David E. Oprava
Encyclopedia
David E. Oprava is an expatriate
American
poet
who lives and works in Wales
in the United Kingdom
. He is a writer
, painter
, lecturer
, publisher and teacher
. He states that he "writes because he has to", and he has chosen to, or is driven to, answer the question "why." He has been in over sixty journals online and in print and his first full-length book of poems VS. was released in October 2008 by Erbacce Press. He has additional full-length collections of poetry: American Means with American Mettle Books 2009, and his third, sole, with Blackheath Books 2010. He is also the founding editor and publisher of a small poetry press, Grievous Jones Press Ltd..
, but moved to Pennsylvania
in 1980 when he was seven. At fifteen Oprava began attending St. Paul's School boarding school in Concord, New Hampshire
. He attended the School for International Training in Vermont and earned a B.A. in International Studies. During his undergraduate years, he also studied at Carleton College
(USA) and Georg-August University (Goettingen, Germany). He completed his Masters in Political Science at Southern Connecticut State University
and also studied at Charles University (Prague, Czech Republic).
During his school years he spent his summers at Waldsee
. From 1990-97 Oprava worked at Waldsee
as a counselor teaching German
language and culture. In 1997-98, he was on the faculty at Minnesota State University
(Bemidji, Minnesota
).
for more than a decade. His current academic project for doctoral work, Once America: 50 expats 50 Interviews 50 Poems is at Swansea University
.
In 2008 Oprava founded the small poetry press, Grievous Jones Press Ltd., and continues as the presses publisher. Currently he is Poetry Lecturer at the Univ. of Wales Institute, Cardiff
were he teaches poetry and publishing to undergraduates. He is a full member of the Poetry Society and the Poetry Book Society.
Expatriate
An expatriate is a person temporarily or permanently residing in a country and culture other than that of the person's upbringing...
American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
who lives and works in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. He is a writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
, painter
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
, lecturer
Lecturer
Lecturer is an academic rank. In the United Kingdom, lecturer is a position at a university or similar institution, often held by academics in their early career stages, who lead research groups and supervise research students, as well as teach...
, publisher and teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
. He states that he "writes because he has to", and he has chosen to, or is driven to, answer the question "why." He has been in over sixty journals online and in print and his first full-length book of poems VS. was released in October 2008 by Erbacce Press. He has additional full-length collections of poetry: American Means with American Mettle Books 2009, and his third, sole, with Blackheath Books 2010. He is also the founding editor and publisher of a small poetry press, Grievous Jones Press Ltd..
Early Years
Oprava was born in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, but moved to Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
in 1980 when he was seven. At fifteen Oprava began attending St. Paul's School boarding school in Concord, New Hampshire
Concord, New Hampshire
The city of Concord is the capital of the state of New Hampshire in the United States. It is also the county seat of Merrimack County. As of the 2010 census, its population was 42,695....
. He attended the School for International Training in Vermont and earned a B.A. in International Studies. During his undergraduate years, he also studied at Carleton College
Carleton College
Carleton College is an independent non-sectarian, coeducational, liberal arts college in Northfield, Minnesota, USA. The college enrolls 1,958 undergraduate students, and employs 198 full-time faculty members. In 2012 U.S...
(USA) and Georg-August University (Goettingen, Germany). He completed his Masters in Political Science at Southern Connecticut State University
Southern Connecticut State University
Southern Connecticut State University is one of four state universities in Connecticut, and is located in the West Rock neighborhood of New Haven, Connecticut...
and also studied at Charles University (Prague, Czech Republic).
During his school years he spent his summers at Waldsee
Waldsee
Waldsee can refer to:*Waldsee, Palatinate, a municipality in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.*Bad Waldsee, a town in Baden-Württemberg, Germany.*Waldsee , a German language summer camp in Minnesota, USA....
. From 1990-97 Oprava worked at Waldsee
Waldsee
Waldsee can refer to:*Waldsee, Palatinate, a municipality in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.*Bad Waldsee, a town in Baden-Württemberg, Germany.*Waldsee , a German language summer camp in Minnesota, USA....
as a counselor teaching German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
language and culture. In 1997-98, he was on the faculty at Minnesota State University
Minnesota State University, Mankato
Minnesota State University, Mankato is a public four-year university located in Mankato, Minnesota, a community of 53,000 located southwest of Minneapolis-St. Paul. As of Fall 2011, the student body is the third-largest in the state of Minnesota with over 15,000 students...
(Bemidji, Minnesota
Bemidji, Minnesota
Bemidji is a city in Beltrami County, Minnesota, United States. Its population was at 13,431 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Beltrami County. Bemidji is the most major city in North Central Minnesota and the largest commercial center between Grand Forks, North Dakota and Duluth,...
).
Currently
Oprava has been an expatriate in the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
for more than a decade. His current academic project for doctoral work, Once America: 50 expats 50 Interviews 50 Poems is at Swansea University
Swansea University
Swansea University is a university located in Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom. Swansea University was chartered as University College of Swansea in 1920, as the fourth college of the University of Wales. In 1996, it changed its name to the University of Wales Swansea following structural changes...
.
In 2008 Oprava founded the small poetry press, Grievous Jones Press Ltd., and continues as the presses publisher. Currently he is Poetry Lecturer at the Univ. of Wales Institute, Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
were he teaches poetry and publishing to undergraduates. He is a full member of the Poetry Society and the Poetry Book Society.
Books
- VS.Erbacce Press, 128 pages, perfect bound, October 2008 ISBN 978-1-906588-34-2
- American Means American Mettle Books, 96 pages, perfect bound, November 2009 ISBN 978-0-9562912-1-9
- sole Blackheath Books, 73 pages, perfect bound and hardback, September 2010 ISBN 978-1-906099-25-1
- Terraced Seren Books (forthcoming) Autumn 2013
Readings
- Sept. 2008 Featured Reader, SYNT Anthology at Foyles Bookstore, London, UK
- Oct. 2008 VS. at the Bute Space Gallery, Cardiff, UK
- Nov. 2008 VS. at the Dylan Thomas Centre, Swansea, UK
- Nov. 2008 VS. at Borders Books, Cardiff, UK
- Dec. 2008 Featured Reader, Space Studios Annual Festive Event, Cardiff, UK
- Jan. 2009 Martyr at SPARKS reading series, Brighton, UK
- Jan. 2009 Inaugural Poem read on BBC Radio Southern Counties
- Feb. 2009 Featured Reader, Alchemy Reading Series, Prague, CZ
- Feb. 2009 Featured Reader, Jane Crown Poetry Radio, radio interview
- Feb. 2009 Featured Reader, The Crunch Poetry Series, Swansea, UK
- Apr. 2009 Featured Reader at Miscellaneous, Cardiff, UK
- Apr. 2009 Featured Reader, Epic Rites Radio, radio interview and reading
- Apr. 2009 Featured Reader at The Recession Sessions-LIVE, London, UK
- May 2009 Featured Reader on The Joe Milford Poetry Show, radio interview
- July 2009 Featured Reader at the Fair-Play Festival, Cardiff, UK
- July 2009 Featured Reader at Love and Hate, London, UK
- Nov. 2009 Featured Reader, Halloweird, Cardiff, UK
- Nov. 2009 American Means, The Crunch Poetry Series, Swansea, UK
- Nov. 2009 "Open Mic Prize" winner at Poetry on Tap, Cardiff, UK
- Nov. 2009 American Means, Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff, UK
- Dec. 2009 American Means, Square Magazine Launch, Cardiff, UK
- Jan. 2010 American Means, Alchemy Reading Series, Prague, CZ
- Jan. 2010 American Means on the Joe Milford Poetry Show, radio interview
- Apr. 2010 Featured Reader, Poetry Marathon, Swansea, UK
- Jun. 2010 Featured Reader, Full of Crow Poetry Hour, radio reading
- Jul. 2010 Featured Reader, Lost Elation Readings, London, UK
- Jul. 2010 "Open Mic Prize" winner at Poetry on Tap, Cardiff, UK
- Jul. 2010 Featured Reader, Oxfam Bookathon, Cardiff, UK
- Jul. 2010 Featured Reader, "In Chapters" Cardiff, UK
- Sept. 2010 "sole" at Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff, UK
- Oct. 2010 Featured Reader and Host, UWIC Open Mic, Cardiff, UK
- Oct. 2010 "sole" at The Crunch Poetry Series, Swansea, UK
- Dec. 2010 Featured Reader, "In Chapters" Cardiff, UK
- Mar. 2011 Featured Reader, Alchemy Reading Series, Prague, CZ
Sources
- Full of Crow (2009) http://www.fullofcrow.com/poetry/2009/07/david-e-oprava, retrieved on 3/20/2011
- Oprava, David (2009) http://www.deoprava.com/POETRY.htm, retrieved on 3/20/2011
- Schwartz, Peter (2009) Peter Schwartz Writes Your Life Story (on a postcard), retrieved on 3/20/2011
Online reviews/External links
- http://www.3ammagazine.com/3am/theres-no-place-like-home/
- http://www.3ammagazine.com/3am/poetics-two-books-of-poetry-by-yu-han-chao-and-david-e-oprava/
- http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9680959-sole#other_reviews