Word circuses

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BURNING DOWN THE HOUSE:
D. Kimm and collaborators in La Salle des pas perdus

by VINCENT TINGUELY

A legendary pioneer of spoken word and performance poetry, New York’s John Giorno headlines this year’s international edition of the Festival Voix d’Ameriques (February 1–8, see www.fva.ca for schedule information). Gifted with an extraordinary stage presence and an instinctive grasp of new media, Giorno’s tireless activities through Giorno Poetry Systems has helped bring spoken word to the wider public consciousness.

“He’s performing for three evenings,” says Voix coordinator D. Kimm. “Solo, with French poets, and with spoken word artists from Canada. I’m also happy that he will be able to see what we are doing here in Montreal.”

The festival also includes a rare screening of Robert Frank’s Beat classic Pull My Daisy, which features narration by Jack Kerouac and filmic hijinks by Allen Ginsberg, Gregory Corso and others. There’s also a gala remount of La Salle des pas perdus, the show D. Kimm produced for last summer’s Berlin poesiefestival. “I like to create new opportunities for artists,” Kimm explains, “to say, ‘You want to try this? Share with other artists?’ When I made the Berlin show, there was a buzz around, people heard about it and Ex-Centris asked for it for their St-Laurent performance series.”

Another annual treat, The Circus of Words ushers in spring at la Sala Rossa on April 16, featuring its trademark fusion of poetry and the performative arts. Famed member of the Véhicule poet’s group and videopoet Tom Konyves will perform and screen works, and poet Richard Sommer and dancer Vicky Tansey will conjure up some multidisciplinary magic.

The show also features Lebanese-born poet and lute player John Asfour in a performance with Circus co-producer Carolyn Marie Souaid, and is headlined by Nicole Brossard. “She’s going to be working with musicians,” says Circus co-producer Endre Farkas. “She’s a Governor-General’s award-winner, she’s internationally respected, but she also likes to step out and do collaborative work, so it should be really interesting.”

Bring your voice!

The Atwater Poetry Project spring roster includes two great Vancouver poets. On March 14, the venerable Robin Blaser makes a rare appearance, and on May 15 the dub-friendly Wayde Compton comes to the Atwater Library (1200 Atwater). More literary visitors come our way courtesy of the Coach House spring launch, April 13 at the Green Room (5386 St-Laurent), featuring Torontonauts R.M. Vaughn, Maggie Helwig and stuttering poet Jordan Scott.

Local scribes and lyricists alike will be gracing the stages of series like Kalmunity Vibe Collective every Tuesday night (Sablo Kafé, 50 St-Zotique E.), the Yellow Door on Feb. 21 (3625 Aylmer) and on Jan. 20 at Words and Music at the Casa (4873 St-Laurent).

Words and Music host Ian Ferrier is launching a poetry workshop that starts at 6 p.m. the night of the show. “Bring a few copies of any manuscript you want to work on,” says Ferrier. “Or if it’s a performance piece, bring your voice!”

The multilingual Noches de poesia Feb. 2 at Depanneur Café (206 Bernard W.) includes Ferrier, Souaid and Jennifer Boire in a packed line-up. Check for the buzz on Andrea Thompson, Dwayne Morgan and others at www.nochesdepoesia.com.