Press Release
Thursday January 6th 2010
Features: George Bowering & Sasha Langford
1st and 3rd Thursday of every month
Pandora's Collective Presents
TWISTED POETS LITERARY SALON
Share in an evening of literary surprises while wrapped in a warm and encouraging environment. Connect, read and enjoy. In the spirit of Vancouver all are welcome.
Suggested Donation: $5.00 at the door.
January Features: George Bowering & Sasha Langford
Hosts: Bonnie Nish, Sita Carboni and Warren Dean Fulton.
Time: 7pm-10pm
Location: The Prophouse Cafe, 1636 Venables Street
Vancouver , BCContact: blinsh_pandoras@yahoo.ca
www.pandorascollective.com
George Bowering, Canada’s first Poet Laureate, was born in the Okanagan Valley .
After serving as an aerial photographer in the Royal Canadian Air Force, Bowering earned a BA in English and an MA in History at the University of British Columbia, where he became one of the co-founders of the avant-garde poetry magazine TISH. He has taught literature at the University of Calgary , the University of Western Ontario and Simon Fraser University , and he continues to act as a Canadian literary ambassador at international conferences and readings.
A distinguished novelist, poet, editor, professor, historian and tireless supporter of fellow writers, Bowering has authored more than eighty books, including works of poetry, fiction, autobiography, biography and youth fiction. His writing has also been translated into French, Spanish, Italian, German, Chinese and Romanian. In 2002, Bowering was recognized by the Vancouver Sun as one of the most influential people in British Columbia .
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Sasha Langford was just 18 years old when she was one of five poets selected to represent Vancouver at the 2008 CBC Poetry Face-Off. Since then, she has served as a Canadian representative at the 2009 Women of the World Poetry Slam in Detroit , and recently won a coveted spot on the Vancouver Poetry Slam Team. A trained improviser and musician, Langford uses her passion for storytelling to offer moving and humorous character narratives by way of performance poetry.
Press Release
Thursday January 20th 2010
Features: Dennis E. Bolen and Soressa Gardner
1st and 3rd Thursday of every month
Pandora's Collective Presents
TWISTED POETS LITERARY SALON
Share in an evening of literary surprises while wrapped in a warm and encouraging environment. Connect, read and enjoy. In the spirit of Vancouver all are welcome.
Suggested Donation: $5.00 at the door.
January Features: Dennis E. Bolen and Soressa Gardner
Hosts: Bonnie Nish, Sita Carboni and Warren Dean Fulton.
Time: 7pm-10pm
Location: The Prophouse Cafe, 1636 Venables Street
Vancouver , BCContact: blinsh_pandoras@yahoo.ca
www.pandorascollective.com
Dennis E. Bolen is a novelist, editor, teacher and journalist, first published in 1975 (Canadian Fiction Magazine). He holds a BA in Creative Writing from the University of Victoria (1977) and an MFA (Writing) from the University of British Columbia (1989), and taught introductory Creative Writing at UBC from 1995 to 1997.
In 1989 Mr. Bolen helped establish the international literary journal sub-TERRAIN, and served there as fiction editor for ten years. He has acted as a community editorial board member of The Vancouver Sun newspaper, and on the boards of a literacy advocacy organization, a literary collective and a theatre company and has written criticism, social commentary, arts advocacy and editorial opinion for numerous journals and newspapers in Canada .
Major Publications: Kaspoit!, novel, Anvil Press, Vancouver , 2009.
Toy Gun, novel, Anvil Press, Vancouver, 2005. Gas Tank and Other Stories, short fiction, Anvil Press, Vancouver, 1998.Krekshuns, novel, Random House, Toronto , 1997. Stand In Hell, novel, Random House, Toronto , 1995. Stupid Crimes (revised), novel, Vintage, Toronto , 1995. Stupid Crimes, novel, Anvil Press, Vancouver, 1992.
Soressa Gardner is a vocalist, improviser, songwriter and electronic music composer who strives to expose the soul of any given project. She holds a music degree and diploma in classical voice from Vancouver Community College . Her collaborations with writers seek out darkness and humour, and her improvisation skills and sense of movement bring ease and grace to her collaborations with dancers. Soressa’s collaborations with Canadian authors include Dennis E. Bolen and Evie Christie. In movement and voice, she has worked with Mascall Dance, Voxy Vocal Lab (with singers Kate Hammett-Vaughan and Carol Sawyer), Bugs Black Blood (under the direction of Coat Cooke) and others. Her compositions have been showcased at Video Inn’s Signal and Noise Festival, the Western Front, and on independent radio. She has studied with composer Peter Hannan, extended technique vocalists Richard Armstrong, Katherine Duncanson and DB Boyco, and classical vocalist Marisa
Gaetanne.
www.soressa.com
http://www.playhut.bandcamp.com
http://www.myspace.com/soressagardner
http://soressa.bandcamp.com
http://gyrebc.bandcamp.com/album/4-25-10
Bonnie Nish
Executive Director
Pandora's Collective
"Promoting The Arts That Inspire The World To Take Notice Of Itself"
www.pandorascollective.com
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Craig Spence, President Fed. of BC Writers in Studio
Craig Spence current president of the Federation of BC Writers joins us in studio. He talks about different services and initiatives the Federation offers in the wake of massive BC Arts cuts. Currently, Craig is working on a fiction work called Stained Glass. In this work, a church in Barkerville, BC needs new stained glass windows, but cannot afford them. Things get hairy when the town's prostitutes offer to pay for the windows. For more information about Craig visit his website here.
Craig also offers a unique stance on art, suggesting that artist organizations should do more to partner with corporations, and not rely solely on the government. He states that there is a place for business-minded people in arts to help manage organizations better; where sometimes artists themselves aren't the best managers. In addition, our guest criticizes superficial festivals the BC government has substituted for long term support of artists.
More info about Federation about BC Writers here.
Click below to list to the show.
Craig also offers a unique stance on art, suggesting that artist organizations should do more to partner with corporations, and not rely solely on the government. He states that there is a place for business-minded people in arts to help manage organizations better; where sometimes artists themselves aren't the best managers. In addition, our guest criticizes superficial festivals the BC government has substituted for long term support of artists.
More info about Federation about BC Writers here.
Click below to list to the show.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Poetry and Music with your hosts RC Weslowski & Mark Steinberg
Today's show featured recordings:
Shauntay Grant is a writer, spoken word performer, broadcast journalist and musician. She is Halifax's third Poet Laureate (2009/10), and she has shared her blend of poetry and music internationally at festivals and events. Read more: http://www.myspace.com/shauntaygrant#ixzz12aTZtUif
Kevin Fortnum has been part of the Toronto poetry scene for close to five years. He has featured at most local series and currently runs his own, She Rusty Sleep, in Hamilton. He recently released his first novel, Defamation of a Scoundrel.
Colleen Costello has been involved in music her whole life, playing and recording for the public since 1996, and touring Canada since 1999. The primary focus being writing and recording original music, performing live and touring. In 2003 she branched out into adapting music for the theatre environment, especially Children’s Theatre, having a special affinity for writing catchy and melodic tunes. Promoting her latest CD led to designing music for soundtracks and TV placement requests.
Susan Cormier "is the Queen of Crows, a master of vivid and macabre poetry and performance. She pulls back the veil on violence, and the scars and bruises left when the darkness won’t stay inside."
~C.J. Leon, The East Vancouver Network of Love. Read more: http://www.myspace.com/queenofcrowsmusic#ixzz12aVHesPO
Lisa B (Lisa Baird[1]) is a political spoken word poet based in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Since 2001, she has performed spoken-word poetry at shows around B.C. and in Oregon. She describes herself as a queer woman and an incest and violence survivor.[2]
Shauntay Grant is a writer, spoken word performer, broadcast journalist and musician. She is Halifax's third Poet Laureate (2009/10), and she has shared her blend of poetry and music internationally at festivals and events. Read more: http://www.myspace.com/shauntaygrant#ixzz12aTZtUif
Kevin Fortnum has been part of the Toronto poetry scene for close to five years. He has featured at most local series and currently runs his own, She Rusty Sleep, in Hamilton. He recently released his first novel, Defamation of a Scoundrel.
Colleen Costello has been involved in music her whole life, playing and recording for the public since 1996, and touring Canada since 1999. The primary focus being writing and recording original music, performing live and touring. In 2003 she branched out into adapting music for the theatre environment, especially Children’s Theatre, having a special affinity for writing catchy and melodic tunes. Promoting her latest CD led to designing music for soundtracks and TV placement requests.
Susan Cormier "is the Queen of Crows, a master of vivid and macabre poetry and performance. She pulls back the veil on violence, and the scars and bruises left when the darkness won’t stay inside."
~C.J. Leon, The East Vancouver Network of Love. Read more: http://www.myspace.com/queenofcrowsmusic#ixzz12aVHesPO
Lisa B (Lisa Baird[1]) is a political spoken word poet based in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Since 2001, she has performed spoken-word poetry at shows around B.C. and in Oregon. She describes herself as a queer woman and an incest and violence survivor.[2]
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Poetry and Music with host SR Duncan
Featured recordings from:
Dirk Michener and Travis Catsull started playing New York City style experimental country music in 2002 on a balcony in Denton, TX. Naming themselves after the Pacific Northwest's most famous poet, Charles Potts, seemed to make perfect sense. After playing tons of campfires, house parties, mexican food restaurants and then a W. Coast tour the Windmill Band brought in new members and instruments. Now, their multi-harmonics are a blissed out spectacle of working man's country that never cease to intrigue and entertain. Funny, thought provoking and blatantly honest, their audience includes bikers, poets, folk enthusiasts, old people, indie rock fags and screaming drunk girls.
Dirk Michener and Travis Catsull started playing New York City style experimental country music in 2002 on a balcony in Denton, TX. Naming themselves after the Pacific Northwest's most famous poet, Charles Potts, seemed to make perfect sense. After playing tons of campfires, house parties, mexican food restaurants and then a W. Coast tour the Windmill Band brought in new members and instruments. Now, their multi-harmonics are a blissed out spectacle of working man's country that never cease to intrigue and entertain. Funny, thought provoking and blatantly honest, their audience includes bikers, poets, folk enthusiasts, old people, indie rock fags and screaming drunk girls.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Teresa Marsh reads from Enlightenment is Letting Go
In studio guest Teresa Naseba Marsh has many years of experience working with physically, emotionally, politically, and psychologically traumatized clients. She also works closely with, supervises, and teaches professionals working in the trauma and addiction fields. She is a registered nurse with certification in psychiatric and oncology nursing. Teresa completed her degree in nursing education and community health nursing science at the University of South Africa and a master of arts degree in counseling psychology at the Adler School in Chicago. She is the founder of her private practice, Thunzi Umphefumlo.
Teresa is the author of an oncology textbook for health care professionals published in South Africa and also the author of several papers in peer-reviewed journals. She works as a consultant with aboriginal communities with a focus on healing from residential school syndrome, trauma, and addictions. Teresa is a certified yoga teacher and teaches yoga and meditation, individually and in groups. She lives in Vancouver, Canada, with her husband Dr. David Marsh.
Teresa is the author of an oncology textbook for health care professionals published in South Africa and also the author of several papers in peer-reviewed journals. She works as a consultant with aboriginal communities with a focus on healing from residential school syndrome, trauma, and addictions. Teresa is a certified yoga teacher and teaches yoga and meditation, individually and in groups. She lives in Vancouver, Canada, with her husband Dr. David Marsh.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Wax Poetic featuring Kagan Goh, August 4, 2010
Kagan Goh is an award-winning filmmaker, a spoken word poet and actor living in Vancouver. He is has worked on a documentary film called Stolen Memories.
Click below to listen!
Click below to listen!
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Wax Poetic Show, Recordings, June 27, 2010
Featured recordings from:
Chris Gilpin is a spoken word performer, videographer, and arts educator living in Vancouver, Canada. He works as the Onsite Program Facilitator for Animating History at the Museum of Vancouver, and as the Program Coordinator for VPH’s Word Play, Poetry in Schools.
Chris is a two-time member of the Vancouver Poetry Slam Team (2008 & 2009), the runner-up in the 2008 Vancouver Individual Poetry Slam competition, the champion of Vancouver’s 2008 Haiku Death Match, finalist in the 2010 Write Bloody Press manuscript competition and winner of the Vancouver’s 2009 CBC Poetry Face-off.
In the summer of 2006, he toured the Canadian Fringe circuit with his play “87% True: The Lies That Bind”, co-created with Rosemary Rowe. His literary work has been published in Geist, Poetry is Dead, Vancouver Review, 42opus, and many others. He performs as part of the interactive multimedia clown rock supergroup Awesome Face.
Click below to listen!
Chris Gilpin is a spoken word performer, videographer, and arts educator living in Vancouver, Canada. He works as the Onsite Program Facilitator for Animating History at the Museum of Vancouver, and as the Program Coordinator for VPH’s Word Play, Poetry in Schools.
Chris is a two-time member of the Vancouver Poetry Slam Team (2008 & 2009), the runner-up in the 2008 Vancouver Individual Poetry Slam competition, the champion of Vancouver’s 2008 Haiku Death Match, finalist in the 2010 Write Bloody Press manuscript competition and winner of the Vancouver’s 2009 CBC Poetry Face-off.
In the summer of 2006, he toured the Canadian Fringe circuit with his play “87% True: The Lies That Bind”, co-created with Rosemary Rowe. His literary work has been published in Geist, Poetry is Dead, Vancouver Review, 42opus, and many others. He performs as part of the interactive multimedia clown rock supergroup Awesome Face.
Click below to listen!
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Wax Poetic featuring New West's Poet Laureate Candice James, July 21, 2010
Candice James was named Poet Laureate of The City Of New Westminster on June 14, 2010. She is a full member of The League Of Canadian Poets; a member of the British Columbia Writers Federation, and Vice President of Poetic Justice poetry group.
Candice was born in New Westminster at Saint Mary’s Hospital in 1948 and has spent most of her life in the City of New Westminster. She graduated in 1965 from Lester Pearson Senior Secondary School, now known as New Westminster Senior Secondary School.
Candice began the rudimentary stages of her writing, at the age of thirteen, composing essays. Over the years Candice continued writing and eventually moved into the arena of Poetry, which continues to be her preferred genre of writing.
She is the Author of the surrealistic, poetry book, “A SPLIT IN THE WATER” consisting of 116 poems which was published by Fiddlehead Poetry Books/University Of New Brunswick Literary Press in 1979 and is currently in many Canadian libraries. This 100 page poetry book is also for sale by bookstores and on the Internet. The Spring 1980 Literary Press Group Catalogue (Association Of Canadian Publishers) described on page 170 “A Split In The Water” by Candice James as follows: “A first book by a self taught poet characterized by brilliant imagery drawn from all facets of modern life."
Candice spent many years employed in the financial services industry, the real estate industry, and the music industry both in the business end and on the performing side. She has continued writing over the past 30 years, mostly poetry, but also 3 screenplays and a children’s book. She has been a featured guest on WAX POETIC, and WORLD POETRY CAFE on CFRO radio in Vancouver, BC and at many poetry readings in New Westminster and the Greater Vancouver area. Her poems have also appeared in local magazines and newspapers.
Click below to listen!
Candice was born in New Westminster at Saint Mary’s Hospital in 1948 and has spent most of her life in the City of New Westminster. She graduated in 1965 from Lester Pearson Senior Secondary School, now known as New Westminster Senior Secondary School.
Candice began the rudimentary stages of her writing, at the age of thirteen, composing essays. Over the years Candice continued writing and eventually moved into the arena of Poetry, which continues to be her preferred genre of writing.
She is the Author of the surrealistic, poetry book, “A SPLIT IN THE WATER” consisting of 116 poems which was published by Fiddlehead Poetry Books/University Of New Brunswick Literary Press in 1979 and is currently in many Canadian libraries. This 100 page poetry book is also for sale by bookstores and on the Internet. The Spring 1980 Literary Press Group Catalogue (Association Of Canadian Publishers) described on page 170 “A Split In The Water” by Candice James as follows: “A first book by a self taught poet characterized by brilliant imagery drawn from all facets of modern life."
Candice spent many years employed in the financial services industry, the real estate industry, and the music industry both in the business end and on the performing side. She has continued writing over the past 30 years, mostly poetry, but also 3 screenplays and a children’s book. She has been a featured guest on WAX POETIC, and WORLD POETRY CAFE on CFRO radio in Vancouver, BC and at many poetry readings in New Westminster and the Greater Vancouver area. Her poems have also appeared in local magazines and newspapers.
Click below to listen!
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Thursday, May 20, 2010
2010 Pandora's Poetry Awards
Pandora’s Collective awards were designed to honour those in our community who have contributed in specific areas. With this in mind we then decided it was important not only to recognize these individuals but to take it to the street, meaning let the community decide who should be honoured. We are privileged to bring to you those names that have been nominated in the Vancouver writing community. They are names that you have put forward. There were many more that could have been on this list, and we do not take anything away from those individuals, they work hard too and should be recognized. But we only have three awards. These were the ones that kept coming up over and over again. We have listened and done the sorting. Now it is your turn once again to tell us which of these outstanding individuals you feel deserves to be recognized this year. We thank you for your time.
I thank you for your support
Bonnie Nish
Executive Director
Pandora’s Collective
To open the following link, right click then click on open hyperlink. It should take you right to the page. If it doesn’t cut and paste.
http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dFlDS3E5ck9JRDVIWHZ4NFFwalBmbnc6MQ
Friday August 20, 2010
Summer Dream: A Night of Honour
Susan Musgrave: Then and Now
Join us at the Jacana Gallery, to celebrate those in the writing community who deserve to be honoured. This Summer Dream night of honouring will begin with a lifetime achievement award for Susan Musgrave whose first book was published 40 years ago and still is a strong force on the Canadian poetry scene. Susan is an inspiration and mentor to so many. We will then go on to give awards to publishers of magazines who continue to support novice and established writers despite cutbacks and inflation. To be honoured are Room, Event, Prism. Sub Terrain, Geist, The Capilano Review and One Cool Word. Finally the evening will end with four special awards. Three will be awards of merit for persons or organizations that support the writing community. These awards will come from the writing community itself as we have asked for nominations and will be putting these names out for a vote. Finally one award will go to recognize an individual who Pandora’s Collective feels has excelled in their support of writers within our community. This evening will continue the Summer Dream commitment to highlighting community involvement to the public. Mike Peacock of Melic Thrum will be our musical featured guest and there will be a special guest appearance by a musician to collaborate on a work of Susan’s.
Time: 7:00 pm
Location: Jacana Gallery
2435 Granville Street
Vancouver BC
Bonnie Nish
Executive Director
Pandora's Collective
www.pandorascollective.com
I thank you for your support
Bonnie Nish
Executive Director
Pandora’s Collective
To open the following link, right click then click on open hyperlink. It should take you right to the page. If it doesn’t cut and paste.
http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dFlDS3E5ck9JRDVIWHZ4NFFwalBmbnc6MQ
Friday August 20, 2010
Summer Dream: A Night of Honour
Susan Musgrave: Then and Now
Join us at the Jacana Gallery, to celebrate those in the writing community who deserve to be honoured. This Summer Dream night of honouring will begin with a lifetime achievement award for Susan Musgrave whose first book was published 40 years ago and still is a strong force on the Canadian poetry scene. Susan is an inspiration and mentor to so many. We will then go on to give awards to publishers of magazines who continue to support novice and established writers despite cutbacks and inflation. To be honoured are Room, Event, Prism. Sub Terrain, Geist, The Capilano Review and One Cool Word. Finally the evening will end with four special awards. Three will be awards of merit for persons or organizations that support the writing community. These awards will come from the writing community itself as we have asked for nominations and will be putting these names out for a vote. Finally one award will go to recognize an individual who Pandora’s Collective feels has excelled in their support of writers within our community. This evening will continue the Summer Dream commitment to highlighting community involvement to the public. Mike Peacock of Melic Thrum will be our musical featured guest and there will be a special guest appearance by a musician to collaborate on a work of Susan’s.
Time: 7:00 pm
Location: Jacana Gallery
2435 Granville Street
Vancouver BC
Bonnie Nish
Executive Director
Pandora's Collective
www.pandorascollective.com
Editor's note: As if it weren't interesting enough, RC and SR are both nominated in the Organizer/Promoter category! Perhaps if there is a tie, they'll Jello wrestle this time for the title!
Monday, May 17, 2010
500 Foot Chicken Heart Attacks June 1!
Café Deux Soleils - 2096 Commercial Drive, Vancouver, BC
Time: 8:30pm - 11:00pm
Cost: Suggested donation of $5-10.Radio Show Recreates Unnatural Disaster of Epic Proportions
Vancouver, BC - Return with us to the thrilling days of 1937, when the Hindenburg and Amelia Earhart had folks rethinking air travel for the first time. In the movies Clark Gable didn’t give a damn and the golden age of radio drama was in full swing.
Wax Poetic Radio proudly takes you there with a one-of-a-kind live event on Vancouver’s Commercial Drive in support of CFRO Vancouver’s Independent Cooperative Radio Station.
Experience the spine tingling glory of “The Chicken Heart” - a frenetic tale about a lab experiment gone terribly wrong, written by legendary radio writer/producer Arch Oboler .
The original “Lights Out” version left such an impression on funny man Bill Cosby, that he recounted his experience of hearing it for the first time on his “Wonderfulness” album in 1966 (You can hear Cosby’s version here).
You can hear the original NBC broadcast of “The Chicken Heart” here on YouTube.
Then keep tuning in to Wax Poetic and hear it broadcast on a future program. Like all our shows, we’ll also be storing the episode online to hear and share at your convenience.
We have an ever growing lineup of cast members including Martin Vansteingburg, SR Duncan, Diane Laloge, Alla Shiskov, Aedan Saint, Norah Holtby, Chris Gilpin, Duncan Shields and RC Weslowski--with music by CJ Leon and sound effects by YOU THE "STUDIO AUDIENCE."Plus, we’ll have performances by:
Come be a part of radio history and support your favorite spoken word program, Wax Poetic!
Vancouver Youth Poetry Slam team member and Wax Poetic Volunteer Paul Fischer, Duncan Shields, and your hosts Diane Laloge and S.R. Duncan
And a special onstage interview by The Vancouver Storyteller Society’s Naomi Steinberg
Plus, door prizes, 50/50 draw, and SR’s world famous meat draw (guess what he’ll be giving away!)
For more information check out our website: www.poetryradio.blogspot.com or our Facebook page : http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000861893901#!/waxpoeticradio?ref=ts
Or contact Steven R. Duncan at 604-788-8340 or srduncan@shaw.ca.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Podcast Update
All of April's Wax Poetic shows have now been added to the iTunes podcast feed as well. Sorry for the delay!
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Penn Kemp and Susan McCaslin
Penn Kemp and Susan McCaslin in studio today. Click below to listen! Happy Listening!
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Thursday, April 1, 2010
National Poetry Month Cancelled - Harper Gov Fingered
National Poetry Month has been a long-standing, popular April tradition in Canada, one that is much anticipated in poetry circles across the country. A time to dust off one's best turtleneck and beret and walk with pride (in broad daylight), knowing that even mimes don't have a month dedicated to them.
But there was no dilligent snapping of fingers or the appreciative tinkle of skinny latte spoons against expresso cups in the nation's coffeehouses and underground speak easys when word filtered down that National Poetry Month had indeed been cancelled.
A release from the Canadian Agency of Cultural Affairs (CACA) pulled no punches and singled out Vancouver specifically by saying:
"We spent a lot of money on your city with the Olympics. Now we have none. You will just have to write your ode to your navel on your own dime."
The letter when on to note:
"Prime Minister Harper wanted you to know that he really like that big guy, Shane Kickstand, and wished he could have accompanied him on piano at the opening ceremonies but had a prior engagement.
The news came as no surprise to some event organizers who saw the writing on the wall after the Olympics, when the Liberal's budget offered a 90% cut to existing meager Arts allocation.
"I've already applied for my old job back at the phone sex company," stated Vancouver poet and radio personality RC Weslowski, who's radio collective, Wax Poetic, is planning a fundraiser in June.
"I can't keep living on cat food and bologna," Weslowski shrugged.
Candlelight vigils are planned across the country.
But there was no dilligent snapping of fingers or the appreciative tinkle of skinny latte spoons against expresso cups in the nation's coffeehouses and underground speak easys when word filtered down that National Poetry Month had indeed been cancelled.
A release from the Canadian Agency of Cultural Affairs (CACA) pulled no punches and singled out Vancouver specifically by saying:
"We spent a lot of money on your city with the Olympics. Now we have none. You will just have to write your ode to your navel on your own dime."
The letter when on to note:
"Prime Minister Harper wanted you to know that he really like that big guy, Shane Kickstand, and wished he could have accompanied him on piano at the opening ceremonies but had a prior engagement.
The news came as no surprise to some event organizers who saw the writing on the wall after the Olympics, when the Liberal's budget offered a 90% cut to existing meager Arts allocation.
"I've already applied for my old job back at the phone sex company," stated Vancouver poet and radio personality RC Weslowski, who's radio collective, Wax Poetic, is planning a fundraiser in June.
"I can't keep living on cat food and bologna," Weslowski shrugged.
Candlelight vigils are planned across the country.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
March 3, 2010, Carlos Joe Costa
Poet and musician Carlos Joe Costa has this to say about his work and his latest project:
Voice of My Soul is a a collection of poems, stories and songs resulting from a deep spiritual journey twenty five years ago. As I continued on this path, I felt a need to search for a profound purpose in life. A need to express myself from my inner voice where words could be spoken only from my hear and soul. In 1996 I was compelled to write again, but this time I felt I had something to say.
These poems brought me closer to my origins and my cultural heritage. As I wrote, I began to discover the rich life that I have been living surrounded by teachers, messengers and a wonderful family upbringing.
This project has been therapeutic for me in many ways. I lost my parents in 1998. I lost my brother four years later. I found that writing eased the pain as i focused on the fond memories of them. It also compelled me to explore other family members of the past and present.
I believe it is important to also write about the heroes who became my teachers, and friend who made a differencce in my life. The songs were written as a celebration and the stories are dedicated to some wonderful human beings.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Heather Haley features on Wax Poetic
Heather Haley joins us in studio to read poems from her book "Three Blocks West of Wonderland." Click below to listen.
We also asked her to talk a bit about the book. Here's what she had to say:
What are the three themes you explore most in the book?
Well, I portray the domestic front, though as Karen Solie-with whom I had the privilege of working with at Banff Arts Centre said-“the work is not domesticated. It reflects the nature of language as both a domestic product and as wild—impossible to fully manage or control.” I take a lot of risks in my poems, have an instinct for the weirdness of language, the sound and rhythm. I’ve written a suite of island poems, others about relationships and family; my life partner, my mother, my father, nieces, nephews and several inspired by my son. I also depict the battle front you could say, a suite of poems inspired by my travels with many alluding to our post 9-11 guilt and angst here in the *safe zone.* I think we’re collectively waiting for the other shoe to drop, a dread summed up with a flying motif and section titles named Sky Watchers, Wax Wings and Hard Landings. In addition, I’ve addressed the classic man against nature theme in Hot Dogger, My Mountain and Habitat. I’m intrigued by extreme sports enthusiasts, adrenalin junkies. My father was an intrepid hunter and fisherman, I grew up in the great outdoors but we never felt compelled to climb for the sake of climbing, we just lived in the woods. In a brief paragraph (2 or 3 sentences), describe what you think the book is about (assuming there is a theme)? I think The Theme is simply prevailing. One of the poems is called How To Remain, beyond mere survival, endurance but thriving, prevailing. Boldly. With panache. Style, grace and good humour. I hope.
Why did you write this book?
Because I had to. Because I wanted to, because I must. I must write. I’m an artist, not a critic, it’s hard for me to theorize or go on about process.
How long did it take?
Too long! This book has been in the works for about three years and making the rounds with publishers for two. I love books, but let’s face it, print is dying. It’s getting harder and harder all the time to get into print. It’s one reason I like to work in other media. Video and music have saved my sanity I swear, which is not to say any of it is easy either.
Who inspires you as a writer?
Too many to name. Let’s see, the Canadians would be Dorothy Livesay, Lorna Crozier, Al Purdy, Susan Musgrave, bill bissett, Margaret Laurence, Michael Turner, Catherine Kidd, Miranda Pearson, Peter Trower, Russell Thornton. I’ve read a lot of Americans having lived as an expatriate for many years. I like Plath and Sexton, Richard Brautigan, ee cummings, Henry Miller, novelists Darcy Steinke and Robert Stone and the beat era poet Kenneth Patchen. I admired William Burroughs more as a character than a writer though I did enjoy Naked Lunch. I used to hang out with a bunch of neo-Surrealists in San Francisco who turned me onto Andre Breton and his wild cross-pollinations with Marcel Duchamp and Man Ray. I like the Latins Octavio Paz, Pablo Neruda, Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Jean Cocteau is a big influence. I think he must have been the first poet to use film.
Why would people want to buy and read this book?
Because it’s rambunctious, relentlessly witty, visceral, vital, fierce, racy, full of stiletto irony, verve-yet rife with sensitivity-according to the back cover. ;-)
What demographic do you think would be interested in this book (think of your typical audience)?
I don’t know. I find these kinds of questions impossible to answer. Though very DIY, I’m no expert at book marketing. Sorry I can’t answer better than that.
What's next?
Well I’m working on completing two videopoems, and two books, my punk rock novel, The Town Slut’s Daughter and an art book collaboration with photographer Tina Schliessler called Bushwhack. There will be an official Vancouver launch for Three Blocks West of Wonderland in May or June and I hope to travel back east and launch it in Toronto, go on a modest book tour.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
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Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Apr. 21 2010- Two Poets Susan McCaslin and Penn Kemp
Susan McCaslin and Penn Kemp
Susan McCaslin is a prize-winning poet who has published twelve volumes of poetry and taught English and Creative Writing at Douglas College in New Westminster, B.C for twenty-three years. Her most recent volumes include Lifting the Stone(Seraphim Editions, 2007) and Persephone Tours the Underground (Alfred Gustav Press, 2009). She has edited two anthologies and is on the editorial board of Event. Susan is a full-time writer living in Fort Langley, British Columbia who has recently completed a book-length memoir on mysticism and the poetics of mystical experience. Her most recent volume of poetry,Demeter Goes Skydiving, will be published by the University of Alberta Press in the spring of 2011.
London ON poet, performer and playwright Penn Kemp has published twenty-five books of poetry and drama, had six plays and ten CDs produced as well as Canada's first poetry CD-ROM and several award-winning videopoems. She performs in festivals around the world. Penn is the Canada Council Writer-in-Residence at UWO for 2009-10. She hosts an eclectic literary show, Gathering Voices, on Radio Western, CHRW 94.9 FM. Her own project for the year is a book, cd and dvd devoted to Eco Poetry, Luminous Entrance.
Feb. 10, 2010, John Akpata
On Wednesday February 10th Ottawa poet John Akpata will join Waxpoetic in continuation of celebrating Black History Month.
John Akpata is a writer and poet who lives in Ottawa. He first learned to read and write at the age of three. He has written poetry his whole life. After graduating from Carleton University with a degree in English Literature, John Akpata began to live the life of a true poet. He focused all of his energy into writing and performing, and vowed to make a living off of his art.
Feb. 3 2010 Scruffmouth
On Wednesday February 3rd another Vancouver local poet Scruffmouth will be visiting Waxpoetic as part of Black History Month.
Kevan Cameron is a writer, a poet and a creator. He is also known as Scruffmouth, the reigning Grand Champion of the 2008 Vancouver Poetry Slam. His work deals with the Black experience throughout history and connecting the dots of the past, present and future. Scruffmouth is a hip-hop griot and has a diverse style of spoken word art ranging from dub poetry, rap artistry and slam poetry. His poems have been published in We Have A Voice: An Anthology of African & Caribbean Student Writing, and Blood Ink: A University of Alberta Literary Journal.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Monday, January 18, 2010
January 27, 2010 Goh Poh Seng
This week on a special edition of Wax Poetic we celebrate the life of local dramatist, novelist and poet, Goh Poh Seng, with an interview and reading of his works by his sons, Kagan and Kajin Goh.
Goh Poh Seng was born in Malaya in 1936. He received his medical degree from University College Dublin, and practised medicine in Singapore for twenty-five years. In his time living in Singapore, Dr Goh held many honorary positions including the Chairman of the National Theatre Trust Board between 1967 and 1972. He was committed to the development of Art and cultural policies of post-independent Singapore, as well as the development of cultural institutions such as the Singapore National Symphony, the Chinese Orchestra and the Singapore Dance Company.[1]Goh's first novel, If We Dream Too Long won the National Book Development Council of Singapore's Fiction Award in 1976 and has been translated into Russian and Tagalog. His other books include The Immolation, Dance of Moths, Eyewitness, Lines from Batu FerringhiBird With One Wing. His most recent works are his Collections of Poems, As Though the Gods Love Us and The Girl from Ermita. His work also appeared in numerous magazines and anthologies around the world. Goh lived in Canada to which he emigrated in 1986. He died on 10 January 2010 in Vancouver.
From Wikipedia
Photos
Left. At home in Singapore – circa 1970s
Right: With Professor Dennis Enright, poet and Professor of English at the University of Singapore - Early 1960s
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Urban Planning by Kim Goldberg
from RED ZONE (2009, Pig Squash Press)
Urban Planning
Kim Goldberg
Train tracks scrape past the sun-hammered miners’
shacks left over from the last
century. The front side is tarted up
as the Historic Old Quarter. But the backside
holds the story. Just ask the crumbling sunflower
sentries guarding the ass-end
of the Women’s Center. Or the weather-stripped
shiplap on the Bride’s Closet next door
luffing like a beaten flag while some gunk
the color of old blood drips
from a rusty pipe. I know this stuff
because I am now at a sufficiently advanced
stage in my daily rail-walking to support
a head-up gaze at my surroundings without
tumbling into the thorns. Beyond the
bridal store the shaling Occidental
Hotel and Bar prevails like an asylum
for the criminally insane. While across the
tracks a torn quilt pocked with bodily
stains lies splayed on a weedy patch
behind the Thrift Shop – a cardboard box
nightstand totters beside. She will
sleep here again tonight
unless chance finds her at the copshop on
the corner or perhaps in the bed
of someone she meets in the Oxy. And if he’s
not too bad, maybe they’ll get hitched
and pay a visit to the Bride’s Closet (except
that’s likely where her problems started – it’s all so
cyclotronic). He’ll probably keep
spending his nights at the Oxy, coming home
mean, talking fist-speak, till she ducks
out, goes to the Women’s Center, which
will be closed due to funding cuts, so she’ll do
some dumpster diving in the donation box
outside the Thrift Shop till she finds another quilt
and a spot to lie.
* * *
RED ZONE is available at People's Co-op Bookstore in Vancouver and other independent bookstores or directly from the publisher, Pig Squash Press. Email goldberg@ncf.ca for details.
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