2009-10 Writer-in-Residence

The Department of English is delighted to introduce the 2009-10 James A. and Marjorie M. Spenceley / Canada Council Writer-in-Residence, Penn Kemp.

Penn Kemp is a writer with both international experience and a wide variety of connections within the local community. Celebrated by the League of Canadian Poets as "one of the foremothers of Canadian Poetry," she also has accomplishments as a playwright and essayist, as well as expertise in editing. She works across a variety of poetic practices: her work in new media forms has been documented in a 2006 dissertation by Janette Hughes, Poets, Poetry and the New Media. Since Coach House Press published her first book in 1972, Ms. Kemp has been pushing textual and aural boundaries, often in participatory performance work. Among her publications are more than twenty five books of poetry and drama, ten CDs of Sound Opera, eight videopoems, and Canada’s first poetry CD-ROM. She has artistically collaborated with a variety of writers, artists, dancers, and musicians. For instance, a series of her eco-poems was set to music and performed at Toronto’s Music Gallery as part of the Composer Now Face to Face series, in an evening of world premieres of new music. Ms. Kemp has considerable background as a writer-in-residence, having served in this role in Buffalo, NY; Labrador; Findhorn, Scotland; Flesherton, Ontario; University of Rondonia, Brazil; and in India at the University of Mumbai, SNDT in Mumbai, and the University of Baroda. She has also performed in a variety of venues at arts festivals and conferences around the world, including London's Aeolian Hall.

Ms. Kemp will hold weekly office hours to offer feedback to and consultation with writers from the university and the London community. She will accept works of poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction and drama. Submissions may be up to ten pages, double-spaced. Please submit one week prior to your scheduled appointment.

Office hours are Wednesdays and Thursdays from 12:30 pm - 3:30 pm., in UC 171 beginning Wednesday, September 16 through Thursday, November 26, 2009 and beginning again Wednesday, January 13 through Thursday, March 25, 2010.

Please contact Vivian Foglton in the Department of English (Tel: 661-3403; email: vlavers@uwo.ca) to arrange an appointment and to leave your written submission.




Luminous Entrance: a Sound 0pera for Climate Change Action
Thursday, January 21, 7:30pm, London Brescia Auditorium, Brescia University College

The Circle invites you to join us in a participatory performance of the Sound Opera, Luminous Entrance. Penn Kemp’s Ecco Poetry has been set to the folk-inspired melodies of musician/composer Brenda McMorrow; with dancer Ruth Douthwright and percussionist Jocelyn Drainie. In paeans of praise or rant, dance, drumming & sound, we will celebrate our dear MotherWorld’s enChantments together! Join the chorus!
You can hear a sample on January 13, 6 pm, on Gathering Voices, CHRW Radio Western, 94.9 FM, http://chrwradio.com/listen, which will then be archived on http://chrwradio.com/talk/gatheringvoices.

Pendas Productions is delighted to announce the DVD launch party for Luminous Entrance on January 21st. Saby Siren Productions has included a chorus from the DVD on their promo reel-2, http://www.youtube.com/user/streamboy, 2:15-3:08.

Performers:

Ruth Douthwright is a contemporary dancer originally from London who has recently returned to her home town. She performs & choreographs with companies & producers worldwide. She recently danced in RE:VISION: a Season Song Cycle of EcoPoetry with Brenda and Penn for Aeolian Summer Soirée.

Jocelyn Drainie is a Sound Practitioner, Percussionist, Drum Circle Facilitator and Shiatsu Therapist who has practiced in the healing arts since 1987. Jocelyn She co-leads an all women's percussion performance ensemble called Las Chicas De Rumberas. See www.sonicmedicine.ca.

Penn Kemp, M.Ed., has published 25 books of poetry and drama, ten CDs of Sound Opera and several videopoems; see www.mytown.ca/pennkemp. Currently, she is writer-in-residence at the University of Western Ontario. Her project is a book/cd/dvd of Ecco-poetry. See www.mytown.ca/pennletters.

Singer/songwriter Brenda McMorrow has been performing music from folk/pop to bluegrass to jazz for over 15 years. While in India, Brenda began combining her own songwriting with ancient Sanskrit chants. Her Kirtan album, "Ameya" is re-released by White Swan Records. See www.brendamcmorrow.com

Contact: The Circle Women’s Centre, 519.432.8353, ext. 28288 circle@uwo.ca
Cost: $15. Circle members, students, seniors, under-employed: $12. Free parking.

http://www.brescia.uwo.ca/thecircle/upcoming.htm#luminous_entrance

Photos on www.myspace.com/pennkemp and http://picasaweb.google.com/gavinstairs/ReVisionSharon20090920#. Check out this review of our Aeolian Hall Summer Soirée performance: http://didiodatoc.blogspot.com/2009/08/poetry-of-penn-kemp-seasonal-song-cycle.html


Article in London City Life Magazine - October 2009 Issue (page 6)

“Sound Advice: Poet, Playwright and Performer Penn Kemp goes back to school”  by Nichole Laidler.


Article in Artscape Magazine - October 2009 Issue (page 14 of the pdf document)

"The Prodigal Penn" by Kane X. Faucher

Article in The Gazette - October 20, 2009 Issue

“Minutia exhibit focuses on the little things” by Paula Meng.


Links

"Gathering Voices" on CHRW - newest broadcast schedule

For more information about Ms. Kemp visit:http://mytown.ca/pennkemp/ and http://www.library.utoronto.ca/canpoetry/kemp/

For Ms. Kemp's upcoming events visit: http://mytown.ca/pennletters/

CHRW “Gathering Voices” Archive and Broadcast Schedule
http://www.chrwradio.com/talk/gatheringvoices/

“Gathering Voices” Facebook Group
http://www.chrwradio.com/talk/gatheringvoices/

Penn's talk on Oct. 20, 2009, "Courage, My Love", on a career in the arts, plus a sound poem for inspiration is now on YouTube. Click here.