Johnny D Trinh
Writer-in-residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House in February 2024, and late May/early June 2023
Johnny D Trinh is an interdisciplinary and spoken-word artist based in Vancouver. Exploring the use of spoken word, music, video, social media, movement, theatre, and creative technology, Johnny’s practice integrates the multi-layered realities within which we exist to create immersive spoken word experiences. Johnny’s pedagogy is rooted in the constant goal of fostering a sense of empowerment, agency, and compassion through socially engaged, community based art.
Johnny recognizes that many of us are uninvited guests on this indigenous Turtle Island, and continually works to negotiate that through accountability, solidarity, and integrity in practice. He creates opportunities to support marginalized communities cultivate their voice:
“It takes a community to build an artist …
whether we are nurtured by it, or resist against it.”
Johnny D Trinh is a member of the League of Canadian Poets, and holds an MFA in Interdisciplinary Studies: Theatre and Creative Technology. Johnny’s research focuses on autho-ethnographic performance, and spoken word as a primary method in community-engaged art.
While in residency in February 2024, Johnny presented the following community-engaged writing program:
Masterclass in Reading and Performance
The workshop was an opportunity for writers of all genres to enhance their public reading and performance skills. Johnny offered participants various tools, exercises, and prompts to help them present authentically while keeping the audience engaged.
The workshop covered:
- Vocal technique including breath support, articulation, and embodiment;
- Basic mic technique, staging, and stage presence;
- Adapting delivery to match the genre being presented.
The workshop was presented in collaboration with Vancouver Poetry House and received funding from Heritage Canada.
Held Sunday, February 25, 2:00 – 4:30pm, in the living room at Joy Kogawa House.