| Mention poetry readings and most people conjure a drone involving the words "ebullient" and "wretchedness" bumping against a shore of unblinking horn-rimmed glasses. Every month, though, in the shadows of the Beat Niq Jazz & Social Club, a group of poets strive to bring poetry to the people. This isn’t just a poetry reading. This is the Calgary Poetry Slam.
"When you arrive at the Slam, there’s a feeling of excitement, support and joy," notes Sheri-D Wilson, a long-time spoken-word artist and founder of The Calgary International Spoken Word Festival. "You’re going to see great poetry, wonderful performances and compelling, sometimes shocking, ideas. You’re definitely going to experience an excitement about the word."
When the 10 poets of the night take the stage, audiences are encouraged to get rowdy and cheer on their favourites. Judges, selected from the audience, score each poet and declare a winner who receives a cash prize. As well, winners get a chance to join the Calgary Slam team to compete nationally and internationally.
What started as an offhand remark from Mark Hopkins, a coordinator for the event, to Wilson has taken off as one of the city’s more successful literary events. "Over the past year, I have met dozens of new poets," remarks Hopkins. "That’s something that usually doesn’t happen. I really want new people out all the time. The point (of a Slam) is that anybody can do it."
"The idea of giving voice to people is the most important thing," adds Wilson. "I’ve been to so many places where people have been silenced or exiled for generations. As we become more and more like the United States, we better have a place where people can speak out, and poetry does that."
The next Slam takes place at Beat Niq Jazz & Social Club on Thursday, January 25 at 8 p.m.
For downtown dwellers, there’s a pair of noontime events at McNally Robinson this week that may tweak your interest. First up, Don Rutherford presents his book, Recruiting, Retaining and Promoting Culturally Different Employees. Rutherford has spent his life travelling the world and his book tackles cross-cultural understanding in the workplace. He’ll be at McNally Robinson on Thursday, January 18 at noon.
Then, at noon on Friday, January 19, McNally Robinson welcomes Connie Blacha with a tasty treat for health-minded dessert addicts. Beyond Delicious Whole Foods: Cookie and Muffin Recipes is exactly what it sounds like, and she’ll be in-store to chat about the perks and techniques of natural baking.
The International Festival of Animated Objects kicks off this week and the maestro of marionettes, Ronnie Burkett, returns to Calgary with a behind-the-scenes preview reading of his latest work, Billy Twinkle: Requiem for a Golden Boy. Burkett’s scripts and puppetry always border on genius, so don’t miss this unique opportunity to peek into his development process and interact with the man himself. Ronnie Burkett: Unstrung takes place on Monday, January 22 at 8:00 p.m., at the Vertigo Playhouse Theatre. For more information about the show and the rest of the International Festival of Animated Objects, visit www.animatedobjects.ca.
Daphne Marlatt, the 2007 Markin-Flanagan Distinguished Visiting Writer, just arrived in town for her three-week residency. One of Canada’s best-known writers, she’s a member of the Order of Canada with over 25 critically-acclaimed texts and a strong feminist voice. She’s available for manuscript consultations during her stay, so if you’ve got some verse that could use an expert eye, call Janice Lee at 220-8177. Or, you can catch her do a free public reading of her most recent chapbook, Seven Glass Bowls, along with a selection of new poetry on Wednesday, January 24 at 7:30 p.m., in the Rozsa Centre at the University of Calgary. And, yes, one of the Markin-Flanagan Program’s legendary receptions will follow. |
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