NEWS RELEASE
GUELPH YOUTH MUSIC CENTRE
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Join us on Friday, April 20 at 7:30 p.m. at the Guelph Youth Music Centre, 75 Cardigan St., for Action Read’s annual poetry, spoken word and music fundraiser. This event is a celebration of human artistry, diversity, wisdom and humour, as seen through poetry, spoken word, music and Indigenous drumming and storytelling.
FLOW 2018 will be hosted by Marva Wisdom, an organizational and leadership trainer and director of the Canadian Black History Project, the Guelph Black Heritage Foundation and the Black Experience Project of Greater Toronto.
FLOW 2018 will feature the work of poets, spoken word artists and storytellers Lisa Baird, Anna Bowen, Michael Kleiza and Rene Andre Meshake. Here are some details about the performers:
- Lisa Baird is a writer and performance poet who has been on the Vancouver Poetry Slam team, as well as the Guelph Poetry Slam team. Her poetry has been featured in various journals including Arc, Rattle and Plenitude.
- Anna Bowen’s poetry explores place, ecology, and reciprocity. She hosts the Eden Mills Writers' Festival podcast and co-hosts of Bookish Radio on CFRU.ca and at bookishradio.ca.
- Michael Kleiza is a Guelph poet who has published in local area publications and anthologies. A judge of The Fringe submissions at the Eden Mills Writers' Festival, his latest book is titled A Poet on the Moon (Vocamus Press, 2015).
- Rene Andre Meshake is an Ojibwe elder, visual and performing artist, award-winning author, storyteller, flute player, new media artist and a recipient of Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee Medal. He works to fuse Ojibwe and English words into his storytelling, poetry and spoken word.
- Music will be provided by The Greg Denton Probable Cause Acoustic Trio. Their “plunk rock” string band music ranges from urbane punkdom, jazzy hokum, to traditional old-time and classic country.
This is a licensed event with doors opening at 6:45 p.m. All proceeds go directly to Action Read's adult and family literacy programs. Tickets are $20 and are available at the Bookshelf (41 Quebec St), at Action Read (8 Cork St E), online or at the door (75 Cardigan St.)
Action Read would like to express huge thanks to the sponsors who have generously supported FLOW 2018 including; Liz Morant Graphics, RBC Royal Bank, The Guelph and District Labour Council, Guelph Music, Tambro Construction, Write Design, Chaplin Renovation and Construction, Guelph and District Labour Council and Wellington Brewery as well as numerous local businesses, volunteers and individual donors.
As always, there’s also a sensational silent auction featuring original work by textile artist Marilyn Clarke, painter Tiffany Horrocks, catering by Chef Stephen Aspinall, restaurant gift certificates and much more.
Action Read is all about helping people express themselves in their own words. For many years, Action Read has raised funds through the FLOW event which celebrates the lyrical, graceful and hard-hitting voices of poets, spoken word performers and musicians from Guelph and Southern Ontario.
The event also celebrates the achievement and artistic expression of our newly literate members who – with great courage – share their journey to learning with us.
For over 30 years, Action Read has been dedicated to improving the lives of adults and families through literacy, numeracy and Essential Skills. Our education programs are free, accessible and volunteer-supported.
For more information, visit www.actionread.com, go to our Facebook page, call Mira Clarke at 519-836-2759, or visit our centre at 8 Cork St. E. in downtown Guelph.
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