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Steve Gehrke

スティーブ・ガーケ

Steve Gehrke

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1971 （Mankato, Minnesota, United States）
Nationality
United States
Languages
English
Residence History
Mankato, Minnesota, USA → Austin, Texas, USA → Columbia, Missouri (University of Missouri) → South Orange, New Jersey (Seton Hall University) → Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (Gettysburg College) → Reno, Nevada (University of Nevada, Reno)

Career

Occupations
poet, teacher, editor
Active Years
1995-
Affiliations
University of Missouri (poetry editor, The Missouri Review), Seton Hall University (faculty), Gettysburg College (faculty), University of Nevada, Reno (MFA faculty)
Influenced By
Lynne McMahon, Sherod Santos, Philip Levine

Education

Minnesota State University, Mankato
Degree: B.A.
Country: United States
University of Texas at Austin
Degree: MFA
Country: United States
Received MFA
University of Missouri
Degree: Ph.D.
Country: United States
Completed Ph.D.; studied with Lynne McMahon and Sherod Santos

Awards

John Ciardi Prize for Poetry
1999
Work: The Resurrection Machine
Organization: BkMk Press / University of Missouri
Result: 受賞
Philip Levine Prize in Poetry
2002
Work: The Pyramids of Malpighi
Organization: Anhinga Press
Result: 受賞
National Poetry Series
2005
Work: Michelangelo's Seizure
Organization: National Poetry Series
Result: 受賞（選出）
Lannan Foundation Marfa Residency
2009
Organization: Lannan Foundation
Result: 受賞（レジデンス）

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

The Resurrection Machine

2000 Poetry

A collection of poems addressing medical technology, bodily change, transplantation and disease; reflects the author's experience with kidney failure and family medical events.

the bodyillnesstransplantationvulnerability

The Pyramids of Malpighi

2004 Poetry

A poetry collection intertwining the body and art with anatomical imagery, portraying beauty and decay of the flesh with a sharp eye.

artanatomylife and death

Michelangelo's Seizure

2007 Poetry

A collection that references art history and images of artists to question the body and creation; received critical attention.

visual artcreativityembodiment

Bibliography

  • The Resurrection Machine (2000)
  • The Pyramids of Malpighi (2004)
  • Michelangelo's Seizure (2007)
  • Individual poems published in Blackbird, AGNI, Southwest Review, The Georgia Review, The Yale Review, Slate, The Iowa Review, The Kenyon Review

Style & Themes

Literary Style
clear, sharp imagerydetailed depiction of bodily and medical motifsa style emphasizing concrete physical description over abstraction
Recurring Motifs
the bodytransplantation and medical careimages of artworks and artistsdeath and repair

Health

  • kidney failure
    The author's health (kidney failure) and a family transplant experience influenced his work, leading to themes of transplantation and bodily vulnerability.

Legacy

Steve Gehrke is known for poetry that intersects corporeality, medicine and art; he has received multiple poetry prizes and residencies and achieved critical recognition.

Quotes

  • Steve Gehrke also seeks to comprehend beauty in the mystery of the human body, yet Gehrke's search for comfort and understanding leads in rather a different direction than Stevens' abstractions, taking us through an unvarnished look at the body's flaws and failings that is another aspect of its power to inspire awe. Through the eyes of both patients and artists, Steve Gehrke examines "the world in repair."
    Source: Blackbird review (Anna Journey) (2005)

Trivia

  • The author experienced kidney failure and his sister donated a kidney to him.
  • Selected for the Lannan Foundation Marfa Residency in 2009.