A young Renaissance man of Canadian literature, Jason Dewinetz, will read from his collection of poems and speak about his award-winning work as book designer, publisher and typographer at Oxygen Art Centre on Friday, November 22 at 7:30 p.m.
Dewinetz’s books of poems include Clench from Nova Scotia’s Gaspereau Press and Moving to the Clear from Edmonton’s NeWest Press.
His book design and production for his Greenboathouse Press in Vernon has won 10 national book design awards. Dewinetz has worked as book designer and typographer for several Canadian publishers, including the University of Calgary Press. He currently teaches English and platen press printing at the Vernon campus of Okanagan College.
Dewinitz quotes 20th Century Scots poet William Soutar as saying, “I bleed myself to be your drink: / Is not the blood of poets — ink?” Dewinetz adds, “As this quote suggests, poets make their work of words, and words, at least until fairly recently, were made from ink. My interest in and passion for poetry seemingly inevitably has turned to an interest in and passion for the letterforms that make up the poems, and from this interest has grown a passion for the letter’s companions: type, paper and ink.”
Dewinetz’s appearance, part of Oxygen’s Presentation Series, is free ($5 donation appreciated) and open to the public. Oxygen Art Centre is located at 320 Vernon Street (alley entrance).