January 28 - Jamie Reid

Jamie Reid was born in Timmins, Ontario in 1941. He first encountered poetry on his mother’s knee, where she would recite from memory The Rime of the Ancient Mariner and The Cremation of Sam McGee. At the University of British Columbia, Reid met Warren Tallman and together with George Bowering, Fred Wah and several other writers founded TISH in 1961; they would later become collectively known as the Tish poets.

In the latter half of the 1960s, Reid organized Vancouver’s first Be-In, a gathering of activists following the example of a similar event in San Francisco. In 1967 he withdrew to the countryside of the Okanagan, where he wrote his first book of poems, The Man Whose Path Was on Fire (1969), which took the Canadian literary scene by storm. Reid then travelled to central Canada and, in his words, “became a fierce communist for almost twenty years,” which landed him numerous visits to prison, allegedly for assaulting police officers. For the last four or five years he has been indulging his taste for Dadaism and literary anarchism by publishing a well-respected magazine of local and international avant garde writing called DaDaBaBy, through which Reid continues to do his part in disrupting and challenging contemporary economic and political structures. Reid’s poetic work is fiercely intelligent, fearlessly incisive, and always politically charged.

Jamie will be reading at the Pooka Press book launch on January 22.
Book launch details:


THURSDAY January 22nd
7PM - 9PM

come for the Launch of Cath Morris' VENUS & APOLLO
& get a signed copy
for only $5

George Stanley on VENUS & APOLLO

"Cath Morris's poems are dramatic, elegiac visions of the deeper implications of what we are doing as humans: the loss of personhood to technology, the fate of innocent beings before reason and power."

Launch w/ Jamie Reid launching homages

Thursday January 22
cafe Montmartre
4362 Main Street

News: Mesmerizing New Spoken Word Documentary Available

African American Filmmaker Bob Bryan has proudly unveiled his seventh powerful installment in his multi award-winning Documentary Series entitled GV7 RANDOM URBAN STATIC: The Iridescent Equations of SPOKEN WORD. He is releasing two (2) versions:

An Unofficially Rated G Version for General Audiences, Schools and Libraries and the Original Unedited Version for those who do not mind some “raw street vernacular.” Both versions will have a Running time of 2 hours.

Released under his BRYAN WORLD PRODUCTIONS indie label, GV7 returns to the enigmatic world of Poetry. This time around he retrieves the perspectives of fifteen (15) uniquely talented poets involved in the world of SPOKEN WORD. From Grand Slam Champions to Open-Mic Veterans, GV7 crosses all philosophical, racial, and social lines becoming the quintinessial SPOKEN WORD documentary.

Bob Bryans’ last documentary GV6 THE ODYSSEY explored the point of views of 31 contemporary Literary Page Poets and de facto became Americas' Number # 1 Indie Produced Poetry Documentary. Bob is very, very confident that poetic magic will strike again with GV7 his brand new feature-length foray into the uncompromising world of SPOKEN WORD.

"GV6 THE ODYSSEY deals with those Poets who write words for the page, while GV7 RANDOM URBAN STATIC probes the reality of those Poets that write for the stage. SPOKEN WORD has really connected with today’s’ youth, primarily because the poetic artform speaks intimately to their love for performance art, suppressed passion, subjective psycho / social issues and cultural attitudes concerning the world in which they live. Poetry is an invaluable tool that helps them to unravel, clarify, articulate & document their experiences. Of course, Hip-hop has allot to do with the flavoring of this SPOKEN WORD communication paradigm.”

“I was thrilled to be able to get the Poets to decode and discuss their intimate hopes & desires, as well as their deep personal disappointments and frustrations with the current state of hip-hop. Not all the poets shared a deep abiding love for hip-hop in its current incarnation. Many of the Poets feel that Hip-hop has within its grasp the potential to be a positive catalyst for massive personal & social change. They feel unfortunately that its potential has been severely underdeveloped and in some cases perversely denigrated by some of its commercial practitioners.”

“But at the same time other poets in GV7 openly discuss issues of date-rape, the courage to be an artist, the psychological repression of women, How Hip-hop can help or Hurt, HIV-AIDS & homosexuality, image vs. reality, obsessions, race-consciousness, anorexia, self-love, the high-jacking of black men’s masculinity & vunerability, disappointment with God, insanity, self-loathing, inspiration and salvation. Noone can say these poets tread lightly or try to avoid issues that we all, in some way or another grapple with. It's what makes this expression so relative, ” says Filmmaker Bob Bryan.

Sure, the dialogue can be ruff, confrontational and passionate; but their intentions are real. These artists are desperate to get through to you!

“Your voice is your power; don’t ever let anyone take away your voice.”

--Two Time Grand Slam Champion Bridget Gray

“If you don’t cut deep…you don’t make a difference.”

--Mollie Angelheart, Co - Los Angeles Slam Champion

“What you say, may just save my life.”

--Two Time Grand Slam Champion Poet Sekou (tha misfit)

It is a commitment with vast transformational possibilities & connection between the poet, the audience, and the unrealized future.

“Black men’s strength & redemption lies in their vulnerability.”

Tim’m. T. West, Poet, Author, Educator

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GV AWARDS & FESTIVALS

Film Festivals:
JEONJU KOREAN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL; Woodstock Film Festival; ALWAYS INDEPENDENT FILMS; SilverLake Film Festival; SOUTHERN STORIES FOUNDATION; Dead Center Film Festival; Cinequest - San Jose State Univ. 6th Visual Arts & Film Fest; Mill Valley Film Festival; Sinking Creek Film/Video Festival; Amascultura Film Festival-SPAIN; Urban Literary Film Festival; Central Florida Film / Video Festival; The Documentary and
Experimental Film Series; Harvard University (Spitting Image Film & Video Festival); San Franscisco Independent Film Festival (Digital Underground); Underground Film Festival

Awards & Nominations:
National Educational Media Network, WINNER, Gold Apple Award; Council of International Non-Theatrical Events, WINNER, Golden Eagle Award; WINNER, Accolade Competition, Award of Excellence; 2003 Urban Independent Music Awards, WINNER, Best Documentary; Honolulu Underground Film Festival, WINNER, Best Documentary; AVC Regional CINDY, WINNER, Silver CINDY Award; The Communicator Awards, WINNER, Award of Distinction; Texas A&M Film Festival, WINNER, Audience Choice for Documentary; The Freaky Film Festival, WINNER, Best Documentary; Colorlab Award, WINNER, Outstanding Documentary; 2003 Urban Independent Music Awards, WINNER, Soundtrack of the Year; Videographer Awards 2001, WINNER, Videographer Award; Accolade Competition, Art Instruction Award WINNER, Chicago Film Festival, WINNER, Silver Award; Telluride Indiefest, WINNER, Best Documentary Award

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

GV7 CONTACT INFO

Bob Bryan, c/o Bryan World Productions. LLC.
PO Box 74033

Los Angeles, CA 90004
Tel: 323-856-9256

Fax: 323-856-0855
website: www.graffitiverite.com
email: bryworld@aol.com

GV7 RANDOM URBAN STATIC PRESS RELEASE

GV1 Video Reviews http://graffitiverite.com/GV_Video_Reviews.htm

GV2 Video Reviews http://graffitiverite.com/GV2_Reviewmenu.htm

GV3 Video Reviews http://graffitiverite.com/GV3_PR.htm

GV4 Video Reviews http://graffitiverite.com/GV4MovieReviews.htm

GV5 Video Reviews http://graffitiverite.com/GV5_PressRelease.htm

GV6 Video Reviews http://graffitiverite.com/GV6FILMREVIEWS.html

GV7 Film Review http://graffitiverite.com/GV7FILMREVIEWS.html

Brief Synopsis of GV1-GV7 DVDs

GV Series Product Info pdf

Artists that Appear in GV7

GRAFFITI VERITE'S - PUBLIC & ACADEMIC LIBRARIES (PARTIAL LISTING)

DVD Film Reviewers wanting to review GV7 should contact Loida: bryworld@aol.com

Video Clips of GV7 can be found on Youtube (More From Bryanworld)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8j_a5TF1iBI

GV6 Teaser Trailer:

http://zipidee.com/zipidPreview.aspx?vid=5d23f447-2bb4-46d5-9604-cc7cba7d01c5

GV7 Teaser Trailer:

http://www.zipidee.com/profile.aspx?userid=9fe826f5-0959-48fd-a5f1-f13b0be47412

To Book GV7 for Special Screenings or Festivals please contact Loida at 323/856-9256 or bryworld@aol.com

This communications is not Spam. The purpose of this email is to provide poets, lovers of poetry and written language professionals working in this area of interest with updated info relative to their professions and passions. If you've received this email in error, please forgive us; we mean no harm. We come in education and peace!

Multi Award-Winning Filmmaker Bob Bryans' latest Documentary
GV7 RANDOM URBAN STATIC
is now Available for purchase.
Please go to http://graffitiverite.com/GV1-GV7SYNOPSIS.html

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January 21 - Bill McNamara

This show begs to be a great one as we are joined by master storyteller Bill McNamara, host of Cafe Montmartre's long running Thundering Word (formerly hosted by the late, great T Paul St. Marie).

I'm sure he'll have us all in stitches!

Bill McNamara first fell into Spoken Word rather late in life, in 2005 when a good friend named Wanda Nowicki read about a thing in the paper called "Story Slam" and urged him to go. Remember that name. Wanda. It took her a while to convince him but he finally went.
He was impressed with what he saw. He went back the next time and entered, taking first prize. He won the next one and the next as well. Then the year end finals came up and he became Vancouver's "Story Slam Champion" from 2005 to 2006.
That led to perfomances at The Festival of Spoken Word, The Vancouver Folk Fest, The 15th Annual Festival of Storytelling, In the House, Lafflines and he also had the great honor of providing 'after hours' entertainment for 72 of the finest poets in the world at the International World Poetry Slam finals when they were held in Vancouver! At that event he was priviliged to perform on the same stage as Jack McCarthy.
During this time Bill also spent a lot of time at various open mics around town honing his skills and trying new material. He was greatly encouraged Darleen Carty of the sorely missed Behind the Scenes and by T-Paul Ste. Marie who was the originator and host of Vancouver's finest Open Mic, Thundering Word. Remember that name. T-Paul.
At the same time, the wonderful Magpie Ullysses talked Bill into going to Poetry Slam. Never having been a big fan of poetry he was resistant to earlier suggestions of this event, but Magpie made it sound intriguing. He went and was immediately hooked. It wasn't long before he was on stage there and tho' he admits that there are many, many poets he cannot hope to hold a candle to in this city, he does have the distinction of being Vancouver's oldest Slam poet.
In the meantime, the host of Thundering Word passed away, May 27th, 2007 at the young age of 41. Yes, T-Paul was gone and so was Thundering Word. It lay dormant for a few months until Bill began asking around town if anyone would mind if he took a shot at reviving it. He knew there was no one who could hope to fill the very large shoes of T-Paul so he enlisted his old friend Wanda Nowicki to help with the hosting duties.
They re-launched TW to great success and for the last few years it has been going strong and getting better with each show. It goes every 1st, 3rd and, if there is one, 5th Sunday each month. They have had some incredible people feature there from all over the world and the Open Mic segment is a truly Open open mic. They have Music, Comedy, Poetry and more. You never know what you'll get at Thundering Word but one thing is for certain. It's always interesting! Bill continues to do host Thundering Word, attend Poetry Slam, Story Slam and various things that come along and is always interested in expanding his list of experiences.

Julie Peters

Julie Peters has been writing poetry since her angsty early adolescence, but only began performing it in the summer of 2008. Since then, she has won first place at the Vancouver Poetry Slam, competed in the Women's Invitational Poetry Slam, and featured at various poetry events in Vancouver. She also has a radio show devoted to Canadian writing called AudioText on CITR, UBC's community radio station, and writes freelance for several publications. She also has a Master's degree in English Literature from McGill, and several academic publications. She's slightly less angsty now than she was in her early adolescence.

Tone Indbryn

Tone Indbryn is a songwriter who creates pieces which reach forward from a varied blend of contemporary and folk influences resulting in a style that is both traditional and current. She has been performing for audiences for the past thirteen years on and off while taking time for her son and education. She has produced two cd's with one of her pieces used in the award winning independent film "the Gutter Diaries" written and directed by Josh Witall. She was part of Best of Vancouver for her children's music classes in Vancouver magazine and was in the top five finalists for the first annual Vancouver Folk Slam. Some of her festival performances include Fearless Festival 08, Celtic Fest 06/07 which she co-wrote and performed "Brigid and her Magical Cauldron, Mayworks 05 which she co produced a Mothers Day Cabaret. Her radio appearances include CITR and Co-op Radio. Tone is both entertaining and engaging in live settings, combining refreshing on stage banter with some lyrical and vocal abilities to create a room vibe that draws her audiences to her performances. Utilizing an honest approach to songwriting that everyone can identify with, Tone's original repertoire moves form emotional delicacy to uninhibited seething anger, while keeping personal with her well tempered sense of humor. She has performed in Vancouver for many different events some of which include The Railway Club Connect night with Tamra Nile, featured at The Cottage Bistro, Montmartre Cafe, The Railway Club, The Rockwood House in Sechelt and The Purple Crab. She hosted The Vancouver Folk Slam and The Purple Crab open stage. She has done extensive work with children and families in the Vancouver area and has been part of Moon Festival, and Public Dreams creating large scale instillations with children.Tone Indbryn writes honest music,which takes the listener on an emotional train trip through the soul.

Rowan Lipkovits

We were very fortunate to have fellow Co-op personality (Accordian Noir ~ Fridays at 9;30pm) and host of the 57 Varieties Open Stage, Rowan Lipkovits (seen here in 2007 at RC's annual Christmas shindig) drop by to pull a ton of idiosyncratic craziness out of his beard. He brought with us some Bukowski, Maggie Estep, and Rowan's own band The Creaking Planks. A big thanks to Rowan for coming out on very short notice and definately not disappointing.
Be sure to check out Accordian Noir and hear all the fun stuff he's up to.

http://accordionnoir.org/

Passages: Billy Little October 14, 1943 - January 1, 2009

I've just received this email from fellow poet Jamie Reid which I felt compelled to share with you.

Our dear comrade and brother poet, Billy Little, slipped away from this life at about 5 AM on New Years Day. It almost seems to me as if he were imitating one of his idols, dada hero Tristan Tzara, who died on Christmas Day in 1963. For several days he had been telling his friends that each day might be his last, but he hung on and continued to breathe one day after another for several days, until finally he lost the ability to speak and passed away. Billy spent his last days on his beloved Hornby Island, surrounded by his friends.

He had been resigned to this final result since hearing from his doctors last January that the abdominal cancer through which he had endured several rounds of chemotherapy and surgery would finally take his life in a matter of months rather than years. He lived the months that were left to him with great courage and good humour, sometimes in tears, he told me once, that he should have to leave the world, the life and the people that he loved with such passion and devotion. The people at his bedside near the end, his son Matt Little, Gordon Payne and his caregiver, Colleen Work, confirmed that through his last hours, though he could not speak, he was clearly smiling.

Billy’s son, Matt, will be inviting friends to the Hornby Island ball park on Sunday, January 4. In commemoration of Billy’s life-long devoted attachment to books and ideas, Matt will be handing out items from Billy’s book collection.

Further notice of an expanded memorial event will be posted later.

Typically, Billy left his life with a jest, a protest, leaving behind his own obituary:

obituary

after decades of passion, dedication to world peace and justice, powerful frindships, recognition, being loved undeservedly by extraordinary women, a close and powerful relationship with a strong, handsome, capable, thoughtful son Matt, a never ending stream of amusing ideas, affections shared with a wide range of creative men and women, a long residence in the paradisical landscape of hornby island, sucess after sucess in the book trade, fabulous meals, unmeasurable inebriation, dancing beyond exhaustion, satori after satori,
billy little regrets he's unable to schmooze today.
in lieu of flowers please send a humongous donation to the war resisters league.

I'd like my tombstone to read:

billy little
poet
hydro is too expensive


but I'd like my mortal remains to be set adrift on a flaming raft off chrome island