Sorry things here at A Dark Feathered Art have been so quietly lately. Life has become somewhat complicated, not least of all because on Saturday afternoon I’m heading across the Tasman to attend the 2010 WA Spring Poetry Festival and Australian National Poetry Week.
It’s my first festival as a guest artist – I’m the official International Guest Poet, no less! It should be a lot of fun. Hard work, but fun. The official program can be viewed here. I get off the plane on Saturday night, and I’m in to it the following day.
For those who feel inclined to follow my progress (hi mum!), below is where I’ll be, and what I’m meant to be doing:
Sunday 29th:
12 pm to 2 pm: What is Australian?
Readings, in the Cultural Centre
featuring Coral Carter, Sue Clennell, Gabrielle Everall, Karla Hart, Roland Leach, Deanne Leber, Chris Mansell, Shane McCauley, Phil McNamara, Meg Mooney, me, Maitland Schnaars, Maureen Sexton, and Julie Watts.
2 pm to 4 pm: Classics Allowed
Readings of classic poetry by other poets, in the Murray St Mall,
featuring Sue Clennell, Roland Leach, Chris Mansell, Shane McCauley, Meg Mooney, me, Maureen Sexton, and other local poets.
4 pm to 6 pm: Paths Made by Water
Haiku walk (ginko), haiga & readings, at the City Farm
led by Maureen Sexton.
7 pm to 11 pm: Future Fringed
Readings, open mike and the Song Lyric Contest Winners (presented by Cherise Meredith (JAG Music)) at the City Farm.
Venue entry $5/$3, MC – Dean Meredith,
and involving poets Coral Carter, Sue Clennell, Gabrielle Everall, Karla Hart, Roland Leach, Deanne Leber, Chris Mansell, Shane McCauley, Phil McNamara, Meg Mooney, me, Maitland Schnaars, Maureen Sexton, and Julie Watts.
Monday 30th:
10 am to 12 pm: Poetry Masterclass – editing and individual vision
with Chris Mansell.
$20/$12, in the Kaos Room.
7 pm to 9.30 pm: Words Alive
MC – Neil Pattinson, with Geoff Fox, Liana Christensen, Janet Jackson (almost certainly not that JJ) Kevin Gillam
in the Citiplace Community Centre, entry $5/$3.
There will be readings, and an open mike. And something else that is “a bit of a surprise …”
Tuesday 31st:
10 am to 12 pm: Poetry Workshop – Reading for Writing
with Joanna Preston.
$20/$12, in the Kaos Room.
Wednesday 1st:
10 am to 12 pm: Poetry Workshop – Introduction to Haibun
with Joanna Preston.
$20/$12, in the Kaos Room.
Not a bad list, is it? And that’s just the things that I’m directly involved with – heaps of other interesting things for me to do and see and sneak in to during the festival. I’ll have copies of The Summer King with me to sell (of course), and I might even bring a couple of copies of Kokako and Four Tellings. As a bit of extra incentive, come up to me during the festival and mention the name of this blog, and I’ll give you a Summer King postcard! (Ooh, now how’s that for incentive?)
A Dark Feathered Art 
Have fun, Jo–I can already see that you’ll be working hard. 🙂