Merton/Lax: A Round Table Discussion

A roundtable conversation with a group who have studied, lectured and published on Thomas Merton and Robert Lax.

Participants:

Paul Spaeth, who this year stepped down after nearly 30 years as director and rare book archivist at Fiedsam Library at St.Bonaventure. He continues as the head archivist of special collections, including significant holdings on Lax and Merton. He is widely published Lax, including "A Thing That Is," "Circus Days and Nights," and Dear Jack: Heart Not Head," on Lax' friendship with Jack Kerouac. Spaeth is co-curator of the exhibition.

Anthony Bannon, director emeritus at The Burchfield Penney and George Eastman Museum, where he also is senior scholar. Bannon co-curated the exhibition with Spaeth under the direction of Scott Propeack, acting director and chief curator at The Center. Dr. Bannon corresponded with Merton, and his letter from Merton about his days at Bonaventure and Western New York is often quoted. He also was an artist in residence at Artpark with Lax and curated an artwork by Lax for The Buffalo News art section.

Rev. Dan Riley, OFM, founder of Mount Irenaeus, a Franciscan community and center for retreat in West Clarksville. Riley also was the founder of the annual Thomas Merton retreat and conversations in Rye Beach, NH, which has become an international biennial gathering operated by the International Thomas Merton Symposium operated by the Thomas Merton Archives at Bellermine College. Riley also was a close friend of Lax.

Joseph Marren, a Merton scholar, specializing in the ethical model Merton provides for journalism. Dr. Mauren is chair of the Buffalo State College Communications Department and is an international lecturer on the popular press, Thomas Merton and other subjects.