lifestyles
By Casey Barnes
Kansan staff writer
John Ryberg had too many beers and a lot of big thoughts the night he and a friend decided to create and publish their own poetry book.
After two years of applying for grants, locating writers, designing pages and editing and writing poems, Ryberg, Salina senior, has completed the dream that was born in a bar.
The book was released two weeks ago and is being sold at Raven, Terra Nova and the Kansas Union bookstores.
All of the writers are former or current KU students and professors.
Coming up with the title "Physics of Context: a handbook for outlaws, exiles, and secret admirers" was the most difficult part of the creative process, Ryberg said. But it represents the writers in the book.
"You have to be one or all of those to be an artist," Ryberg said. "But it is not to be taken too seriously. The humor and wit runs throughout the book."
The poems give multiple impressions of the Midwest and present aspects of Kansas life from a wide variety of writers, Rybern said.
"I liked the idea of creating a local flavor, giving another voice to Kansas art." he said.
The Kansas Arts Commission liked that idea and gave Ryberg and Writers Inc., his non-profit organization, a grant to write the book.
The commission distributes
grants to promote and to bring attention to the arts of Kansas, Ryberg said.
He said that the commission would give grants to 90 percent of the groups that apply. However, most artists never try, assuming defeat before they begin.
"It is not impossible to create your own book, 'Ryberg said.' it is intimidating for people to motivate themselves and attack something like this, but it is not impossible."
Greg Conrad, instructor in Western Civilization and poet in the book, said that what excited him most was the variety and the
"When there are 10 pages for each of the poets, you are able to get a feel for the themes they are trying to deal with," Conrad said. "That is important when reading poetry, and it makes the book special."
number of poets involved. He said that readers were given a real insight into what the poets were trying to say because there were 10 poems from each poet.
cism that he had expected.
Although the book was released only two weeks ago, Conrad said that he had received praise for his work and the work of the other poets but had not received the constructive criti-
Ryberg is funneling the money generated by the book's sales into future works.
He said that he wanted to write 10 short stories and some more poetry, but has some changes in mind for his next endeavor.
"In future books, I would like to involve more visual art to add to the feeling of the poetry," Ryberg said. "Most 20th century art poems are influenced by photography, and modern poetry is very much the equivalent to quick snapshots in time."
While Ryberg said that Lawrence was a cultural hub for the arts, he did not think that people read poems as much as he would like.
"People that don't read poetry are missing out," he said. "For the last 30 years, poetry has been handled by teachers who never have learned to read poetry themselves. Poetry is seen as riddles that have to be cracked, but it is not that way. Anyone who appreciates song lyrics would love poetry."
Ryberg said that he planned to set up workshops around campus and poetry readings at local bookstores to promote his book and to spread awareness of poetry, which he called a performance art that needed to be heard.
"Lawrence is generating a pretty decent music scene, and the arts have a lot of support here," he said. "But I would love to see poetry get more attention. I want to encourage people to give poetry a chance."
Snapshots in Time
That's how John Ryberg, one of the authors featured in the book, "Physics of Context: a handbook for outlaws, exiles and secret admirers," described poetry. Here are a few snapshots from the book.
The Model Comments
This is when I know you, alive the cigarettes burning at my lips
the cigarette ___ ring at my lips
The knowledge comes
with stress just so,
when the canvas cannot be pulled
any tighter, when I can sit
no longer. I discover
you in a cigarette
that never burns
out,but always points beyond
the cascas
to a moment
as meaningful as if flicked
out a speeding window,
left poised, potential, an smoldering above dry grass
— Stephen Johnson
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Cultural Calendar
EXHIBITIONS AND LECTURES
Exhibition- Spooner Hall Architectural Drawings, ends Sunday at Spencer Museum of Art. Exhibition-American Arts & Crafts: Virtue In Design, through Nov. 27 at The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, 4525 Oak St., Kansas City, Mo.
Exhibition From Kashmir to Kutch: Textiles of Northwest India, begins Saturday at Spencer Museum of Art.
Exhibition-Sculptural Concene: Contemporary American Metalworking, through Dec. 18 at Spencer Museum of Art.
Spooner Hall Centennial Lecture-Richard Moe, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, 7 tonight at Spencer Museum Auditorium.
Exhibition-Land and Its Uses: Photographs from the Collection, through Dec. 31 at Spencer Museum of Art.
Exhibition-Kansas Metalsmithing: History and Influence, through Nov. 18 at the Art and Design Building Gallery.
Exhibition-Leonardo da Vinci: Models of Mechanical Inventions, through Nov. 27 at The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, 4525 Oak St., Kansas City, Mo.
PERFORMANCES
Special Theatre Performance- "The Velocity of Gary (Not His Real Name)," 4:30 p.m. Friday at Swarthout Recital Hall.
Fall Concert-KU Vocal Jazz Ensembles, 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Lied Center. Tickets $6 public, $3 students and senior citizens.
University Theatre presents "Tartuffe," 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Crafton-Preyer Theatre. Tickets $8 public, $4 KU students, $7 other students and senior citizens.
Fall Concert-Concert Wind Ensemble, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Lied Center. Tickets $4 public, $2 students and senior citizens.
Honor Recital-Undergraduate Music, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 16 at Swarthout Recital Hall.
Quality Hill Playhouse presents "Blue Betty Blue: the hilbilly rock opera," 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Quality Hill Playhouse, 303 West 10th St., Kansas City, Mo. Advanced tickets $8, $10 at the door.
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