Samuel John Paul Tuschen, was Madisons first Poet Laureate from 1978 to
2000 and was Poet Laureate Emeritus from 2000 to 2005. Called
the "Baby Beat" by Allen Ginsberg, Mr. Tuschen was the
representative of the Beat Generation in the Midwest and was
often called the Secret Revolutionary Society of One. Mr.
Tuschen earned a Masters Degree in Rehabilitation Psychology
amid his poetry and worked as a psychologist for Dane County.
The love, affection, irritation and inspiration engendered by Mr.
Tuschen during his forty-year tenure as Madison’s spokesperson
for Art as a Human Right made him a fixture in media and
venues far outreaching his early expectations. He never failed to
support artists perfecting their craft, the lost searching for hope,
and people unseen, unheard, marching to the music in their own
heads, who worked to make life more meaningful for themselves
and others. John died August 5, 2005 at home, as he wished,
doing what he loved best: writing poetry. When one of us is
gone, we are all diminished. But as he said: personne ne
meurt…ils sont seulement sortis de la salle… (nobody dies,
they just leave the room).
2000 and was Poet Laureate Emeritus from 2000 to 2005. Called
the "Baby Beat" by Allen Ginsberg, Mr. Tuschen was the
representative of the Beat Generation in the Midwest and was
often called the Secret Revolutionary Society of One. Mr.
Tuschen earned a Masters Degree in Rehabilitation Psychology
amid his poetry and worked as a psychologist for Dane County.
The love, affection, irritation and inspiration engendered by Mr.
Tuschen during his forty-year tenure as Madison’s spokesperson
for Art as a Human Right made him a fixture in media and
venues far outreaching his early expectations. He never failed to
support artists perfecting their craft, the lost searching for hope,
and people unseen, unheard, marching to the music in their own
heads, who worked to make life more meaningful for themselves
and others. John died August 5, 2005 at home, as he wished,
doing what he loved best: writing poetry. When one of us is
gone, we are all diminished. But as he said: personne ne
meurt…ils sont seulement sortis de la salle… (nobody dies,
they just leave the room).
John Tuschen was born in Chicago in 1949. He attended the University of Wisconsin, Madison where he obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Rehabilitation Psychology in 1992. He remained at the University of Wisconsin and also attained a Master of Science Degree in Rehabilitative Psychology in 1996. Tuschen has worked as a Chemical Abuse Specialist/Psychotherapist. He was also co-director and publicist for the "Fat Rap & Jazz" music and poetry series, was assistant gallery manager for Gallery 853, copywriter for Education Presse, Music and Art Critic for The Daily Cardinal newspaper and contributing writer at the birth of the Isthmus newspaper. He has received numerous grants, scholarships, and awards for his work on the literary scene. He was named Poet Laureate for Madison and awarded the key to the city by Mayor Paul R. Soglin in 1977. He was a member of the Poets-in-the-Schools program, sponsored by the Wisconsin Arts Board in 1977. The City of Madison Cultural Affairs Commission awarded him grants for his poetry in 1979, 1980, 1982, 1985, and 1986. The Dane County Cultural Affairs Commission awarded Tuschen grants for his work in 1980, 1981, and 1986. He also received a John A Johnson Scholarship for scholastic achievement in 1989.
One of Tuschen´s artist statements:
"In 1967, the late Allen Ginsberg whispered to me, “It’s an obsession, Toosh, and
you have it. Now you gotta learn to deal with it.” With that he proceeded to take off his
clothes and began reading poetry to the acoustic accompaniment of the White Trash
Blues Band. This event took place on Picnic Point in Madison, Wisconsin. 37 years later
and I’m still in Madison (although many of those years were spent traveling the country
and half-way around the globe) and I believe that I’ve learned to “deal with it.”
“It” of course, was writing. More specifically - writing poetry and it truly is an
obsession. I write every day, three to four hours (longer if I’m on a roll). Poetry, prose,
essays, even grocery lists in rhyme if that’s all that’s there. I’ve published quite a bit and
am currently talking with Ed Ochester at the University of Pittsburg Press about a
completed collection entitled, Stealing Nickels Off The Eyelids Of Dead People And
Other Poems (Ruth Stone, a National Book Award for Poetry winner has offered to write
the introduction). My other books and chapbooks (please see resume) are out of print. I
also publish and edit the very popular State Street Poetry Sheet. Nearing its third year of
existence, it’s a bi-monthly broadside featuring the work of talented regional and local
poets that is supported by advertising by State Street businesses as well as grants from
the Dane County Cultural Affairs Commission and Madison’s CitiArts.
All this said, my most adventurous and challenging endeavor is titled Ambitious
Leanings: Memoirs of an Ex-Poet Laureate. It’s poetic prose (217 pages thus far) and is
essentially an autobiography detailing how I grew into what I am. It includes childhood
reminisces, portraits of some truly intriguing individuals (famous and infamous) and
memories of the many places I’ve either lived in or passed through. It’s a monster and
often, as you can imagine, very difficult work.
Thank you for reading."
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