Poet and educator Alex Vartan Gubbins recently joined Kurt Hauswirth on Public Radio 90 to discuss his new poetry collection, "Decoding the Hill of Dead Kings," published as part of Wayne State University’s Made in Michigan series. The book serves as a cultural and emotional bridge between Gubbins’s two worlds: the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and Yerevan, Armenia. Gubbins explained that the collection emerged organically from his daily life abroad, where the ancient history of Armenia prompted a deep journey of self-discovery. For him, the act of "decoding" this rich environment ultimately became a way to rewrite and understand his own identity.
The collection highlights both the striking contrasts and parallels between his two homelands, juxtaposing the vast forests of the U.P. with the omnipresent mountain ranges of Armenia. While both regions share a deep appreciation for the arts, Gubbins noted that Armenia holds poets in unique cultural esteem, viewing the vocation as a natural invitation to community dialogue. This supportive environment helps him navigate heavier themes in his work, such as the 2023 humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh. When exploring such grief, Gubbins channels his passion for history, mythology, and art into a process of creative discovery, deliberately guiding his readers out of darkness and into a space of wonder.
Public Radio 90's Kurt Hauswirth spoke with Gubbins about his latest poetry collection:
Gubbins's sense of identity also shapes his work as a faculty member at the American University of Armenia, where his American-Armenian upbringing challenges him to recontextualize literature for his students. When asked how he defines home, given his ties to Chicago, Marquette, and Yerevan, he described it less as a geographical coordinate and more as a peaceful state of mind—any place where he can ground himself, connect with nature, and write.
Upcoming appearances with Gubbins:
- Poetry Reading with Alex Vartan Gubbins - Ishpeming Carnegie Public Library, June 25, 2026, 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
- Book Launch: Alex Gubbins & "Decoding the Hill of Dead Kings" - Peter White Public Library, July 2, 2026, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Find out more at Wayne State University Press' website here.
