“Always More Roses: James Schuyler at 100”: Nov. 4-6, New York

Darragh Park, “Portrait of James Schuyler,” 1991

James Schuyler, one of the central poets of the New York School of poetry, was born 100 years ago this November. In honor of his centenary, there will be a wonderful three-day program celebrating Schuyler’s life and work on November 4-6, 2023, in New York.

Hosted by the Dia Art Foundation, the Poetry Project, and NYU, and co-organized by Matthew Bevis of Oxford University, Always More Roses: James Schuyler at 100 promises to be an exciting weekend that will consist of three parts.

First, “A Morning for the Poet,” on Saturday, 11/4, at NYU. This event will feature a great roster of critics, poets, and friends of Schuyler’s who will be giving short talks on a variety of topics. Speakers include Stephanie Burt, Rona Cran, Jeff Dolven, Tonya Foster, Peter Gizzi, Kamran Javadizadeh, Nathan Kernan, John Koethe, Simon Pettet, Emily Skillings, and Tracie Morris. I’m very excited that I’ve been invited to take part in this event as well, and will be speaking on Schuyler’s friendship with Frank O’Hara and the wonderful, oblique elegy he wrote for O’Hara, “Buried at Springs.” You can see the full slate of speakers and titles of their talks here.

Second, on Saturday night, 11/4, Dia Art Foundation in Chelsea — the same place where Schuyler gave his legendary, late-in-life, first-ever poetry reading in 1988 — will host “It Goes, It Goes: James Schuyler Centenary Celebration,” “an evening in praise of the beloved poet.” The event will feature readings by Wayne Koestenbaum, Chad Morgan, Eileen Myles, Funto Omojola, Teline Trần, and others to be announced.

Third, on Monday, 11/6, the Poetry Project at St. Marks will host a performance of Schuyler’s amazing long poem “Hymn to Life,” featuring a multi-generational, polyvocal group of Schuyler fans, friends, and protégés. As the Poetry Project puts it, “A true poet’s poet, lover’s poet, everybody’s poet, James Schuyler was a dear and committed friend and mentor to many in the Poetry Project’s community, and generations later remains a reason many of us are poets at all.” This in-person event will also be livestreamed via The Poetry Project’s YouTube.

Please join us in celebrating James Schuyler at 100. Hope to see some of you there in person in New York!