National Poetry Day is a way of letting us all know that poetry is alive and well and constantly being written, published and spoken all around New Zealand. 2018 NPD is tomorrow 24th August and if you go to the Phantom Billstickers National Poetry Day site (details below) you’ll see how much is going on – not just around the Western Bay of Plenty.
On the NPD site you’ll find a competition – Given Words – you have to write a poem incorporating these words and limited to no more than 200 words. Marcus Hobson drew this to my attention the other day and I thought it was too late to mention it but this morning I’ve stood at my kitchen bench and written a poem or two.
Poetry sometimes just wells up inside my head and I immediately need to write it down. On one occasion I raced through the bright yellow facade of the computer cartridge refilling shop which was then on Willow Street and asked for instant access to pen and paper. The owner provided same and waited quietly while I wrote down the contents of my head. Then I bought my refilled cartridge.
ARTbop yesterday published a commentary by ARTbop Contributions Editor Marcus Hobson on six recent collections of NZ poetry: http://artbop.co.nz/marcus-hobson-recent-new-zealand-poetry-collections/
There’s also a reader competition where you can win a new and unread copy of “Pasture & Flock” details at the end of Marcus’ article.
ARTbop promotes
(or we think you should check this out!)
NATIONAL POETRY DAY 24TH AUGUST 2018:
I’ve seen at least four open events on around the Western Bay sub-region to celebrate National Poetry Day. Just in case you think that National Poetry Day is limited to the Bay of Plenty I’m including links to the nation-wide event page for Phantom Billstickers National Poetry Day 2018 and also a link to NZ Poetry Shelf: you’d be surprised how many poets there are!
http://www.nzbookawards.nz/national-poetry-day/calendar-of-events/
https://nzpoetryshelf.com/page/15/
Well-known Tauranga slam poet Dhaivat Mehta has organised an open mic session of Incantation at the SOMA Studio art and performance space 6 – 8pm on the 24th. Check out the Incantation facebook page https://www.facebook.com/events/511371299285228/
Tauranga slam poet and alternative spoken word poet Dhaivat Mehta
Dhaivat Mehta and Kingsley Smith have collaborated to created a spoken word and music project which you will find titled Tryptofunk. Here’s one of the series from their YouTube channel: Please note some language may offend.
THE AFFORDABLE ART & ARTISAN FAIR AT THE BLACK SHEEP WHAKAMARAMA
THIS SUNDAY 26TH AUGUST 2018 11AM TO 3PM
The Fairs are held within the Black Sheep Cafe & Restaurant complex on the last Sunday of every month (on the 16th in December 2018) 11am to 3pm. There is heaps of parking, clean toilets and wonderful food and coffee. There’s live music. There’s an event prize you can win. If you would like to join us as an exhibitor/retailer of your original creativity or artisan products you can contact us at aaafair17@gmail.com
We are sign posted along SH2 with signage to the turnoff of SH2 and Plummer’s Point Road. You won’t be able to miss us! And check out Birgitt Shannon’s video of the July Fair: each month Birgitt, a talented Kati Kati artist interviews two or three of the Fair’s participants and exhibitors. (Details about Birgitt and her own website, YouTube channel and arts practice at the conclusion of this article) Here’s just a taste of what you’ll find. We’re indoors over winter months and outside in the Summer!
The AAAFair exhibitors have donated some of their creativity to support fundraising for medical treatment purposes for a Black Sheep staffer. The Black Sheep has also started a Give a Little page. The raffle for the wonderful local and original creativity is just inside the cafe door (opposite the cafe food cabinet) – we’ll draw it on Sunday 26th so make sure you call in and get some tickets. This is the second raffle the AAAFair have provided to support Rachel.
Birgitt Shannon: Katikati based artist Birgitt Shannon is a regular contributor to ARTbop. Birgitt is also the principal Event Organiser of the Affordable Art & Artisan Fair at the Black Sheep Whakamarama – a collaborative community not for profit venture by ARTbop and the Black Sheep. Birgitt creates a monthly YouTube interview series with the Fair participants: Art by Birgitt YouTube. On her channel you’ll find images of her work, interviews with local creatives and projects Birgitt has been invited to be involved with. You can also see Birgitt’s work online and at the AAAFair on the last Sunday of every month. Birgitt has her own website at www.artbybirgitt.com
