Many saddened by departure of poet Troupe
By Lance Vargas

La Jolla's arts community is reacting with sadness to news that former California Poet Laureate nominee and local resident Quincy Troupe will be leaving the area after his final term as a UCSD literature professor in June.

"The mix of writers and musicians and poets that he brought in," said Adrian Newell, book buyer for Warwick's, "it was all because of his connections. It provided something that San Diego has not had in its history. I don't know that it can be duplicated."

Troupe resigned from his UCSD post Dec. 3 while waiting for the outcome of a UCSD investigation over a falsification on his resume that he received a bachelor's degree. Gov. Gray Davis named Troupe as California's first Poet Laureate last June, but the poet resigned when the discrepancies were discovered. Troupe and his wife, Gallery owner Margaret Porter-Troupe, are planning to relocate to New York City at the end of the academic year.

"I think there will be a tremendous loss not only in the La Jolla area but also in the San Diego area," said Erica Torri, executive director of the Athenaeum. "They were a guiding light in the cultural life of San
Diego. It benefited all of San Diego, not just La Jolla."Troupe has been a regular participant in the La Jolla arts scene since his arrival in San Diego.

One of his most notable contributions has been the Artists on the Cutting Edge series at the Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego. As organizer of the series, Troupe brought a number of well known artists to the area such as poets Allen Ginsberg, Michael McClure, Amiri Baraka, and the late Gwendolyn Brooks, actor Danny Glover, jazz musicians Max Roach, Charles and Chuck McPherson, and writers Terry McMillan and Toni Morrison.

"His contributions are enormous," said Anne Farrell, director of external affairs the Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego. "He put literature at the center of cultural dialogue throughout our community and brought an exceptional group of artists to La Jolla to perform: Nobel laureates and emerging artists, writers who were relatively unknown when they performed in (Artists on the Cutting Edge), then went on to greater renown. Where else would one have the chance to hear Toni Morrison read from her latest novel, then hear drummer Max Roach perform, and then get the chance to hear both of them together in a reading/drumming improvisation?"

La Jolla bookstores are also lamenting the loss of Troupe's contributions.

"I think there is going to be a huge void left by his departure," said Newell. "That's not to say that there aren't others who contribute, but he and his wife have been among the most visible here in the community. He was a huge supporter of independent bookstores. I'll miss him."

Ted Burke, also a Warwick's employee, credits Troupe as a force behind the elevation of La Jolla artistically and culturally. With the poet's departure, Burke worries that the community may lose some of the ground it covered throughout Troupe's stay.

"It's my feeling that the university should have stepped up with some sort of reasonable penance for Troupe," Burke said, "rather than lose the good work of someone who's good work has filled nearly three decades, and whose extraordinary efforts on behalf of poetry and culture in San Diego have made our city a more interesting city to live in, and has in large measure brought us closer to the world-class city we are trying to become. I'm afraid a good deal of the gains we've made will come undone."

"I am saddened by the resignation of Quincy Troupe from UCSD," said D.G. Wills owner Dennis Wills. "For a decade Quincy, with dynamic spirit and boundless energy, has assembled the best minds in literature, including Nobel laureates and Pulitzer Prize winners, at the Artists on the Cutting Edge series at the Museum of Contemporary Art. This is the inestimable legacy I prefer to remember, something which cannot be displaced by a youthful misdeed of many years ago."

A crowd of Troupe's supporters, friends and fans attended a reading the poet held Tuesday night at the The Museum of Contemporary Art. Reading from "Transcircularities," a recently finished book of poetry, Troupe was lauded with two standing ovations. Though there were vague references to the resume controversy throughout the evening, Troupe was focused on poetry.

During a question and answer session following the reading, Troupe encouraged young poets and writers to continue to read and write. He shared anecdotes he gathered during his 11 years as organizer of the Artists on the Cutting Edge series. He also signed books after the reading.

Troupe is planning on spending his time working on a screenplay for a feature film of his book, "Miles and Me" about the poet's relationship with Jazz great Miles Davis. Troupe co-authored Davis's autobiography, "Miles: The Autobiography."

The Artists on the Cutting Edge series will return for its 11th and final presentation in April 2003. Poet Gary Snider is among the artists set to perform.