FFWD Weekly
Copyright © 1997. All Rights Reserved.
BookendsThis week Pages on Kensington hosts their third reading from The Banff Centre's Arts Journalism program. Cecil Foster's book A Place Called Heaven talks about being black in Canada. Not only is it nothing like the American experience (of course not, this is Canada, the high ground of social justice, as you know), it's not so close to Canadians' homogenizing and self-flattering stereotypes either. Hear Foster at Pages on Wednesday, July 30 at 7:30 p.m. or, if you happen to be in Banff on Monday, go to the Bourgeau Lounge, Lloyd Hall, at 8 p.m.
Inglewood's Alexandra Writers' Centre Society has become a well- established Calgary institution. Last year was the society's 15th anniversary. Talking to society president Terry Pouliot gives the impression that success has become their biggest problem. "If we expand much more we're going to need more space and we could lose the community atmosphere," he says. Yet demand for their creative writing courses just keeps growing. A branch office in Edmonton may even be in the works. The society has over 150 permanent members and runs 10 eight-week courses and 10 weekend workshops over three semesters each year. According to Pouliot the society offers "a nice affordable place to take classes on writing, submissions, markets and so on. We tend to gear things to beginning or intermediate writers." Students have gone on to publish their work in journals like Grain and Dandelion, and have been featured on CBC Anthology. The society's Free Fall magazine collects work by students and instructors. Curious? Call 264-4730 and leave a message to get more information.
So you've been writing poems and now you're ready to try reading them in public. But if you just stand up on the LRT train and start declaiming, you might not get the friendly reception you want. (On the other hand, have you tried it yet? Let me know how it goes.) A simpler idea would be to join the Thursday night readings being organized by Asia Diem, spoken word coordinator at CJSW. They happen at Grabbajaba on 4th Street SW beginning the first Thursday of August. Get in on them by calling Asia at the station (220-3902) or send e-mail to: adiem@acs.ucalgary.ca.
Harry Vandervlist
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