Welcome to Historic Joy Kogawa House

Please join us for an evening of poetry and conversation with poets Daniela Elza, Al Rempel, and Onjana Yawnghwe, who will read from 4poets (Mother Tongue Publishing, 2009). Thursday, July 8, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., at Historic Joy Kogawa House, 1450 West 64th Avenue (two blocks east of Granville). Admission by donation. Books will be available for sale and signing by the authors.
Space is limited, so to ensure a seat, please RSVP to kogawahouse@yahoo.ca.

"Reclaiming language, and the sacred white space between words, spoken and written. That seems to be the unifying thread that enlivens this remarkable collection of poetry by newcomers Daniela Elza, Peter Morin, Al Rempel, and Onjana Yawnghwe. These poets recognize the integral relationship between land and language, language and perception, perception and memory." —Sean Arthur Joyce

Date: Saturday, June 26, 2010

Time: 10:00am - 3:00pm

Location: Historic Joy Kogawa House, 1450 West 64th Avenue, Vancouver

Everyday lives are full of compelling, surprising stories. This workshop is designed for those curious about life writing, but not ready for the pressures of a book-length memoir. Through a series of guided exercises, members of the community will uncover their own authentic writing voice and explore remembered (and maybe even forgotten) events from different stages of life. Participants will learn to use prose techniques such as free writing, sense memory, telling detail and scene design to craft vivid, emotionally engaging snapshots of their experiences.

Later in the day, we will discuss how the memoir pieces we’ve created might be collected together, shared with loved ones or future generations, or developed into a larger work. Reflecting upon and recording significant life events can be a powerful and life-affirming experience.

This workshop is open to participants of all backgrounds and writing levels.

$150 with refreshments (coffee and muffins in the morning; tea and cookies in the afternoon)

To register, please email kogawahouse@yahoo.ca.

Date: Monday, June 14
Time: 7:30pm – 9:30pm
Location: Historic Joy Kogawa House, 1450 West 64th Avenue, Vancouver

When Karen Connelly finds herself in Burma in the late 1990s, she is immersed in a world of students staging mass demonstrations in opposition to Burma’s dictators, revolutionaries fighting an armed insurgency against that same military regime, and refugees living in hellish limbo in Thailand. Connelly first comes to love a wounded, remarkably beautiful country, then a gifted man who has given his life to its struggle for political change. Her new novel Burmese Lessons is illuminated by the sensual language and flashes of humour that have won this author fans around the world.

Please join writer-in-residence Nancy Lee in conversation with Karen Connelly as part of our social justice reading series. To join this event, please RSVP to kogawahouse@yahoo.ca

Sunday, June 27, 1:00pm - 5:00pm

Historic Joy Kogawa House, 1450 West 64th Avenue, Vancouver

Please join us in the garden for an afternoon of books and authors. During this open house and celebration of Nancy Lee's author residency, quality new and used books will be available for purchase.Throughout the afternoon local authors will drop by to sell and sign their books.

Refreshments and music. Picture sunshine and flowers.

Donations of books are welcome. Please email kogawahouse@yahoo.ca for pickup.

Please join us in the intimate living room at Historic Joy Kogawa House for a series of small salon gatherings with five writers who use literature to call for social change and justice and as a tool for social transformation.

Five Mondays (and a Sunday) This Spring

1. Joan Macleod, Monday, April 19
2. Anosh Irani, Sunday, May 2
3. Steven Galloway, Monday, May 17
4. Karen Connelly, Monday, June 14
5. Nancy Lee, Monday, June 28

All conversations begin at 7:30 p.m. on a Monday, except the one with Anosh Irani, which begins at 3:30 p.m. on a Sunday.

Historic Joy Kogawa House is located in the Marpole neighbourhood of Vancouver at 1450 West 64th Avenue (two blocks east of Granville)

Admission by donation

Books will be available for sale and signing by the authors

Please RSVP at kogawahouse@yahoo.ca

Thanks to the Canada Council Author Reading and Author Residencies programs for funds to host these writers at Joy House

Click here to view Dr. John Asfour's co-edited book of poems and prose from the Carnegie Centre. On page 32, you'll find a link to a YouTube video of Asfour reading at the June 2009 launch. On May 9, 2009, Dr. John Asfour enjoyed an intense and rewarding collaboration with the Thursdays writing classes at the Carnegie Community Centre in Vancouver. Led by Elee Kraljii Gardiner of Simon Fraser University’s Writers’ Studio, these writing classes turn a third-floor classroom in a building at Hastings and Main into a playground where writers from the Downtown Eastside give voice to issues that range from class struggle to child abuse to mental instability and addiction. Several authors commented that their time in the classroom with Dr. Asfour “unleashed a beast in me,” “jumpstarted my creativity,” “made something click after writing on my own for 20 years on the streets.” The Thursday writing classes have had close to 50 participants since they began in September 2008. They offer writing support via workshops, editing consults and discussion to writers of the Downtown Eastside. For information please contact the Carnegie Centre at 604-665-2220 or email Elee Kraljii Gardiner at thursdayseditor(a)telus.net.

Another Magical Evening for final event of Historic Joy Kogawa House's inaugural writer-in-residence program with John Asfour, Gary Geddes and Ann Erikson. Old friends and new friends, friends now forever at Historic Joy Kogawa House. Gary Geddes, John Asfour, "Joy Kogawa" life size photo, and Ann-Eriksson on the final event for John Asfour's inaugural writer-in-residence program. "John Asfour was the perfect choice to be the inaugural writer-in-residence for Kogawa House" said Richard Hopkins, board member of the Historic Joy Kogawa House Society. Asfour, a Montreal poet, blind since the age of 13 because of the injuries from the Lebanese civil war, hosted an over-flowing audience on May 30th for a final event reading with special guests Gary Geddes and Ann Eriksson. Shelagh Rogers was a surprise guest emcee for this event which took place on a beautiful late spring evening in the backyard of author Joy Kogawa's childhood home. "It was another magical evening" said Shelagh Rogers who had previously hosted the "Al Purdy Party" at Kogawa House on April 20th. Shelagh had initially planned to come to the event as a guest, partially because "Falsework" by Gary Geddes, was one of Shelagh's favorite books of 2008. She gladly accepted the invitation to host from John Asfour. Ann Eriksson read from her new novel "In the Hands of Anubis" beneath the cherry and apple trees in the back yard of Historic Joy Kogawa House. Gary read from his many works, and shared stories of travelling in the Middle East with John Asfour, describing the incident as "the lame leading the blind" because Gary had hurt his leg, and John would have his hand on Gary's arm, as they walked. Two old chums shared a smile and a glass of wine.

John Asfour strums his oud (arabic lute), while Neworld Theatre's Marcus Youssef and Adrienne Wong read his poems - photo Todd Wong

Tuesday night was wonderful.  Marcus and Adrienne dimmed the lights to create an intimate setting.  Kirsty set up the book table.  I put out copies of Ricepaper beside them...  I made the official VPL announcements because VPL Community Librarian Sophie Middleton called me at 4pm, asking  me, because she had an allergy issue.

Richard Hopkins corrected me on my announcement of the June 9th event for VPL when the George Woodcock Award will be presented to W.P. Kinsella (I had said Patrick Kinsella)... and I did say that last year the award went to Joy Kogawa.

I gave brief intros and welcomes to John, Adrienne and Marcus and Sahaib.  Acknowledging their upcoming events...  such as May 30th at Kogawa House, Mixie & the Halfbreeds, as well as to Ariadne Sawyer of World Poetry, with her Gala anniversary at the Roundhouse next Monday,

Joh Asfour makes a brief introduction and acknowledges Neworld Theatre, Historic Joy Kogawa House Society, Vancouver Public Library and Sahaib - photo Todd Wong

John gave a short introduction, and explained how the evening would work.  First the translations read in English by Marcus and Adrienne, then in Arabic by Sahaib.  Then followed by John's works.

We actually started at 7:40, and continued non-stop to 8:40.

It was a special magical evening.

The audience paid rapt attention.

The "performance" flowed.... without the usual interruptions, explanations, flippings of pages... etc that are at most poetry readings.

Sahaib reads the original poems in Arabic language, while translator John Asfour plays his oud - photo Todd Wong

The readings were all well done.  Marcus and Adrienne brought life and drama to the words, as did Sahaib.  I didn't understand Arabic words, but the rhythm, the rhyme, the meaning, and the presence were all projected strongly.  The audience listened.  The audience paid attention listening to words they didn't understand... listening to sounds they understood... like music.

John Asfour plays oud, while Marcus Youssef and Adrienne Wong read his poetry works - photo Todd Wong

The duo voices of Marcus and Adrienne were matched in perfect timing, with a warm chemistry.  Marcus' reading during "Beirut" emphasized the "drunkeness" of the character, while Adrienne grounded the poem with her narration.  "Gaza" was incredibly timely and insightful.  With recent happenings in Gaza, I wished that we could have sent it out to the media, or asked Adrienne how if felt having played "My Name is Rachel Corrie." 

John Asfour plays oud - photo Todd Wong

John's playing of the oud, was soft or loud, slow or fast... accompanying the poems like a musical soundtrack.  Afterwards, he told me he had played 12 songs, as well as improvisation.

Marcus Youssef lead Q&A with John Asfour - photo Todd Wong

After the reading... Marcus led a Q&A for the final 20 minutes.  But I had to interrupt him briefly just to remind the audience of the May 30th Kogawa House event, and the Mixies event... and to share that Marcus had just been nominated that day for a Jessies Awards... for artistic achievement.  Lots of audience applause.

This successful event reminder me of when we paired actors up to read poetry" similar to our April 25th 2006 "Joy of Canadian Words" event that had featured:

• Joy Coghill reading "Klee Wyck", 
• Bill Dow, Maiko Bae Yamamoto, Manami Hara and Hiro Kanagawa reading Dorothy Livesay's "Call My People Home"
  
• Sheryl Mackay reading "Ann of Green Gables",
• Doris Chilcott reading Alden Nowlan,
• Chief Rhonda Larrabee reading Thomas King's "Coyote and the Enemy Aliens"
• jazz singer Leora Cashe singing Leonard Cohen's "Dance Me to the End of Love."

Wow... definitely a wonderful collaboration of Neworld Theatre and Historic Joy Kogawa House Society...

Kirsty, Marcus, John and Adrienne - photo Todd Wong

Afterwards we went for snacks at Subeez restaurant down the street, where we all joked and told stories, and complimented each other, and deepened our friendships.

It was one of the best poetry performances I have witnessed in years.

Next reading at Kogawa House with Gary Geddes and Ann Eriksson:
By reservation and donation only.

Telephone:  604-263-6586
Email:   kogawahouse@yahoo.ca



 

More Upcoming Events for Kogawa House and with John Asfour

There will be two more events in May with John Asfour at Kogawa House. John has invited authors Gary Geddes and Ann Erikson for an intimate reading at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 30. To reserve a seat, please email kogawahouse@yahoo.ca.

Arabic Poetry in Translation
Featuring the work of John Asfour (Montreal), Syrian poet Muhammad al-Maghut and Mahmoud Darwish, Palestine’s national poet. John Asfour will also play the oud! Neworlders Marcus Youssef and Adrienne Wong will read, with guests.

Tuesday, May 19, 7:30 p.m.

Alma VanDusen and Peter Kaye rooms, Lower Level

Central Library, 350 West Georgia Street

Admission is free. Seating is limited.

For more information about this event, contact Historic Joy Kogawa House at kogawahouse@yahoo.ca

 

Shelagh Rogers (host of "The Next Chapter" on CBC Radio), Jean Baird (organizer of "Save Al Purdy A-Frame"), George Bowering (Jean's husband and first poet laureate of Canada), John Asfour (inaugural writer-in-residence at Kogawa House), George Stanley (BC Book Prize nominatee for poetry) + "Joy Kogawa" - photo Todd Wong

7:30 p.m., Monday, April 20Historic Joy Kogawa House, 1450 West 64th Avenue, Vancouver

John Asfour is indeed the perfect choice for our inaugural WIR.  On Monday night, I shared with the group that the connections we have between Roy and Art Miki, George Bowering, Purdy House, are amazing.  How is it that John could have been friends with Art Miki on panel forums, and that Roy was a consultant for Kogawa House... and great friends and an editor with/for George Bowering, and we bring it all together with Daphne Marlatt, who has read for Kogawa House events before, and Shelagh Rogers (2005 former co-host for Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dinner) for an evening of poetry and friendship, and to help save another literary landmark.

Nilofar, Daphne, George and John - photo Todd Wong

The evening started with three BC Book Prize-nominated poets—George Stanley, Nilofar Shidmehr and Daphne Marlatt as part of BC Book and Magazine Week.  Daphne read first, then George, followed by Nilofar.

Jean Baird talks with Shelagh Rogers. - photo Todd Wong

After a brief intermission that allowed people to purchase books and have them signed by the guest poets, the talk turned to Save the Al Purdy A-Frame.  Shelagh Rogers shared her story of doing the last public interview with Al Purdy at the Eden Mills Writers Festival.  Jean Baird is heading up the Save the Purdy A-Frame campaign, and she and her husband George Bowering shared their many stories about Al Purdy and his wife Eurithe.

Asfour, a Montreal poet, is the first writer-in-residence at Kogawa House and will present poetry readings to a variety of audiences, in collaboration with the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, Simon Fraser University’s Writers Studio, Christianne’s Lyceum of Literature and Art and the Vancouver Public Library.

See more pictures on Flickr:

Kogawa House Purdy Party