John M. Bennett is an American author and artist whose work, though not well known to the
academic community, has made a significant contribution to the world of innovative poetry.
Born in Chicago, Bennett received his B.A. and M.A. from Washington University and his Ph.D.
from UCLA in 1970. He taught Hispanic literature from 1969 to 1976 at Ohio State
University.
Bennett is the author of numerous books of poetry, all published by small presses,
including Luna Bisonte Prods, his own press. Much of his poetry relies upon the visual
experience of the poem for its effect. The interplay of texts with space, the physical
appearance of the page, and the printing process itself are all important elements in
Bennett's work. He is also one of a growing number of poets and artists who have made
innovative use of inexpensive mimeographic and xerographic processes. Luna Bisonte Prods,
which he founded in 1976, publishes a variety of printed pieces including broadsides, rubber
stamp art, labels, and stickers. Since 1975, Bennett has also produced the Lost and Found Times.
