John M. Bennett

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John M. Bennett (b. 1942, Chicago) is an American experimental text, sound, and visual poet, who has won the attention of critic Richard Kostelanetz, and other commentators on the avant-garde. As well as steadily producing and distributing his own work, Bennett, through "Luna Bisonte Prods", a small press business founded in 1974, has published thousands of limited edition items by writers who compose visual poetry, wordart, and other experimental fiction/art/poetry. Bennett's work, publications (including 30 years of "Lost & Found Times" magazine), and papers are collected in several major institutions, including Washington University (St. Louis), SUNY Buffalo, The Ohio State University and The Museum of Modern Art. Bennett himself is the curator of the "Avant Writing Collection", "The William Burroughs Collection", and "The Cervantes Collection" at The Ohio State University Libraries. More information about Luna Bisonte Prods & a more extensive resume can be found at www.johnmbennett.net

Recent Publications

• THE PEEL (Anabasis,2004)
• rOlling COMBers (Potes & Poets Press)
• CHAC PROSTIBULARIO (with Ivan Arguelles) (Pavement Saw Press, 2001)
• MAILER LEAVES HAM (Pantograph Press, 1999)
• LOOSE WATCH (Invisible Books, 1998)
• GLUE (xPress(ed), 2005)
• INSTRUCTION BOOK (Luna Bisonte Prods, 2006)
• CANTAR DEL HUFF (Luna Bisonte Prods, 2006)
• LA M AL (Blue Lion Books, 2006)
• SOUND DIRT (with Jim Leftwich) (Luna Bisonte Prods, 2006)

Performances/ Sound Works

Bennett has performed solo and with numerous musicians and other poets, often with the collaborative sound poetry group THE BE BLANK CONSORT, which has released a recording titled SOUND MESS.

As Visual Poet

Bennett has exhibited his visual poetry internationally.

As Mail Artist

Bennett has been active in the mail art network since about 1974.