How to Read 20,000 Drawing Poems by Robert Grenier: A Talk by Paul Stephens

Since 1989, Robert Grenier has rejected typography as a medium for his poetry, and has written exclusively by hand. His color drawing poems test the limits of conventional legibility, and have been difficult for readers to access. In this slide lecture, Paul Stephens will offer a historical overview based on extensive archival research. Stephens, author of The Poetics of Information Overload: From Gertrude Stein to Conceptual Writing (Minnesota 2015) will explore the development of Grenier’s drawing practice, and suggest ways in which the poems can be viewed and interpreted.