Props Pub last night

After the Poetry sPeaks show in The Club, the majority of us spoken wordies traipsed downhill to Props Pub. The multiple overtimes of the hockey game that Vancouver eventually won was on the big screen and regular TVs.

I sat down with Ame Papatsie from Pangnirtung, Nunavut first. He's at Banff four months for that animation project. He asked for two pens then, with one pen in each hand, did this quick sketch of me surrounded by three narwhales and a harbour seal. Amazing technique to watch: both pens moving simultaneously. He said he's been drawing this way since he was a young child.

He then did this drawing of the pub scene with art [no, not art, but Big Rock beer plaques] on the wall, the hockey game beside it, and mostly spoken word artists. Ame also drew an Inuit drummer-dancer in my journal.

T-shirt: International Terrorist Bush
loc: 411 Lloyd Hall
temp: 9 C
sound: Los Lobos By the Light of the Moon

"A Poetry Break"

Took a break from other stuff on the go, a non-scheduled day, and went to Marilyn Iwama's reading. I'd last seen her when we were in Lunsden at the Sage Hill Writing Experience. Marilyn lives in Wolfville, Nova Scotia.

This aft we were a small yet interested audience of 10 listen to very new poems (the last one written as a letter to Rita Joe, unofficial poet laureate of the Mi'kmaq nation, since her death last month). Others were several years old but all in the same manuscript that Marilyn was her to complete. Now she has to find a good home for it. She knows of one prairie publisher interested in seeing a manuscript. With permission, I recorded her reading for future broadcast on Ashes, Paper & Beans.

Many of the audience were Inuit artists here for their own residencies and projects including animation workshops in AfterEffects software. We were all given copies of a Banff Centre CD We Are Full Circle: an Aboriginal Women's Voices concert (2003). In the spirit of giving Inuit artist Ame Papatsie, then gave out copies of a recent (2006) carved-soapstone block print (edition of 25 on rag paper), titled "Foreward", of a hunter in kayak approaching a small iceberg. I shared some poem postcards . . .

T-shirt: PENNSIC XXXII
loc: Lloyd Hall, Banff
temp: 5 C, overcast
sound: King Sunny Ade Live at the Hollywood Palace

Poet Season (revisited)

Made my first version of this visual piece in 2003 after my last time @ The Banff Centre. It was published in The Fiddlehead journal and STANZAS 'zine (above/ground press). Minor revision on this revisit.

T-shirt: Pennsic XXXII
loc: Lloyd Hall, Banff Centre
temp: 4 C
sound: Bombay Dub Orchestra + contruction

Found Photo du Jour

Found inside the bottom of the headboard frame in room 2411, Lloyd Hall, The Banff Centre, Banff, AB, tonight about 10:30 pm.

Two women on the shoreline boardwalk of Lake Louise. Possibly they were/or are artists that stayed here at The Banff Centre sometime in the past.

The 4 x 6 photo print was found with a Altitute SuperCard postcard sold for 75¢ and written in, I believe, Dutch by Geke to Monica (not dated), along with a Super, Natural / British Columbia, Canada / 1980-1981 Road Map. [Don't tell me that any of this stuff has been that long inside the wall-attached headboard frame. That would be crazy!]

T: Ruminator . . .
loc: lloyd hall, banff
temp: 4 C
sound: The Sentinel on Space

three images from today

(R–L) Sheri-D Wilson (Calgary) and D. Kimm (Montréal) presenters of their histories of/in spoken word art this afternoon. Fortner Anderson (Montreal) in the background. Want to read about the presentation? Visit TL Cowan's take at calgaryspokenwordfestival.com/blog

Do mule deer understand log deer lawn ornaments, or are they simply confused, indifferent?

Acadia House on Bear Ave, Banff. It's still a residence for some Banff Park Lodge employees. I lived there from May 1982-May 1983. On Friday the 13th, 1983, I hitchhiked east, my first artist journal in hand, heading towards a British Airways plane out of Mirabel for London, England and my first trip to the old world: four months in England, Wales, Scotland and Western Europe . . .

T: Ruminator
loc: lloyd hall
temp: 5 C
sound Apocalyptica Plays Metallica by Four Cellos

banffed again

Getting there. Calgary from the food court level of the airport late yesterday afternoon. Two hours in this limbo before catching the Airporter shuttle bus to the Banff Centre. Some time spent in Montana's Cookhouse having a steak sandwich and beer.

Some of the view off my balcony this morning. Have a view of the length of Mt Rundle as well, its knife-edge peak obscured by a tall evergreen tree. This pic is of Goat Range and the side of Sulpher Mountain. Some some contruction happening at the Centre too. New dining room being built atop Sally Borden Rec Centre. Trucks and saws and grinders, rockbots landscaping. I will hear it as I'm keeping the balcony door open for cooler air. Turned the heat off in the room and it's still 23 C.

Now I'm validated as an artist again. Not just me making noise or meaningless somethings with things . . . Ten days of spooky spoken word work . . . writing in my room, attending info sessions, meetings, workshops, reading-performances, doing the Banff Avenue shuffle, seeing mule deer and elk, geese, wild swans, tourists. Recording interviews and stuff including contributions to my slow-to-come-together "audible art project" (last artist recorded was Alexandra Flood on 14/09/05). Green ink all over my hands from a leaky pen, here I am . . .

T: Ruminator Bookstore • Press &3149; Review
loc: LLoyd Hall, The Banff Centre
temp: 5 C, overcast
sound: doors and construction

chute

by Joe Blades © 2007

slippy slope to languish upon
—avalanche zone warnings
and chairlifts to the steepest
—all runs open and no need
for touch-up by ms nail polish
with the big bottle there

cascade all sunny and jagged
rock—snow in its folds—
across bowed valley beyond
two jack stage and the pits
not picnic or camped in today
—the upstairs muse sick

cold enough to free water but
not cold enough to thaw a city
emergency shelter for the homeless
wings likely deiced before flight
westward over eastern great lakes
and prairies toward the rocks

numbers like the alphabet confuse
hide as much as they reveal magically
driving in a straight line will not
get one safely through a roundabout
or up—down a frozen waterfall
paradigm shift to spring skiing

T: Canadian wildlife
loc: fredfinalprepcounter
temp: -2 C
sound:

Call for submissions: Women Creating Community

Third call for submissions:

Women Creating Community:
Women and Community in New Brunswick,
a Gathering of Voices

This project, organized by editions ellipse inc and coordinated by
Jo-Anne Elder, involves women writers and translators from New Brunswick’s English-speaking, Acadian and First Nations communities.

The intention is to publish a collection of short literary pieces and works of visual art on the theme of women and community. Community will be defined in a very broad sense, for instance in reference to the artist’s sense of place or “home,” the development and influences of other artists, her family or neighbourhood, creative work and community activism, urban or rural life, her conception of the linguistic, literary and cultural community or communities of New Brunswick, and creating woman's space in the community. We hope to present a range of perspectives on what it means to live in New Brunswick as a Maritime, Acadian or First Nations woman artist at the beginning of the twenty-first century.

All of the writers, translators and artists involved will be women from New Brunswick. We envision short reflections accompanied by poetry or prose, which will appear in two or three languages (English and French, and in many cases Wolastoqiyik and/or Mi’kmaq), as well as visual works. Please submit a maximum of three pages of poetry or a short story under 1500 words for consideration of the jury, along with a reflection on the theme (approx. 250 words).

Deadline: June 1, 2007
elder@nb.sympatico.ca or
editions ellipse
180 Liverpool Street
Fredericton NB E3B 4V5

editions ellipse appreciates the financial contribution of artsnb to this project.

Ashes Paper & Beans, 3 April 2007

Feature of the show tonight was the live interview with UNB-Canada Council Writer-in-Residence Karen Soile.

The show went like this:
• "Lure" by Judy MacInnes Jr.
• Joe Blades interviewed poet Karen Solie including her reading of three poems—"More Fun in the New World", "The Vandal Confesses", "Thrasher"—from Modern and Normal (Brick Books).
• "Sclérosi névrosa" par Geneviève Letarte.
• poet Steve Luxton reading from Luna Moth (DC Books) @ the Atwater Library, Montreal.
• "Pandore" par Mitsiko Miller.
• "Comfortably Canadian" by Officious Little Students.
• Fredericton Readings News, by Joe Blades.
• "Exploding Head Man (live)" by Ian Ferrier & Brio Trio.

T-shirt: plain light grey
loc: CHSRwinddown
temp: 0 C
sound: Nine Inch Nails Pretty Hate Machine

Jarman + McCartney book launch

Here's a F'ton double book launch sure to draw a crowd (but I'll miss it, having said yes to being Banffed then). Mark Anthony Jarman & Sharon McCartney. Ran into Mark tonight at the juice store. His inside pocket stuffed with event postcards.

T: Tidal Wave Film Festival 2002
loc: Banff Centre application counter
temp: 3 C, snow flurry
sound: The Wordburglar

FuneralCam: 2 April 2007

Mountie in full red dress uniform at the door of today's funeral. I've no idea whose funeral it is but . . .

T: Tidal Wave Film Festival
loc: Brokenwerkdesk
temp: 1 C
sound: U2 War

Here we go again: Incoming . . .

In the style or pattern of my final days prep time for almost ever big travel-trip in recent years, this afternoon will be heavy chaos. In just a few hours I'll be receiving a shipment delivery of books from the distributor's contracted warehouse services facility in Georgetown, ON: two skids, 121 cartons, 1510 LBS; Daniel, the driver. "Maximum liability of $2.00/lb or $4.41/kg unless declared valuation states otherwise."

My Feast of Fools V laundry is in the dryer. Over half of the kitchenware taken to Lindsay Valley Lodge is dry on the drainboard or back in its proper place. The rest is piled on the kitchen counter top to be dealt with once I have some time. The cover for ellipse 78 is ready to be sent to the printer. The revue/mag's guts will be close behind . . .

My studio space and living room will disappear (again). I've already dismantled the futon frame, and piled frame and futon atop the coffee table pushed tight to the wall. Stuff is layered inside the frame and table. My armour bags are piled atop the futon. The cartons from at least one skid will be piles there. The rest will likely end up in the office . . .

Across the street at Saint Paul's United, the Please / No Parking / Funeral and Funeral / Parking / Only signs are out and the first of the white vehicles from the son of Adam funeral home on another corner of my block are present.

This week, or the last week of April I'll really be needing to look for warehouse storage in Fredericton . . . downtown or Fred Transit accessible, likely heated because it is book inventory, design and admin files to be stored there. It will cost but it could/should/will really clear a mess of broken work stuff out my living space. That will feel so good.

---

The now broken studio as viewed from my front entry hallway. Isard helped with the load in. Thanks! A Barry Colpitts folk art crow is the overseer.

T-shirt: Tidal Wave Film Festival 2002
loc: Brokenwurkdesk
temp: -1 C
sound: Rage Against the Machine The Battle of Los Angeles

almost full moon

happy april fool's day
happy fiscal new year's day
happy autocrats and feastocrats
on the day after the big event
the first shire event in fredericton
oromocto since feast of fools i
a good time had by all gentles
a great many compliments on the food
location facilities and entertainment

[i've no pics from the event as i
was too in the kitchen but i do
have some pics of the food in
preparation that I can post
only after getting and connecting
camera to computer and dwnloading
the photos therein . . . tomorrow
. . . but I have tweaked the colours
and page format of this blog template
design to make it easier to read]

shirt: dk blue prairie-T
loc: Fredsunwinddown
temp: 0
sound: remy shand the way i feel

Feast of Fools V menu

(& for those who don't receive graphics)

Feast of Fools V

First Remove
Stuffed Œufs ➣ Bloodshot & Jaundiced
Mixed Greens with Sliced Strawberries & Balsamic Vinegarette
Fresh Veg Pickle ➣ Paprikas, Carrot, Cauliflower Florets, Cuke, Red Onion

Second Remove
Curried Garbanzo Cauliflower Soup
Cabbage Venison Soup
A Selection of Breads

Third Remove
Bacon-Wrapped Green Beans
Porter-Stewed Chicken
Pork Loin Roast rubbed in Sea Salt & Peppercorns with Yogurt Roast Garlic Sauce, Ruby Port Cranberry Berry Sauce, or Traditional Gravy
Sour Cream & Chive Smashed Potatoes
Rutabaga Carrot Hash

Fourth Remove
Danish Rice Pudding with Raspberry Red Currant Drizzle
Lozenge Cheese Curd Pastries
Coffee, Black & Herbal Teas

Sideboard
Cheese ➣ Brie & Cheddar
Olive Medley
Ciabatta Rolls, European 12-Grain & Hearth-style Multigrain Breads
Cinnamon Butter, Honey Butter, Tomato Basil Butter
Fresh Fruit & Vegetables ➣ Grapes, Celery, Carrots, Grape Tomatoes
Strawberry Mint Ginger Sekanjabin
Spring Water

Feastograts: Guinevere, Olaf Vindalf. Shire of Lyndhaven. 31 mars A.S. XLI

---

T: Surf Joe Boards
loc: dat wurk desk
temp: 1 C
sound: Misty in Roots Roots Controller

Ashes, Paper & Beans 27 March '07

Last night's program didn't go exactly as planned. The Qwerty lads no-showed for the second half so I, on the spot, inserted the cassette recording of last Monday's reading on campus and listened to it on the cue speaker until I could put it "on air" at an appropriate point in Leckie's introduction of poet Ken Babstock. Timing-wise, his reading worked well instead of the live interview.

The show that happened:
¤ "Sometimes I Think" by Montreal poet Fortner Anderson.
¤ "Ode To Commemorate the World Burns Federation's First Summer School, July 2003" by Scottish poet Hamish MacDonald.
¤ "poems" by rob mclennan (from an Ottawa Poetry Podcast).
¤ "Dad and the Fridge Box" by Newfoundland poet Agnes Walsh (Brick Books).
¤ Ken Babstock reading from Airstream Land Yacht (House of Anansi Press Inc.) w/ a reading introduction by Ross Leckie (19 March 2007).
¤ Fredericton readings news, by Joe Blades.
¤ "Husk" by poet James Deahl, music by D.C. Fitzgerald.

T-shirt: NORTHBYNORTHEAST
loc: Fredmorningdesk
temp: 5° C, overcast
sound: audio master CDs for the forthcoming The Time in Between by David Bergen, read by Michael Hogan and Tricia Collins (BTC Audiobooks, an imprint of Goose Lane Editions).

Qwerty READS

Last night, at another reading, I was handed the index card notice below for yet another reading. This one to happen next Friday night. On Tuesday, 27 March, two of the Qwerty crew, Carson Butts and Will Leslie, will be live on the second half of Ashes, Paper & Beans (CHSR 97.9 FM). Show airs from 7–8 pm.


T-shirt: Alaska [Pacific humpback whales]
loc: Fredscandesk
temp: 1 C
sound: Mediaeval Baebes Salva nos

9th Christina Sabat Memorial Lecture

Another busy arts night in Fredericton. Didn't see the production of Joseph's Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Didn't go to the (to the best of my knowledge) first Fredericton reading by Governor General Literary Award-winning novelist Peter Behrens. No, I went to the 9th annual Sabat lecture . . .

. . . and I'm glad I did! By permission of him and the BAG I recorded it for broadcast on my radio show—likely in May or June (my third event recording in four nights).

Peter Powning artist—potter, glassworker, sculptor, husband to writer Beth Powning (whom I interviewed several years ago for APB), father of Jake the swordsmith, photographer . . . Peter Powning, recipient of the 30th Saidye Bronfman Award for Craft.

Peter gave a great talk. Thought provoking on global issues, the earth and us as its problem, reconsideration of the local including the question of the need for one to assess the environmental impact of one's art making and ancillary practices. Bravo! This was a great talk to hear. A big obligation for all of us to take home and consider: the footprint of out lives, of our art.

[I've thought before, in wondering moments, of just how many trees I need to put back on Earth for my writing and publishing activities. What would I need to do to carbon-neutral my within Canada and intercontinental air travel (more than my local bike riding)?]

Peter, travelling to Fredericton on the Acadian Lines bus from Sussex, brought a box of his family's accumulated techno detritus to decorate, encrust, the otherwise ordinary gallery podium. It was great. A sad counterpoint and/or visual of points in his talk. Especially when he plugged in the xmas lights for emphasis.

T-shirt: gaspereau press
loc: Fredportstrong
temp 7 C, light rain
sound: Tatjana Simonvic piano

7th International Multicultural-Multilingual Poetry Reading in Fredericton

Janet, emcee, and Nela Rio, founder and organizer of the 7th International Multicultural-Multilingual Poetry Reading. The reading & exhibit happened in the Multipurpose Room of the Charlotte Street Arts Centre.

Lee Marie Dugas giving a performance piece without sound. She followed it, for the audio recording to be sent to the UN, and to be broadcast on my Ashes, Paper & Beans (CHSR)—earliest possible show will be in May, by reading her text inscribed upon the roll of paper.

A view down one wall of the poster poem exhibit during the reading.

This year's celebration of World Poetry Day with a reading and poster poem exhibit featured poets and members of the community reading in many languages: Spanish, French, Portuguese, Mandarin, Japanese, English, German and Polish. Far and away, the largest number of poems were in Spanish by writers from outside of Fredericton.

Group photo by Brian Atkinson taken with my camera of the stragglers after the exhibit was taken down. It was a great event.

T: SFRJ (Soviet Federal Republic of Jugoslavia
loc: Fredgreenroom
temp: 0
sound: computer fans, cars

Ashes, Paper & Beans rides again!

Finally, Joe went live again on CHSR. First time this year. First time since last August.

Show started with a recording of Sudbury, Ontario resident, Governor General's Literary Award-winning poet & translator Robert Dickson (my Oct 2005 photo of him at right) from the 2005 Side by Side Festival. Robert just died yesterday, Monday, 19 March 2007, from brain cancer. In the second half of the show was my first broadcast of an Ottawa Poetry Podcast.

The features:
• Robert Dickson, deux poems (his translation of a Lola Lemire Tostevin poem + a poem of his in French)
• Lola Lemire Tostevin reading her translation into English of Robert Dickson's poem
• Vince Tinguely "Oilers"
• Sheri-D Wilson "From Bunhead to Bard"
• Max Middle reading (from the Ottawa Poetry Podcast)
• Paul Dutton "Vive le (for Henri Chopin)"

T-shirt: Highland Radio 2005
loc: Fredgreenroom
temp: -3 C (wind chill -11 C)
sound: Great Big Sea Up

Warning Sign

T-shirt: CHSR Highland Radio 2005
loc: Fredroastturkey
temp: 2 C
sound: "Diamond Smiles" The Boomtown Rats