertge—two poets who are as entertaining as they are thought-provoking—on Sunday, November 19, 2023, 7 p.m., at the Fremont Centre Theatre in South Pasadena. Admission is free.
Poet and literary critic Dana Gioia, who served as California State Poet Laureate from 2015 to 2019, will present excerpts from his newest poetry collection, Meet Me at the Light House (Greywolf Press, 2023). The former Chair of the National Endowment for the Arts, Gioia’s numerous accolades include the American Book Award and Poets Prize.
Joining Gioia will be Pushcart Prize-winning poet Ron Koertge, reading from his most recent book of poetry, I Dreamed I Was Emily Dickinson’s Boyfriend (Red Hen Press, 2022). Koertge, South Pasadena Poet Laureate, is a two-time winner of the PEN Literary Award for Children’s Literature. A screen adaptation of his poem, “Negative Space,” was an Academy Award nominee for Best Short Animated Film.
A Q&A and book signing with the authors will follow the presentation. Both books will be available for purchase. A percentage of proceeds from book sales at this event will support SPARC and Friends of the South Pasadena Public Library. Light refreshments will be provided. Reservations not required. The Fremont Centre Theatre is located at 1000 Fremont Avenue, South Pasadena, CA 91030. Information: (626) 789-5605.
Founded as a grassroots effort in 2009, the South Pasadena Arts Council (SPARC) is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit arts organization that develops educational and public arts programs, creates interactive projects, and collaborates with other organizations in the City of South Pasadena and the surrounding Los Angeles area to foster and produce cultural events featuring the visual, performing, literary, and media arts. SPARC is open to people in all creative fields, art appreciators, art patrons, educators, and any others interested in helping the arts thrive in South Pasadena and neighboring communities. Information:
https://www.sopasartscouncil.org/.
