Welcome to Historic Joy Kogawa 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.

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