Gary Young has been named 2012 Artist of the Year by the Santa Cruz County Arts Commission. A nationally recognized poet, Gary is the County’s 26th artist to be so honored. As a poet, printer, visual artist and educator, Gary has contributed extensively to the cultural life of Santa Cruz County. The high level of artistic production in Santa Cruz County is acknowledged through the Artist of the Year Award. Recipients must live in Santa Cruz County and have a national and/or international reputation, as well as having contributed to the cultural enrichment of the local community.
A Gary Young “Profile Performance” will be held on Friday, May 25, 7:00 p.m., at the Museum of Art & History, 705 Front Street, Santa Cruz. This event celebrates the convergence of literary and visual arts, and will feature a discussion and demonstration of poetry, typography and letter press printing. Admission is FREE to the public. Advance tickets are not available. Seating is limited, and available on a first-come, first-served basis the night of the event.
A lecturer in the Humanities, Gary was named the first-ever Poet Laureate of Santa Cruz County in 2010.
He graduated from UCSC in 1973 and currently teaches poetry as a lecturer in UCSC’s Literature Department. Young is also director of UCSC’s Cowell Press.
