John Lannan with Billy Collins and Barbara Lannan
Photograph taken at the Green Street loft of Chicago arts supporter Allen Turner following a reading by Collins at the Chicago Poetry Center, shortly after Collins became U.S. Poet Laureate.
During KC Clarke’s tenure as executive director, Turner regularly hosted poetry benefit gatherings in his loft to support the Poetry Center’s programming.
John Lannan served as a board member of the Poetry Center and also held a board role with the Lannan Foundation. Through those roles he was a strong advocate for the Center, helping secure foundation support that allowed the organization to expand its reach during those years.
John and Barbara lived in Chicago’s South Loop at the time and maintained a close friendship with Clarke and his wife Laura.
Much of what occurred during the Poetry Center’s programming expansion in that period depended on this network of supporters, artists, and friends.
