Poetry Month in Ottawa 2022
This year we asked musicians and visual artists in Ottawa some questions about poetry and what they're up to these days.
Charlene Lau Ahier
Illusive Artworks
Unsociably high
Akeem Oh
Ajeebsir
Gold Bonds
Left on land
Maureen Doody
Deliverables
Loon Choir
Danielle J Allard
Laurence Finet
Charlene Lau Ahier
I have a lot of favourite poems, but right now I'm thinking of one that's been on my mind as we witness the horrors of the war in Ukraine. I wonder if we were to accept and love each other, by looking deeper than our political, ethnic or cultural ties, whether power and influence would lose some of its hold on us.
Perhaps the poetry of the future is to look at our survival as a human race, and actively pursue that which may seem like a non-intervention, but which has the power to change much.
"If I make the lashes dark
And the eyes more bright
And the lips more scarlet,
Or ask if all be right
From mirror after mirror,
No vanity's displayed:
I'm looking for the face I had
Before the world was made.
What if I look upon a man
As though on my beloved,
And my blood be cold the while
And my heart unmoved?
Why should he think me cruel
Or that he is betrayed?
I'd have him love the thing that was
Before the world was made."
-Before the World Was Made, by William Butler Yeats
There is a spoken word poet and musician from Ottawa that I admire: Nathanael Larochette.
As for the near future, I'll be participating in the Ottawa Art Gallery's Art Auction at the end of May.
Illusive Artworks
As an extremely literal thinker, I have a hard time connecting to poetry but poetry from the Beatniks/Beat era is something I adore, and I'm particularly fond of Allen Ginsberg.
A local poet to check out is: @poetrybyjesse
I just released my Through the Dark Collection; a series of portraits inspired by fighting ones way out of dark days. Originals are for sale and limited edition, embellished prints available now.
Unsociably High
My favourite poetry collection is No Matter The Wreckage by Sarah Kay. I first heard her read a snippet of her poem on a podcast and fell in love with her perspective of the world. My favourite by her is called A Bird Made of Birds. Her sentences are vivid and their meanings are revolutionary. Sarah was the one who inspired me to speak from a place that may appear jumbled at first, but one that comes together in the end.
Last year we did a poetry live stream and met Cassidy @clue_writings and Graham Quinn. I also attended a writing workshop for BIPOC and LGBTQ+ and met Dolly Roul, Shaya Ishaq, and Ellen Chang-Richardson (whom is featured on your page. I love finding the writers in town and bonding over the small things we notice as observers.
Every other Saturday, I send out a newsletter. This is a short piece that I write to our small community to escape from the *throwing noodles at the wall and seeing what sticks* demands of Instagram. Here I use a life experience as a prompt and write about it. Writing is my way to process life and relate to others. This helps myself, as well as the readers, feel less alone. One day I would love to release a book of creative non-fiction and poems which I am currently developing at snail pace.
Akeem Oh
My favourite poets have always been Paul McCartney, Neil Young and Julien Mineau (Malajube, Fontarabie).
Paul McCartney is my favourite writer. I think his solo work is extremely underrated. People tend to focus on McCartney’s melodies and song arrangements. They tend to say that his words are too simple. I think simple can say much more than complex. Songs like “Junk” or “Jenny Wren”… His storytelling is unparalleled. His first album McCartney is a great starting point.
Neil Young has a way of making me feel at home wherever I am. I grew up in a small town in Northern Ontario and his music was always on the radio. He’s got a unique way of singing his words, and it truly brings those words life. His albums “After The Gold Rush” and “Harvest” have got some of his best writing.
Julien Mineau of Malajube and Fontarabie is a facinating writer to me. His writing has a little bit of a mystery to me. You don’t always understand what he’s writing about, but by the time the song ends you have an idea of what it could all mean. I really love that - Because you’re interpreting those words, and associating them with things in your own life. It’s almost like they become your own. His solo project Fontarabie is severely underrated.
Honourable mentions: “God Only Knows” by Brian Wilson/The Beach Boys, “Le vrai bonheur” by Karkwa, “True Love Waits” by Radiohead and “Real Love” by Beach House.
There are many musicians who’s words really inspire me.
Yannick Mbuluku is Kimya, an Afro-Franco-Ontarian rapper who speaks about his experiences. His words truly made me realize that I play an important part as a person of colour. He’s one of the nicest and most honest people I have ever met . He’s got a real gift when it comes to words. One of the people I can relate to the most. I truly believe this guy belongs on stage. His honesty, and his love for life is one of the reasons why people love him so much!
Gabriel Cyr is Beloeil. He grew up in Ottawa and started his career here before moving to Montreal QC. His music makes me reminisce about past love. His words make me realize that it’s okay to love and it’s okay to go through things. His work makes me realize that there’s nothing wrong with putting more love out there in the world. It’s lovely to see this guy grow into who he is becoming. I’ve got a lot of love for this friend!
Mia Kelly is going to be one of the next great artists to come out of the Ottawa area. When you listen to her words, you immediately feel like you’re in her shoes. She’s got a tremendous gift when it comes to translating her words and her feelings into music. There are artists that you see and you immediately know they’re good people. She is good people, and she will inspire others with her many gifts wherever she goes!
Ajeebsir
It is difficult to choose one because there are so many beautiful poems and poets that have resonated with me throughout the years. The most recent poem I came across that really called to me is ‘Let This Darkness Be a Belltower’ by Rainer Maria Rilke. It is a lovely poem to recite to my inner child and I find it to be super healing in the face of darkness. I would say the process of my upcoming artwork tries to tie together these moments of resilience and transformation.
@kingkimbit is an amazing spoken word artist.
My digital webart piece called ‘Liquid Bytes’ was featured for the Pique event on March 19th by Debaser. I was really excited for everyone to experience it. It is an exploration of my digital body and virtual mindscape.
Gold Bonds (Matt)
My favourite poet is Dionne Brand, whose diction beautifully unpacks very difficult and complex ideas around identity, intersectionality, and injustice. I am particularly interested in the literary geographies represented in both her poetry and her prose.
My favourite local poet is Glennys Egan (who is a published poet, public servant, community organizer, and revered friend). She actually appeared in our first video for 'Growing Pains'. Her poetry is enchanting and delicate.
Gold Bonds will be releasing a new single called 'Let Go Of Boredom' this spring. The song is about pandemic fatigue, being resilient to hate, and embracing creativity. Stay tuned for it!
Left on Land
I don't really read poetry at all, but I did buy one book called Crow Gulch, by Douglas Walbourne-Gough. It is honestly one of the best things I've ever read in my life. I highly, highly recommend. He is an indigenous/Newfoundlander and a lot of his work deals with his experience as a marginalized indigenous person, poverty, perseverance, heritage, love, and strength. I cannot say enough good things about it. Plus as a Newfoundlander, it really hits home for me.
Maureen Doody
I'm drawn to poetry that speaks to the living and human experience. In 2017, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Left to navigate my new normal as a cancer survivor, I grappled with what that meant and who I was living it. As such, I sought a deeper understanding of the emotional and physical dichotomies of ‘self’. I'm fascinated by what exists below the surface of immediate perception. Uncovered, the oft-hidden truth of what is meaningful to a person, their experiences, fears, hopes, and desires, reveals itself. It is a cathartic process that involves breaking down, shedding layers that do not serve us in our lives nor reflect who we really are. Yet, it also involves a tremendous act of building up, recognizing who we want to be, yet being open and vulnerable to our experiences. I am intrigued by the symbiosis of how these personal narratives are constantly changing and adapting.
There are so many talented creatives in the Ottawa arts community. Award winning poet laureate Jamaal Jackson Rogers, through his style of free verse, spoken word, mixed with his influences from RnB/Rap/Hiphop, brings a unique, intimate connection to his work. A performance poet, his process is very intuitive and lends voice to the complex diversity of the essence of the human condition. I love that through the intention of words and energy, he engages and brings people in as active agents of change in their own personal narratives.
I'm presently working on a collection of poems and a short story that continues my journey of intrinsic personal exploration. How I interpret the experience of survivorship and integrate it into my life is fundamental to living with intention. It involves the energy I bring to a conversation, relationship or situation. And through creativity, whether it be painting, photography or writing, I tend to my authenticity, to that which wants to have a voice. To give the reader a different lens through which to reflect, interpret, engage and perhaps a better understanding of themselves, in these revelations of self. For me, I think it’s ultimately about letting go of expectations, of structure, of rules and my own ideas about what’s possible and what’s not in life and art. This emotional connection is at the core of my work which is grounded in notions of healing, reinvention, resilience and the inherent dualities that shape us.
I'm also in the studio working on my latest abstract painting series planned for release in April, 2022. In the meantime, you can check out my artwork in the Connection issue of PACE Magazine and the Ottawa Photography and Art Label (OPAL) Magazine (Issue 3) available online and through local distributors @ottawaartgallery, @happygoatcoffee, and @arthousecafe613
My poem depicting my cancer journey and artwork is featured in the Grief & Acceptance issue of Wildfire Magazine.
Finally, I'm pleased to share that my photography as part of the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) Portraits of Resilience Project is highlighted in the AGO exhibition, I AM HERE: Home Movies and Everyday Masterpieces which opened April 16, 2022.
Deliverables (Claire)
My favourite poem is At the Quinte Hotel by Al Purdy. He had such a knack for making the ugly and mundane seem magical. The narrative voice in this poem is irreverent and incredibly charming - the line "You shouldn'ta knocked over that good beer with them beautiful flowers in it" as a prelude to a bar fight is hilarious and deeply human. I’m always trying to channel Purdy’s whip-smart observational skills and casual elegance in my own songwriting.
Manahil Bandukwala is a very talented Ottawa/Mississauga poet and visual artist that everyone should be aware of. She’s releasing her debut poetry collection, “Monument”, with Brick Books in Fall 2022. You can follow her at @manahilbanduk
We’re gearing up to play some fun shows around Ottawa and hopefully release some new songs this spring, stay tuned for more details! You can also check out our EP “Chincoteague” on all streaming services.
Loon Choir (Baris)
Baris, drummer of Loon Choir, says that he is a fond admirer of the Turkish poet, Nazim Hikmet Ran. He says the poetry “plays right along the line between the plain and simple vs the epic and awesome.” Described as a ‘romantic revolutionary, there is a cache of Hikmet’s poems translated to English at marxists.org. Loon Choir is performing at Irene’s June 4. (Full disclosure: a member of the AA editorial team is a part of this band.)
Danielle J Allard
The poet I've read the most from is Rupi Kaur. Milk & Honey is a personal favourite.
@m.e.marshall here on IG is a colleague and incredible visual artist and poet. Her poem "A Failed Goodbye" is one of my favourites.
I just isolated in a studio for a week to record a full-length concept album called INVADER. It is an epic love story and my third solo-release. I stream live songwriting, music requests, and live loops on over 30 instruments 3 days a week on Twitch. I'd love to have anyone join me in my home from the comfort of theirs!
Laurence Finet
I'm not connected at all with the Ottawa poetry scene but I'm very happy initiatives exist to shine the light on poetry in our area. I come from Belgium and my native tongue being French, I feel closer to French poetry.
Francis Dannemark and "La longue course", a collection of his poetry. "Une fraction d'éternité" is also one of my favourite books, at each page, poetry and prose face each other. He has a way of gently bringing you into worlds where words and emotions flow with a deep sensitivity and sometimes humour. I love reading his music.
At the beginning of the pandemic, I took part in a poetry project, "corona haikus". This was a sanity saver for me and a great way to connect with people internationally, at some point 1000 people were part of it and I was curator for a week. We're still looking at ideas with the organizers to further develop it or turn it into an exhibition or a book. https://coronahaikus.com/
I'm working towards a solo exhibition of paintings and digital works around the theme of Cyborgization (humans becoming technology and disconnecting from nature) in 2023. Also I have a group exhibition of large format prints made under a steamroller opening on May 7th in Montebello. And the travelling show I'm part of: "InterconneXion", a travelling exhibition by a group of 8 artists who have created large format prints if woodcuts under a steamroller.
March 3 to April 27 - library gallery, Deep River, ON
May 7 to July 3 - cultural center of the MRC Papineau, Montebello, QC. Opening in person on May 7.
Sep 26 to Oct 3 - Erga gallery, Montréal, QC
