John Ashbery (1927- ), a chronology by Christopher Hornbacker, Millikin University
-Born on July 28 in Rochester, New York.
-Graduated from Harvard University in 1949 and recieved a master's from
Columbia University(N.Y.) in 1951.
-Worked as a copywriter in N.Y.
until 1955
-Worked as an art critic in Paris until 1965
-Returned to N.Y. and was executive editor of "Art News" until
1972 when he took a position teaching at Brooklyn College.
-He is often refered to as a poet of the "New York" school along
with such authors as Frank O'Hara and Kenneth Koch.
-He is the author of sixteen books of poetry as well as books of art criticism,
a collection of plays, and one novel.
-His first book which brought him critical acclaim was "Some Trees"
which was selected by W.H. Auden for the Yale Tounger Poets Prize in 1956.
-His best known book is "Self-Portrait in a Convex Mirror," released
in 1975 which won the Pulitzer, the National Book Award, and the National
Book Critics Circle Award.
-Ashbery is most known for the seeming inaccessability of much of his work.
-His poems often contain sudden shifts in subject, strong imagery and use
of rhythm.
-Relates much of his poetry to art as he was an art critic.
-Aside from awards for "Self-Portrait" Ashbery is the winner of
numerous other awards and fellowships including two Guggenheim fellowships.
-He is currently the Chancellor of the Academy of American Poets and teaches
creative writing in New York.