A father of Modernism
A celebration of Ezra Pounds 115th birthday
By ADAM TANOUS
Express Arts Editor
Ezra Pound lived a life as full as it was controversial. Born in Hailey on
Oct. 30, 1885, Pound went on to become one of the most innovative and influential poets of
the 20th century.
The Ezra Pound Association and the Friends of the Hailey Public Library
will celebrate the 115th birthday of the Hailey native with an evening of
poetry, music, and art entitled An Arts Extravaganza. The event will be held
Monday at 7 p.m. in the library meeting room.
Ted Dyer, the Pound Association vice president, will give a short
presentation on Pound and then read some of his poetry. Following Dyers talk, the
microphone will be opened up to the public. To date, guitarist Armando Alcalde, ballet
dancer Julie Fox and friends, and artist Les Shanahan are slotted to make presentations.
Anyone interested in presenting or performing should arrive early to sign up on the
first-come, first-served list.
Considered to be one of the fathers of Modernismliterature of
non-linear narratives, revelation of interior consciousness, and spare, precise
languagePound influenced some of the centurys best writers, including Robert
Frost, D.H. Lawrence, James Joyce, T.S. Eliot and Ernest Hemingway.
Pound also became notorious for his political views. Living in Italy
during WWII, Pound made pro-fascist radio broadcasts. In 1945 he was arrested by U.S.
forces and jailed. Back in the U.S., he was about to face trial for treason when a panel
of doctors pronounced him "insane and mentally unfit for trial." After 12 years
in a hospital for the criminally insane, Pound was released and he returned to Italy. He
lived out his life there and died in Venice in 1972.
The Ezra Pound Association is dedicated to restoring the birthplace of
Pound at Second Avenue and Pine Street as a center for creativity and cultural study.
The Monday night event is free. For further information call 788-4450 or
788-4318.