George Oppen would be 100 years old if he were still alive, but rare audio recordings and video footage of his poetry readings will celebrate his centennial on April 26.

As a tribute to National Poetry Month, SF State’s Poetry Center is honoring Oppen, known as one of the great American poets of his generation, in the “Salute to George Oppen” at the San Francisco Main Public Library.

As the Bay Area celebrates poets and their works throughout the month with various events such as a “Library Poetry Slam” in Sonoma County to an evening with Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Mary Oliver, the “Salute to George Oppen” will be the SF State Poetry Center’s sole public event.

Oppen is such an important figure in poetry that the center could devote an entire month to him, said Poetry Center Director Steve Dickison,

“There is a quiet way to call attention to poets,” Dickison said.

Oppen’s life was not completely devoted to poetry. He was in poetic silence for nearly 25 years where he became a political activist with his wife during the Great Depression, Dickison said.

“He was a modest writer,” he said. “There was not a lot of work.”

When Oppen broke out of his poetic silence in 1963, he read new, unpublished works and from his first book following his return to poetry, “The Materials,” at SF State, Dickison said.

Exactly 10 years later, SF State produced its first video recording of poetry readings and has since archived 3,000 readings to date in the Poetry Center’s American Poetry Archives, including the readings that will be featured Saturday.

The Poetry Center, located in Room 512 of the Humanities building is a spacious corner-room filled wall to wall with poetry-related books. The room contains essays, biographies of poets, fictions, plays and displays of black and white photos of recognized poets.

“The Poetry Center is pretty awesome,” said Matthew Martin, 21, a student who visits the Poetry Center two to three times a week.

“There’s so much poetry, lots of rare poets and it’s a peaceful place to relax,” he said as he sat on a couch with poetry in one hand and a brochure of a prospective writing program in the other.

Although Martin is one of many who are enthusiastic about poetry, he said the empty room shows that poetry is dying.

“There is a small audience,” Martin said. “With all the media out there, no one cares about poetry anymore.”

Throughout the semester, the Poetry Center offers weekly events that have included SF State faculty readings, a keynote speech by activist Angela Y. Davis, and a reading by multi-generational spoken word poets and writers.

“The Poetry Center is actually very alive one to two times a week in the semester,” said Maxine Chernoff, chair of the creative writing department. “When the center is not being used for readings, it acts as a library.”

The best poetry is a special kind of information that has enduring value, she said.

“There is just as much interest as ever in poetry,” said Chernoff, who also teaches undergraduate craft of poetry and graduate fiction classes.

“With the Web, people are able to post their work online and the interest grows because of access and ability,” she said.

With an estimated audience of 75 to 100, according to Chernoff, the Poetry Center continues to reach out to the community.

The “Salute to George Oppen” will be held on Saturday, April 26 from 2-4 p.m at the San Francisco Main Public Library’s Koret Auditorium 100 Larkin St. Admission is free.

The event will also feature remembrances and tributes by friends and fellow poets such as Linda Oppen, George’s daughter and former Poetry Center directors Kathleen Fraser and Mark Linenthal.

There will be two more public events in May presented by the Poetry Center.

The final event will be on Monday, May 5th at noon in the Poetry Center featuring Juan Felipe Herrera with “187 Reasons Mexicanos Can’t Cross the Border: Undocuments 1971-2007.” There will be live words and music with the Shambhalla Cruisers playing saxophone, guitar and taiko.

For more information, visit www.sfsu.edu/~poetry.

Poetry Events around the Bay Area:

April 24
Poet Nikki Giovanni: Discussing her recent books, “Acolytes, Rosa,” “On My Journey Now” and “The Grasshopper’s Song.” Free admission. 7:30 p.m. Oakland Museum of California, James Moore Theatre, 1000 Oak St., Oakland. (510) 238-2200, (510) 238-3271, www.museumca.org.
Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Mary Oliver: $30. 7 p.m. Angelico Hall, Dominican University, 50 Acacia Ave., San Rafael. (415) 457-4440, hosted by Book Passage: www.bookpassage.com.

April 26
Poet George Oppen: Hosted by SF State and the Friends of the San Francisco Public Library. Free admission. 2 p.m. San Francisco Main Public Library, Koret Auditorium, 100 Larkin St., San Francisco. (415) 557-4277, www.sfpl.org or www.sfsu.edu/~poetry.
Tribute to Ina Coolbrith: Readings by librarian-poets Andrew Demcak, Nina Lindsay, Steve LaVoie and Alan Bern honoring California’s first poet laureate library director, Ina Coolbirth. Free admission. 2 p.m Oakland Main Library, 125 14th St., Oakland. (510) 238-3134.

April 27:
A Poetry reading to benefit Bird & Beckett bookstore: Poets David Meltzer, Diane di Prima, and Michael McClure. $35 seats/ $25 standing, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., 653 Chernery St., San Francisco. (415) 586-3733

April 29
Open Mic Poetry Night at Keane’s 3300 Club: Sign up begins at 6:30 p.m. Host MC Nancy Keane and featured poet Michelle Maynes reads as well. Free admission, 7 p.m. 3300 Mission St., San Francisco. (415) 333-3494.

April 30
Third Annual Poems under the Dome: Open mic poetry night at San Francisco City Hall, sponsored by the Mayor, Board of Supervisors and San Francisco Public library. Free, 5:30 p.m. through 8:30 p.m., City Hall North Light Court, #1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place