Poetry by the dam: Judy Backus in Central Hastings News

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Poetry by the dam

Poetry by the dam– Image 2

Judy Backus

The work of poet Jim Christy, of Corbyville, was featured during "Another Dam Poetry Reading," which included input from many of those gathered at the site where the background water music added to the ambience.

 

Central Hastings News

By Judy Backus

Canadian people's poetry was celebrated over the long weekend with the multi-faceted annual Purdy Country Literary Festival which was held at several Marmora venues. On August 2, all gathered at the library building for a symposium relating to Pauline Johnson and First Nations Art and History. As Chris Faiers, who organizes the events, said in promotional material, "This will be the eighth summer that poets will gather on the long August weekend in the greater Marmora area to share and celebrate. Many activities will take place at ZenRiver Gardens in the hamlet of Malone. Other events will be held in the Marmora Library building and on the Marmora dam ..." He went on to explain that "PurdyFest symposiums have been focusing on the life and legacies of Canada's major "People's Poets." To date these have examined the work of poets Al Purdy, Ted Plantos, Milton Acorn, Raymond Souster and Dorothy Livesay.

Faiers explained, "We are working our way back through Canadian history and this summer we'll examine and celebrate the life and legacy of Mohawk poet Pauline Johnson, who made her contributions a century ago." A Saturday afternoon symposium focusing on Johnson, included input from John Bacher who spoke on "Pauline Johnson: Pioneer Environmentalist".

The celebration began on Friday evening with a potluck supper at ZenGardens and continued throughout the weekend with the symposium

relating to Pauline Johnson and "another Dam Poetry Reading" held fittingly beside the dam where poets gathered to both listen and recite. That well-attended session began with a musical interlude presented by Morley Ellis which prefaced the round robin readings. The session doesn't usually include a featured reader, but this year an exception was made with Jim Christy, who was described by Faiers as being a poet/novelist/playwright/world traveller/raconteur, and Canadian icon, being invited to do an extended set.

Among his many well-received readings, was one titled "Doggone Poem" which included in part, 

"This poem is not Licensed by the authorities. It likes To saunter along, going where it wishes, And watches the other poems in there Enclosures. Those can whine and preen Or growl and bark all they want, Knowing they're safe On that side of the fence." 

The festival, which brings poets to town from both near and distant points, also included group readings during a Sunday session held at ZenGardens and hosted by Tai Grove of the Canada-Cuba Literary Alliance.

Apart from the poetry related events, Faiers had plans to accompany some of the visitors to points of interest within the area among them Greensides Farm and Callahan's Rapids Conservation Area. 


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On 2014-08-09, at 10:37 AM, Lindi Pierce wrote:

Oh well done Chris!
You must be so satisfied - and exhausted - now that everything is over, and went so well.
I was tied up doing interviews for an article, so didn't make plans with too-busy Michele to get up.
Next year?
hugs to you and Chase
Enjoy the rest of the summer
Lindi


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Thanks, Lindi  ;  )
It was another successful fest, & all events were very well attended. But it's just become too much for me to be the primary organizer at age 66. The symposiums did a great job of covering the history of Canadian political "People's Poetry", and now that this historical analysis is pretty well complete after 8 years, it's time to end PurdyFests on an upbeat note.

Congrats to you & MIchele & all the other A-frame vols on the incredible work you do down there in A-burg. I see that Richard is doing another fund raising presentation of his Purdy play in the same location at the end of August. Will try to generate some publicity, & see if Chase & I can wobble down there.

peace & poetry power!
Chris ... & Chase Wrffffffffffffffffffffffff!


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On 2014-08-09, at 11:49 PM, Richard M. Grove wrote:

the end of an era – going out with a bang – good job

tai


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Thanks, Junebug  ;  )
Your Sunday afternoon hostings of Canada-Cuba Literary Alliance (CCLA) & Hidden Brook Press group readings at ZenRiver Gardens were a big part of PurdyFests. Too bad you didn't get the chance to do your 'mid-stream' reading - I'm still a little suspicious of just what your plans were for that!!!

Yes, thanks to all & sundry who showed up, read & sometimes listened, wandered by the Upper Moira, & maaaybe sneaked a sip or two of strong dark rum during the sunny afternoons!

peace & poetry power!
Chris ... & Chase wrfffffffffffffffffffffff!

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PurdyFest article: "Central Hastings News" by Judy Backus

article in Central Hastings News
Thursday, August 8, 2013
page 13
by Judy Backus

Purdyfest continues to attract poets

Aug 08, 2013

A two-daylong celebration of poetry took place in Marmora with the seventh annual and increasingly well attended Purdyfest. The weekend began with a Friday evening potluck held at Zen River, the home of local poet Chris Faiers.

A Saturday afternoon symposium, held at the William Shannon Room, provided insight on the work of Canadian poet Dorothy Livesay from a variety of perspectives. Presenters included visiting poets, Marsha Barber, Paulos Ioannou, Anna Yim and Terry Barker.

The traditional Saturday afternoon open reading by the dam site resulted in many of the more than 25 who arrived from as far away as Hamilton and Ottawa, gathering in the shaded area, one by one standing to read from their works. Prior to that, local musician and poet Morley Ellis provided a musical interlude, accompanying himself on his guitar, while the crowd enjoyed the tunes, with some singing along while they rested on the grassy knoll.

With the music playing in the background, Faiers, commented that the people's poetry movement seemed to be growing in Canada, mentioning that he had spent time
over the past two weeks in Ameliasburgh, initially helping to prepare the Al Purdy A frame which is going to become a writer in residence location. Of the project, he said, "This will be the first time in Ontario that we will have a [famous writer's] residence that has a writer in residence associated with it."

With regard to Purdyfest, he said, "There's a back and forth between us and the A frame and we support the fund raising ... It's just good that people's poetry, and poetry in general are getting more acceptance, and growing and becoming more recognized by the public."

 

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Aug. 17/13

Hi Chris, each and all,
It was good to meet with you again. What a wonderful feel there is around the dam and Zen river. thanks for making this happen.

It was fascinating to learn about Livesay. That poem Marsha was fab! I'll look for your book.

Thanks for the summary and haiku Chris and the copy of the copy of your write-up on Livesay, Paulo.

We already read aloud your book to each other, Ann B; it was wonderful! Simon and Melanie, what was the name of the puppet theatre? (I think I wrote it down but it's probably one of those illegible squiggles.)

I too took a few photos. I seem to have paid more attention to the dogfolk than I realized at the time. There's an album on Flickr here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pearlpirie/sets/72157635064055432/

Brian hasn't gone thru his photos yet.

just back from the trip after,
Pearl

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newspaper article on "AcornFest" (PurdyFest #6)

For this year, PurdyFest became AcornFest

Posted Aug 9, 2012 By Judy Backus

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Click to Enlarge

Photo: Judy Backus

Rachel Berenzon was one of several to read from their own works during "another dam poetry reading" held in conjunction with the Annual PurdyFest.

EMC News -Marmora -Marmora and Malone were, for the sixth consecutive year, the headquarters of the annual PurdyFest organized by Chris Faiers. A Saturday afternoon symposium held at the Memorial Building, featuring the work of the late poet Milton Acorn, was attended by many, both from nearby and afar.

One of the presenters, poet Jim Larwill, who now lives in Quebec, gave, as Faiers says, "a very well received paper at the Symposium on Milton Acorn and his Legacy." Larwill has attended all five of the past PurdyFests, where he helps campers at the Malone site "set up their tents, find the outhouse, build campfires (when the burn ban isn't in effect) and generally make everyone feel comfortable and welcome." Later, during a reading by the dam, Larwill gave a heartfelt and very spirited performance of Milton Acorn's classic poem, "I Shout Love."

Professor and author Terry Barker, along with publisher and scholar Joyce Wayne, were also in attendance, leading presentations on Acorn and his recent posthumous collection, "In a Springtime Instant."

As is the tradition, the symposium was followed by what is termed, "Another Dam Poetry Reading," located on an islet in the Crowe River next to the dam. With fishermen nearby, cicadas humming in the grass and ducks landing on the placid waters, it was a perfect setting for poetry.

A peaceful musical interlude, provided by Morley Ellis, was followed by a round robin session with the poets presenting either their own works or those of fellow poets.

Just prior to the start of the readings, Faiers commented on the symposium, saying that this year's PurdyFest was being called AcornFest in honour of Milton Acorn, who, he said, "didn't get the proper recognition as a Canadian poet."

One of the last to read was Jim Christy of Stirling, whose poem, "Elder Legend," spoke of Marmora and playing cards in the "room beside the library at the Memorial Building." It concluded, after talk of rheumy glances, and aching joints, "Now forever banned from golden age

Opportunities, exiled to Marmora's

Few streets, the shadow I cast on no-

Nonsense limestone wall, as crooked

As my past and bent like

The knobbly cane vanity left at home.

I'll be pointed at from pickup trucks

And Bruce's barbershop: A legend at last."

Toronto videographer Henry Martinuk, who Faiers describes as a widely respected media expert, is in the process of filming documentaries on other important Canadian cultural activities and recorded all the "AcornFest" events, with Faiers saying, "It is nice to know that PurdyFest, all the poets, and Marmora and area are being recorded for posterity."

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