As we move into another exciting season at Historic Joy Kogawa House, we are thrilled to bring you updates on upcoming events and introduce our new writer-in-residence. Join us in celebrating literature, poetry, and storytelling in our vibrant writing community.
Welcoming Our New Writer-in-Residence: Magpie Ulysses
Magpie is a performance poet, storyteller, and self-described rabble-rouser whose work defies literary and oral traditions. Her writing is visceral and surreal, rooted in the human experience and the natural world.
With over 25 years of experience performing across North America, Magpie is an award-winning poet and organizer in the spoken word and storytelling communities.
Her latest works explore themes of genetic memory, grief, aging, survival, displacement, and rebellion—reflecting her years of guiding a new human and caring for a grandmother with Alzheimer’s. We look forward to the creative energy she will bring to Kogawa House!
New Monthly Poetry Jam!
We’re excited to launch the Monthly Poetry Jam at Historic Joy Kogawa House, a new space for poets and spoken word enthusiasts to create, collaborate, and share. Led by Vancouver Poetry House Artistic Director and Kogawa House Interim Executive Director, Johnny D Trinh, this series removes the pressures of performance and fosters a supportive environment for exploration.
Where: Historic Joy Kogawa House, 1450 W 64th Ave, Vancouver, BC
When: Every 3rd Thursday starting February 20
Hybrid format available: Register for tickets to receive the Zoom link
Whether you want to write, rehearse, or simply witness the creative process, this space is for you!
“It takes a community to build an artist, whether we resist against it, or are nurtured by it.”
– Johnny D Trinh
Amplify: Spoken Word Intensive
When: March 19-23
Location: Historic Joy Kogawa House, 1450 W 64th Ave., Vancouver
Amplify is our new program run in partnership with Vancouver Poetry House. This intensive will bring a cohort of poets together to be mentored by a world class faculty over 4 days in developing work and deepening their practice in Spoken Word.
The four days will culminate in a shared presentation at a closing house concert, directed by C.R. Avery. The faculty will include: Sheri-D Wilson, Brandon Wint, and C.R. Avery. Along with offering direct mentorship, the faculty along with some special guests will be offering workshops open to the community.
Limited spaces are available for the inaugural cohort. For more information on how to be a part the cohort contact: executivedirector@kogawahouse.com
To sign up for the workshops open to the community, please click below. All workshops are $15.
Some workshops offer a hybrid option: attend in person or participate online.
Accommodations are available and we don’t want to turn anyone away due to financial barriers. If these exist for you, please contact: info@kogawahouse.com
Individual Workshop Info:
1. Workshop: Brandon Wint on Imagery and Constraint
Date: March 19
Time: 6-8 pm
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC $15 *HYBRID*
A writing workshop about form, image/metaphor and how they evolve to fit within a specific poetic constraint (literary form, device, rhythm, metre, etc.) There will be space for each student to share their work and have it discussed with feedback from Brandon.
2. Artist Talk: Brandon Wint on Curation of a Set
Date: March 20
Time: 11:00 am – 12:30 pm
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC $15 *HYBRID*
This is a talk that offers emerging and mid-career poets insights on how to curate a set for a reading.
3. Genre Bending & Community Building with Sheri-D Wilson
Date: March 20
Time: 6pm
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC $15 | In-person
Genre Bending & Community Building | Spoken Word & Speculative Poetry Workshop with Sheri-D Wilson
4. Artist Talk: Johnny D Trinh on Community-Engaged Art
Date: March 21
Time: 11:00 am – 12:30 pm
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC $15 *HYBRID*
This talk is for artists of any discipline, interested in community-engaged art, bringing their practices into community spaces, or are new to designing/facilitating workshops. Johnny will share examples of community-engaged art from individual artists, to organizations. Trinh will highlight introductory concepts and considerations with engaging in community focusing on concepts of ethics, accountability, and consent.
5. Workshop: Johnny D Trinh Performance Workshop
Date: March 22
Time: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC $15 IN-PERSON
Johnny Trinh will be offering a tutorial on performance, with an interactive workshop portion.
6. Panel on Epic Poetry: Sheri-D Wilson & Renée Sarojini Saklikar moderated by Johnny Trinh
Date: March 22
Time: 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC $15 IN-PERSON
A must-see panel where Sheri-D Wilson with special guest, Renée Sarojini Saklikar, discuss the evolution of poetry, and the craft of creating epic poems. This panel will offer a Question and Answer talk back, along with reading excerpts, moderated by Johnny Trinh.
7. House Concert: C.R. Avery & the Amplify Cohort
Date: March 22
Time: 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC $15 IN-PERSON
Come celebrate the finale of the intensive at an intimate house concert featuring beloved Vancouver musicians, artists, conducted by C.R. Avery and featuring collaborations and presentations from the Amplify Cohort.
8. Wordplay Youth Workshop
Date: March 23
Time: 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm
OPEN TO YOUTH $15 IN-PERSON
Open to all youths ages 14-22, this is a spoken word workshop led by Vancouver Poetry House Wordplay Poets who specialize in offering writing workshops to youth. Come and experiment with new ways to write, play, perform, and collaborate on writing poetry together.
Beyond Sayonara: A Special Book Launch Event
We are pleased to support the launch of Beyond Sayonara by Eitaro Muramoto, with Sharon Kawasaki-Chan, in partnership with the Vancouver Japanese Language School and Japanese Hall.
When: Sunday, April 6
Location: Vancouver Japanese Language School and Japanese Hall
This moving book brings to light the poetry and illustrations of Eitaro Muramoto, who passed away in Japan in 1952 at the age of 26.
His niece, Sharon Kawasaki-Chan, discovered and translated his poems and letters, uncovering a deeply personal family history shaped by war and internment. Beyond Sayonara speaks to themes of intergenerational wellness and healing, offering resonance and inspiration for Japanese Canadian families and beyond.
We encourage you to share this event with your communities and follow @vjls.jh on Instagram and Facebook for updates.