I SPY A POETRY READING

Truth © Lizz Murphy Mixed Media work in progress

Long time no see. I haven’t been on strike — just not been keeping up! Started this mixed media work (20x25 cm) recently with a random bird image and found text which took me one way or another into internet espionage. More concerned with government control and censorship. It should become a poem or two. Meanwhile while wondering what the bird had to do with anything, I discover that 'bird' is the back end process behind iCloud. No I don't know what that actually means yet but hey. Makes the bird image relevant  With many thanks to the inspirational Kate O'Connor for her Painting at the Pub workshop held in Binalong last weekend — part of the Binalong Arts Group’s ongoing program.

 

I don’t have any readings coming up myself which is fine as I’m meant to be head down writing and painting, but you might like to attend these if you’re in the neighbourhood:

That Poetry Thing that’s on at Smith’s on Monday Nights continues to deliver a dynamic program. On March 2 (tonight!) it’s Mirsad Ramic & Alasdair Carter and March 9 it's Sarah Rice & Claire Albrecht. Starts at 7.00 pm. Smith’s Alternative in the Melbourne Building, 76 Alinga Street, Canberra. Watch for more poetry events at Smith’s including the launch of two poetry collections That Other World & People by Yass Valley's Jane Baker on March 30 at 5.30 pm. Have a gourmet sandwich and drinks after and stay on for the regular That Poetry Thing. Actually I think it’s a Not Very Quiet reading.

Geoff Page’s monthly poetry program has moved from University House (ANU) while they renovate, to Beyond Q bookshop another great venue in Weston ACT. Masses of second-hand books, meals and snacks. Note: BYO. Don’t miss Jessica L. Wilkinson of Melbourne, the main feature at the next reading on Wednesday March 11 at 7.00 pm.  The evening will begin with a tribute reading for Gwen Harwood’s centenary by three well-known local poets: P.S. Cotter, Penelope Layland, Russell Erwin. Bookings are not necessary, but you will cheer Geoff he says if you let him know you’re coming, on gpage40[at]bigpond[dot]net[dot]au

Binalong Arts Group’s Brush with Poetry kicks off this month at its current delightful venue (as opposed to former delightful venues), Café on Queen, Queen Street, Binalong with a shared mike on Sunday March 29 at 1.30 for 2.00 pm. Arrive any time but getting in early with your first coffee orders is a good idea — arrive even earlier and have lunch! BYO. All styles of poetry — serious, intense, hilarious — plus music and song very welcome. Coordinated by Robyn Sykes: robynsykespoet[at]gmail[dot]com and co-emceed by Robyn and Gregory Piko. This event is held on the last Sunday of the odd months from here on.

I’ll be back with more.
 

ONE SKY — ADD A POSTCARD

This is where my One Sky Many Stories is up to (at October 12). Some of the early puddles have come down, and the micro poems and found text now make up a second arc (reminiscent of The Milky Way from above). There is quite a bit of reading (about 15 poems of one kind or another). I think I might aim longer term for one strong poem arranged in a similar way but line by line in large text. 

Meanwhile a trickling in of delicious 'Postcards from the Sky' to add to the wall (far left): poems by Kathy Kituai and Sarah St Vincent Welch. More to come in including images by Deborah Faeyrglenn. See also a close-up of another art & text piece below.

POETS & ARTISTS DROP OUT OF THE SKY

A spirited morning of discussion on the skies, poetry and visual art in the One Sky Many Stories Living Studio at Belconnen Arts Centre, with good friends and colleagues Sarah St Vincent Welch (writer and photographer) on the left, Deborah Faeyrglenn (installation artist and writer) and Chris Mansell (poet and publisher). Sarah and Deborah have been hoping to drop in for a while and Chris who lives in Berry NSW happened to be in Canberra — serendipity — they all dropped in as if from the sky. (Not quite.) Add to that the Highly Creative Moni McInerney, Creative Director, who of course is never far away.

It was a quietish day until they got there. So many personal stories about constellations, mythologies, other works on the theme. Inspiring. Passionate. Much laughter.

And below is another found poem/micro poem from my growing installation (as it's shaping at the moment). 

One Sky Many Stories has been extended until late November. Thursday morning is my most regular time if you want to say hallo or to add something to the project.

 

ONE SKY: FOUND POEM

Learning the night sky ... is one of a few found poems I've created as part of One Sky Many Stories. The main gallery in Belconnen Arts Centre has become a poetry refuge when I can steal a couple of hours from a busy schedule. Always hankering after something more in-depth I continue to scud through the topic and to write or make micro poems. So much fun though.

HAULING OUT THE POEMS

It’s late October and the core Project 365 + 1 group has been at it for almost 10 months. 299 days to be exact … and at this point I suddenly realize I must have missed a couple!

I have reached a stage where I don’t think I can haul another word out of me. There’s a mild sense of panic setting in. It’s as if everything now hinges on this project – all the writing I may ever do has to happen in the two months before it finishes. I’d better produce some good poems then! It never is rational this writing stuff.

I hope to get writing again in November. In the meantime see below for a peek at the series of art & text images I am making. Visit Project 365 + 1 for the full series so far (search for 'Head'). They are oil pastel and found text on A6 notepaper. 

Better still treat yourself to poetry and images by the other contributors including international poets, poetry in translation and an exciting new art & text collaboration by Bekim & Merima (Sweden) who joined in this month.

can't articulate in words."

paint runs in the rain,"

in a cardigan."

in an audacious dream of

CUTTING EDGE

A small selection of the drawings and collages I've been doing recently as part of a poetry project exploring the fragment genre. There is a whole bunch of them posted on Project 365 + 1. Not too much cutlery - and not a cut edge to be seen.

SKIN IN AND BONE OUT - BLAKE POETRY PRIZE UPDATE

A quick hi and Blake Poetry Prize update

And about two years later (August 2018) another update: the draft manuscript languishes half-mast. Life keeps getting in the way (caring and related juggles) but it stays in my dreams. I daydream and plot ways to facilitate this project. Saying this here helps keep it real.

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I'm jumping back into this earlier post (May 2017) to give you an update on the Blake Poetry Prize. I was of the impression it had folded but, good news, it has moved to the Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre in partnership with the Liverpool City Library as of this year. The Blake Poetry Prize closes June 2. The much longer running Blake Prize (for art) moved to Casula Powerhouse in 2016. Both are held biennially. 

Meanwhile you can find Prayer: Quick & Dirty (see below) in a feature published by Rochford Street Review with great thanks. Click here.

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At my first art class the teacher encouraged us to buy a book of anatomy and to draw and re-draw the human body - from skin in and bone out - spending the week between classes sketching people as skeletons. I had two active children and had no trouble filling books with their small skeletons at play. 

Fast sketching in the street and from the car was more practice in catching the fleeting. In those days I could also remember a face or a character and sketch it well later.  I learnt to make image, to explore colour and to observe. All great tools for writing.

I love the smell of paint (started as a child sniffing freshly painted doors) and to swing a brush and have missed these. From time to time I’ll break out and mess with oil pastels or do a bit of scribbling with pencil or stick & ink. 

A friend gave me a very small book once with plain cream pages and I found myself tearing out text and images and adding my own images and words. Fragments. This (now well thumbed) book eventually became a prose poem called Prayer: Quick & Dirty and was Highly Commended in the 2013 Blake (sorry - I've mentioned this before - and before!). A few pages from the book – or as it turned out an early draft of the poem – are below. The captions are related fragments from the poem.

This is the catalyst for a manuscript [concept] I've been slowly shaping up and hope to find time to focus on (see previous posts). The poem can be found at the Blake Prize website. Oh no it can't. Seems the website may be no longer. Hmmm.

Listen   quick and dirty    eight orange stars   

a vest like a/raffle ticket

His raven eye fitly set   wounds  Your takeaway face ...

... him and his raspberry insult   cobbles/burled by the currents   smooth grey pigeons

... peel back the pages you/will see her porcelain skin is broken china

... crushed to coal  a black slide  their slippers a queue of teeth

... lays her eggs in mud bottles  distinguishes the character of/her young   like some small miracle

Yesterday's journey an/arc of stiletto red under the monotone of stricken evening

the old Singer up on its brawny legs humming   Its running stitch/its rapid tacking  chronicles this place

... the desert freckled hide ...

FRAGMENT GENRE

The 'fragment genre' is something that interests me. I've been busy reading about that and making related poems and some images. Here's a small collage. Love torn edges. There are more images and poems posted on Project 365 + 1 - and many other published poets who are worth visiting for.