Monday, October 16, 2006

Book Presentation


Book Presentation
Originally uploaded by random acts of poetry.
Book Presentation-- Gary Hyland presents a copy of his book The Work of Snow to an ESL student.

CBC Radio


CBC Radio
Originally uploaded by random acts of poetry.
CBC Radio- All of Saskatchewan gets a dose of poetry from Gary Hyland via CBC radio .

Sparring


Sparring
Originally uploaded by random acts of poetry.
Former boxer and Mayor of Regina Pat Fiacco gets a boxing poem from Gary Hyland and delivers a punch in response. It was a knockout!

On the Grass


On the Grass
Originally uploaded by random acts of poetry.
Gary Hyland relaxes with some poetry in Regina's Victoria Park.

A Pig for Poetry


A Pig for Poetry
Originally uploaded by random acts of poetry.
A Pig for Poetry- CBC reporter pigs out on poetry by Gary Hyland.

Pauline Michel


Pauline Michel
Originally uploaded by random acts of poetry.
Congratulations for organizing Random Acts of Poetry (if that does not seem to much of a contradiction!). It brought poetry back into the streets and in front of people. This is good for the people and the poetry community.

Thank you for inviting me to take part in this national event.

Between my trips to Edmonton and Toronto I was able to perform for two days: on October 4 at the Collège Durocher, where I met 36 students; on October 6 at Beaver Lake, where I read poetry to people passing by. I distributed 50 copies of my book.

Looking forward to seeing you again!

Pauline

Thursday, October 12, 2006

Marauding Band of Writers Descends Upon Fredericton

Resourceful citizen Tina Northrup holds at bay three WolfTree Writers (Virginia Bjerkelund, Kathy Mac and Shari Andrews) about to descend upon the Boyce Farmer's Market.
Photo: George Andrews

Wednesday, October 11, 2006

Inaugurating the Literate Locker at London's Central Library

Penn Kemp, creating a RAP poem. Photo by Julie Brandl, Librarian.

Motorcyclist Accosts Passersby with Poems

WolfTree poet Shari Andrews hopped off her motorcycle to
enrich with poetry two unsuspecting souls in Gagetown, NB.
Photo George Andrews.

Juggling poems


Juggling poems
Originally uploaded by random acts of poetry.
Liz Zetlin poems Troy Witherow, John Diefenbaker Secondary School
valedictorian and expert juggler in the Writers' Craft class in
Hanover, Ontario.

Barbara Pelman poems ESL students and motorcycle


Rachel Hill, a Grade 12 student at Reynolds Secondary School, reads poems to her classmates after an afternoon of 'concrete poetry': students wrote poems on the sidewalks, up the stairs, in the parking lots, and distributed their own and others' poetry on the windshields of cars.

Barbara Pelman poems ESL students and motorcycle

Drive-by poems at Reynolds Secondary School, where "concrete" poetry
beautifies the parking lot.

Barbara Pelman poems ESL students and motorcycle

Here's a photo from my session with ESL and International Students at
Reynolds School, and here's the blurb:

Barbara Pelman and students at Reynolds Secondary School show off the work they have created in a brief but lively session of "poeming". Students come from Korea, Brazil, Taiwan, Japan, Mexico.

Tuesday, October 10, 2006

Halifax North Branch Library Women's Group

Nothing random about a group that's been meeting for over 20 years
to support initiatives in housing, literacy, and community-
building. Something to celebrate!

Alieu Kamara poems himself

Halifax student Alieu, new to Canada from Liberia, chooses to browse
poetry about newcomers in the Keshen Goodman Library.

literacy learner Bernadette Derry poemed by Lorri Neilsen Glenn in Halifax

Lorri Neilsen Glenn
Professor, Mount Saint Vincent University
Halifax, N.S. B3M 2J6 (902) 457-6156

Pumpkins and poetry


Pumpkins and poetry
Originally uploaded by random acts of poetry.
Two year old Zoe Holman, Liz Zetlin's granddaughter, enjoys
Thanksgiving pumpkins and poems at her grandparents in Traverston,
Ontario.

Four-year-old loves Random Acts

Keagan Holman, Liz Zetlin's grandson, helps promote poetry.

Poetry on the Bruce Trail

Karen Maier showing off her "I've been poemed" postcard from Liz
Zetlin, on the shores of Georgian Bay, Ontario.

Pelvic Poetry


Pelvic Poetry
Originally uploaded by random acts of poetry.
Liz Zetlin attempting to read a poem to her doctor, who obviously has
a great sense of humour.

Poetry Checkup


Poetry Checkup
Originally uploaded by random acts of poetry.
Liz Zetlin poems her physician Dr. Sauks during her annual checkup in
Owen Sound, Ontario

Sunday, October 08, 2006

Charles Mountford final reading for the RAP Week

Mountford read to a large and diverse group at the Central Library in London.

Second stop in London RAP at Landon Library

Charles Mountford delighted the listeners with his poem about Lyla's tight red dress and perfume.

Charles Mountford's final day for RAoP

Charles reads at the Masonville Library on Saturday.

John B. Lee poems Penn Kemp

Photo by Gavin Stairs.

Shari Andrews, Virginia Bjerkelund and Kathy Mac poeming the Samosa Line-up...

... at the Boyce Farmers Market in Fredericton, New Brunswick. Photo by Paul McConnell.

Two painters taking a break at The Black Stilt

Two painters taking a break at The Black Stilt get poemed by Wendy Morton in Victoria.

later we all had pumpkin pie with the poems

Adult literacy class in Victoria, after being poemed by Wendy Morton.(later we all had pumpkin pie with the poems).

Victoria READ Society ESL class being poemed.

Victoria READ Society ESL class being poemed.

Wendy Morton poems an ESL Class at the Victoria READ Society, in Victoria.

Wendy Morton poems an ESL Class at the Victoria READ Society, in Victoria.

Saturday, October 07, 2006

Toronto RAP photos at coffee shop.

The first cafe one is taken at Alternative Grounds coffeehouse with Noreen Shanahan, Sheila, and Kathy LeBlanc. The final one at same cafe is Noreen, Andrea, and Kathy.

thanks so much
Sheila

Toronto RAP photos at coffee shop.

The first cafe one is taken at Alternative Grounds coffeehouse with Noreen Shanahan, Sheila, and Kathy LeBlanc. The final one at same cafe is Noreen, Andrea, and Kathy.

Toronto RAP photos at car wash.

Attached are 3 photos of Andrea Thompson and myself, Sheila Stewart. The car wash one has Andrea (left), Bonnie Balck (who we poemed), and myself.

Penn Kemp RAPS Ruth Mountford

Penn Kemp RAPS Ruth Mountford in her Stratford garden... Photo by Gavin Stairs.

Out on the Town with Random Acts of Poetry!

Out on the Town with Random Acts of Poetry!
Public Library + Community Doors are Opening to…
Celebrate Literacy, Art and Poetry!
During National Literacy Week + National/International Random Acts of Poetry Week
October 2nd to 8th 2006

Random Acts of Poetry: Thunder Bay Performance Project: A partnership initiative between the Thunder Bay Public Library and Definitely Superior Art Gallery in order to present a series of up to 30 spoken word performances featuring 18 poets throughout the City of Thunder Bay and all branches of Thunder Bay Public Library during National Literacy Week + National/International Random Acts of Poetry Week. Inspired by other international/national initiatives, the Second Annual “Random Acts of Poetry: Thunder Bay Performance Project” promotes literacy, art and poetry in a refreshing way to ordinary people in their everyday lives. The unified theme is intended to emphasis the creativity and enjoyment inherent in literacy development as shown through the written and verbal “word constructions” of the participating poets. See and hear the Poetry Construction Crew as they randomly bring urban interventions to our public venues. The crews will be visually compelling being identifiably dressed in bright orange coveralls and using highway traffic construction props. Each spoken word performance is only ten to twenty minutes, perfect for our busy lives!

How are the performances “random”? Akin to the common notion of “random acts of kindness,” the spoken word performances will be offered to the public in a positive spirit of kindness and generousity. The performances are also random in an improvisational sense, that the poets will read poems from their own repertoires that they feel will engage the atmosphere and audiences encountered in different performance locations. Furthermore, a loosely structured performance schedule will be made available to the public during Random Acts of Poetry week (Oct 2 –8) that lists various confirmed performance sites with estimated times (typically in one-hour time frames), so that the public may gather and linger in order to anticipate the show’s arrival, as well as listing other completely random performance stops within generally indicated public spaces, such as parks and downtown cores, thus surprising and entertaining passers-by.

Eighteen local poets of diverse ages and cultural backgrounds, as well as varied styles and strong experience in both writing and public performance will go out in daily “poetry construction crews” of up to five poets each day during Random Acts of Poetry week. It is hoped that people will come out to see some of Thunder Bay’s finest poets including: Chris Roy, Erin Stewart, Chris Waite-Smith, Cameron Willis, Amy Crnkovic, Sherri Lankinen, Taina Maki Chahal, Mary Frost, Renee Terpstra, Steven Gothard, Sharon Irvine, Black Rose, “Bebop” Brian Aysanabee, Kirsty Puurunen, Douglas Livingston, Nolan Schmerk (aka MC Solomon), PhebeAnn Wolframe and Jolene Cheryl Simko.

The Random Acts of Poetry (“RAP”) performance schedule will be available for pick-up at Definitely Superior Art Gallery and the front desks of all Thunder Bay Public Library branches during the Random Acts of Poetry Week from Monday October 2rd to Sunday, October 8th! Also new for 2006, there will be a “RAP” BLOG on the library website [www.tbpl.ca], where the performance schedule will also be posted, and where anyone can also go to publicly share their own poetry and give audience feedback on the RAP performances. The Blog address is: http://rap-tbpl.blogspot.com.

Also new for 2006, there will be a Random Acts of Poetry - Grade 8 Poetry Contest. The RAP poets will be the judges of this exciting poetry contest in order to mentor and inspire our city’s “future young artists”! Poems may be handed in during RAP week – October 2nd to 8th, 2006 at any Thunder Bay Public Library Branch. There is a limit of one poem per grade 8 student and it must be in paper form, either typed or handwritten. The three winners will be publicly announced on November 20th at a “RAP” Gala and Reading in the Brodie Library Fireside Reading Room at 7 p.m. Winners will be invited to read their poetry at the Gala and have their poem published in the 2nd Annual Random Acts of Poetry publication. (Note: Winners will be contacted 1 week before the Gala.) Warning…it’s Poetry Construction Season! Random Acts of Poetry…anywhere, anytime, stay tuned…all week from Monday, October 2rd to Sunday, October 8th!


For further information, please contact:

Renee Terpstra, Volunteer Project Organizer
Random Acts of Poetry: Thunder Bay Performance Project,
A Partnership of Definitely Superior Art Gallery + Thunder Bay Public Library
Gallery Contacts: Phone/Fax: (807) 344-3814, Email: defsup@tbaytel.net, Website: www.definitelysuperior.com


Random Acts of Poetry/October 2nd - 8th/Scheduled Library & City Stops
(Proviso: daily poet crews are subject to change without notice, all changes however would be listed on the Library’s BLOG.)
Route #1: Mon. Oct 2rd / 6:30 to 10:00 + p.m. / “Shakin’ Hands…”
(Poet Crew: Nolan Schmerk aka MC Solomon, Mary Frost, Steven Gothard, Douglas Livingston, Renee Terpstra)
• 1st stop ☺ City Hall (at 6:30 p.m. sharp/inside City Council meeting/Council mtgs. are open to the public)
• 2nd stop ☺ Brodie Resource Library (between 7 & 8 p.m)
• 3rd stop ☺ Waverley Resource Library (between 8 & 9 p.m.)
• 4th stop ☺ Random Stop in Downtown P.A. (between 8 & 9 p.m.)
• 5th Stop ☺ Open Stage at Jack’s Pub (Corner of Park + Cumberland St./Downtown P.A) (at 10:00 p.m.)

Route #5: Tues. Oct. 3th / 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. / “Day Trippin’ - Schools to Suburbia #1”
(Poet Crew: Erin Stewart, Black Rose, Cameron Willis, PhebeAnn Wolframe, Renee Terpstra)
• 1st stop ☺ CILU Radio 102.7 FM (Thunder Bay's new non-profit campus + community radio station) - “Memorize the City” Radio Show with David Ivany (listen in! - between 11:00 a.m. & 12:00 p.m.)
• 2nd stop ☺ Lakehead University (between 12:00 & 1:00 p.m)
• 3rd stop ☺ Confederation College (between 1 & 2 p.m.)
• 4th stop ☺ Mary J. L. Black Library in Westfort (between 1 & 2 p.m.)
• 5th stop ☺ Victoriaville Centre by the Food Court in Downtown F.W. (between 1 & 2 p.m.)

Route #3: Wed. Oct. 4th / 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. / “People Meet”
(Poet Crew: Chris Waite-Smith, Steven Gothard, Jolene Cheryl Simko, Chris Roy, Renee Terpstra)
• 1st stop ☺ Waverley Resource Library (between 7 & 8 p.m.)
• 2nd stop ☺ Brodie Resource Library (between 7 & 8 p.m)
• 3rd stop ☺ The Attendance Centre (Youth Drop-In @ Victoriaville Centre/Downtown F.W.) (btw. 7 & 8 p.m.)
• 4th stop ☺ Shelter House (Youth Wing Drop-In Area/Downtown F.W.) (between 8 & 9 p.m.)
• 5th stop ☺ Lakehead University – Open Stage at The Study (between 9 & 10 p.m.)

Route #4: Thurs. Oct. 5th / 12 to 3 p.m./ “Diversity Street”
(Poet Crew: Amy Crnkovic, Taina Maki Chahal, Sharon Irvine, Douglas Livingston, Renee Terpstra)
• 1st stop ☺ Seattle Coffee House on Cumberland St.*** (between 12:00 & 1:00 p.m.)
• 2nd stop ☺ Calico CoffeeHouse on Bay St. (between 1 & 2 p.m.)
• 3rd stop ☺ Anishnawbe Mushkiki (Health Care Clinic/Main Reception/Downtown P.A.) (between 1 & 2 p.m.)
• 4th stop ☺ Waverley Resource Library (between 2 & 3 p.m.)
• 5th stop ☺ Random Stop in Downtown P.A. (between 2 & 3 p.m.)

Route #5: Fri. Oct. 6th / 11:00 a.m to 2 p.m. / “Day Trippin’ - Schools to Suburbia #2”
(Poet Crew: Amy Crnkovic, Chris Roy, Sharon Irvine, Cameron Willis, Renee Terpstra)
• 1st stop ☺ Waverley Resource Library (Auditorium/Grade 8/Lakehead Public Schools/+ Public) (at 11 a.m.)
• 2nd stop ☺ PACI High School (Grades 10 to 12/in library during lunch hour/between 12:09 to 12:49 p.m.)
• 3rd stop ☺ Waverley Park Fountain (between 12 & 1 p.m.)
• 4th stop ☺ Seattle Coffee House on Red River Road (between 1:00 & 2:00 p.m.)
• 5th stop ☺ County Park Branch Library (between 1:00 & 2 p.m.)

Route #6: Sat. Oct 7th / 12 to 3 p.m. / “Central Shop & Coffee”
(Poet Crew: Nolan Schmerk (MC Solomon), Chris Waite-Smith, Jolene Cheryl Simko, Kirsty Puurunen, Renee Terpstra)
• 1st stop ☺ Waverley Resource Library (between 12:00 & 1:00 p.m.)
• 2nd stop ☺ Chapters Bookstore & Starbucks Coffee (between 1 & 2 p.m.)
• 3rd stop ☺ Calico CoffeeHouse on Bay St. (Next to the Hoito) (between 2 & 3 p.m.)
• 4th stop ☺ Sidewalk in front of Hoito Restaurant on Bay St. (between 2 & 3 p.m.)
• 5th stop ☺ Random Stop in Downtown P.A. (between 2 & 3 p.m.)

Route #7: Sun. Oct. 9th / 2 to 5 p.m. / “Intercity Park & Coffee”
(Poet Crew: Kirsty Puurunen, Black Rose, Brian Aysanabee, Sherri Lankinen, Renee Terpstra)
• 1st stop ☺ Random Stop in Downtown P.A. or F.W. (between 2 + 3 p.m.)
• 2nd stop ☺ Seattle Coffee House on Arthur Street (between 3 & 4 p.m.)
• 3rd stop ☺ Brodie Resource Library (between 3 & 4 p.m.)
• 4th stop ☺ P.A. Waterfront Park (near playground +/or train station +/or random stop) (between 4 + 5 p.m.)
• 5th stop ☺ Random Stop in Downtown P.A. (between 4 + 5 p.m.)

Friday, October 06, 2006

Lillian Allan gets her teeth into it!

Queens' University Writer-in-Residence Lillian Allan, gets her teeth into the whole RAP thing at the Central Library Poets' table in Kingston, Ontario.

'Sandwiching' a poem into a busy day

Mary Ellen Csamer poems Lori Eves and Nadine Burriss at the Basket Case Sandwich Shop in Napanee, Ontario

Penn RAPs receptive Rosario Marchese, MP

Penn RAPs receptive Rosario Marchese, MP at S.S. 19, Fanshawe
Heritage Schoolhouse, after a Press Conference for Literacy. Photo
by Gavin Stairs.

Penn poems the Old Queen!

But our politicians are more amused than she might be...They work for
Literacy! Photo by Gavin Stairs

Penn RAPs school trustee for Literacy!

And in the background, Joyce with Bill, who sent me a poem: now to be
published in WhatIf Magazine!

Penn Kemp

Poems transcend Time!

Penn RAPs a Pioneer couple at the old General Store, Fanshawe Pioneer Village. Photo by Gavin Stairs.

Participatory Sound Poetry!

Mary of St Marys Museum, after Penn's sound poem: "Well, that was
cathartic!" Photo by Gavin Stairs.

Who's RAPping whom? Who's wRAPping him now..

Penn Kemp RAPs Prime Minister Arthur Meighan in St. Marys. Photo by
Gavin Stairs.

Come to fix the furnace and you get poemed!

Penn Kemp still had to pay the Union Energy bill. Photo by Gavin Stairs.

Penn RAPS director Paul Thompson in Stratford, but who's clapping?

Penn Kemp

RAP-ing to a Dub beat

Lillian Allan, writer in residence at Queen's University, and Jennifer Londry, local poet, at the Central Library, Kingston, Ontario. Lillian was giving an impromptu workshop in how to perform Dub poetry.

'Marketing' Poetry - RAP-ing to vendors at the Farmer's Market in Kingston, ON

Mary Ellen Csamer reads to vendors at the Thursday Farmers' Market in the square by Kingston City Hall.

more of those crazy illuminations

Carolyn Marie Souaid RAPPING to a class of ESL
students in Saint-Lambert, Quebec.

Poeming ESL students in Saint-Lambert, Quebec

Carolyn Marie Souaid performs her crazy illuminations
to Saint-Lambert students at College Durocher.

Rapping in Saint-Lambert

Carolyn Marie Souaid poems Patti McCurdy, English
Second Language teacher at College Durocher.

October 4, 2006

O, those historical RAP poets!

Charles Mountford and Penn Kemp ham it up at the St. Marys Museum.