Before we get to Kay’s report, I want to thank her for
sending it along with the photographs. I also want to mention that Judy
Schuhlein, another correspondent, also attended some of the Key West EB events.
In particular, she attended the birthday party/poetry reading, which she noted
took “place in the ‘listening room’ behind the Key West theatre, a totally
black room with round tables for two with black tablecloths and dim lighting.”
She reports that “about 20 people read [Bishop’s] poems or poems they had
written about her or inspired by her.” She notes there was “wine, and in the
intermission there was a birthday cake … and we all sang happy birthday to”
Bishop. Interestingly, Judy reports that she spoke “with one of the poets, who
was from Halifax, Nova Scotia, but now lives in Key West. Her name is Janice Colbert, and
she read her lovely poem entitled ‘Dear Elizabeth Bishop’.” Finally, Judy
concludes, “It was great to hear so many local poets and to see the great
enthusiasm for Elizabeth and for her poetry in Key West.”
Now to Kay’s report:
This has been a banner year for Elizabeth Bishop studies
in Key West. The house Bishop purchased at 624 White Street in Key West was put
up for sale and was purchased by the Key Literary Seminar in November
2019. Arlo Haskell, the chairman of the
Seminar, said the goal is to restore and maintain it as it was when Bishop
lived there.
During the week of February 3-8 several events were held
to honor Bishop. A talk by Arlo Haskell entitled “From the highest heron down
to the weightless mangrove island: Elizabeth Bishop among the Birds and Beasts
of Key West.” Bishop was fascinated by
the variety of birds and the natural surroundings of Key West. Photos of
various birds were presented by Mark Hedden.
Thomas Travisano, a prominent Bishop scholar, presented a
talk, “My Shelter from the Hurricane:
Elizabeth Bishop’s Search for Home.”
He discussed the various homes that Bishop lived in from Great Village,
Canada, to Key West, running down the east coast of Canada and the United
States and later, Brazil. Bishop
purchased her first home in Key West in 1938. Travisano spoke of the solidity
of Bishop's poetry, similar to the solidity of the buildings her father's
company built in Boston. He discussed how homes mattered to Bishop. He asked
the audience to imagine Bishop peering into a worker's house and its sense of
stability which she didn't have.
The next day, February 8, was proclaimed “Elizabeth
Bishop Day” by the Mayor of Key West.
A panel discussion entitled “North and South: Key West in
Elizabeth Bishop’s Life and Art,” consisted of
Bethany Hicok, Tom Travisano, Barbara Page. Emily Schulten, and David
Hoak, moderated by Arlo Haskell. It took
place on 8 February in the backyard of Bishop’s house in Key West, 624 White
Street. Palm branches rustled overhead, gently blowing in the breeze. Hoak
discussed love and stability in Key West. When Bishop and Louise Crane bought
the house at 624 White Street, it was the longest stretch living with someone
yet. It was also the first of her beloved homes. Hicok spoke about Key West’s
effect on Bishop’s views on race relations in the U.S. Bishop’s poem “Cootchie”
discusses how a black servant, Cootchie, spent her life caring for her white
employer, Miss Lula. Travisano spoke about Bishop’s poem “Seascape,” written in
Key West, as central to her poetry.
(Left to right: Emily Schulten, Tom Travisano,
Bethany
Hicok, Barbara Page, David Hoak)
Later in the evening local poets gathered and read a
variety of poems by Bishop, including “Filling Station,” “Florida,” “Questions
of Travel” and “One Art,” as well as some of their own poems, which focused on
Bishop in Key West. During the intermission all enjoyed a slice of the Elizabeth
Bishop Happy Birthday cake. The Bishop birthday party was hosted by Malcom
Willison.
(Alas, I do not know any of the people in this photo)
Here are some more photos from the reading, just in from Kay. Thanks, again, Kay for sending the report and supplying the images.
(Arida Wright)
(Sheri Lori)
(Edgardo Alvarado-Vazquez)
(Arlo Haskell)
(The BIRTHDAY CAKE!)
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