Incredible timing! On the eve of Frank Davey’s starring role at London Open Mic Poetry Night’s special April 24th reading in celebration of National Poetry Month, the Ontario online literary journal Open Book has just published a great interview with Davey about ‘Open Letter’, his journal of poetry criticism, which he has edited since 1965.
From the introduction to the interview:
"Originally conceived as an open dialogue with fellow poets George Bowering, Fred Wah and David Dawson, Open Letter focused on the poetics of the Canadian avant-garde, providing a critical extension to previous work the four had done as part of the Vancouver newsletter TISH. The journal quickly expanded into lengthy explorations into various directions in literary and scholarly writing that simply weren’t being covered anywhere else, while retaining a strong foundation of modernism and postmodernism and an essential forum for the critical exploration of experimental Canadian writing. Over the years, various writers, poets and critics have contributed regularly to Open Letter, including the late Toronto poet bpNichol who regularly explored ideas through his Open Letter essays that might not otherwise have seen print, or possibly been composed. A whole series of collaborative essays between Nichol and Steve McCaffery under the name The Toronto Research Group were composed specifically for the journal.
From the introduction to the interview:
"Originally conceived as an open dialogue with fellow poets George Bowering, Fred Wah and David Dawson, Open Letter focused on the poetics of the Canadian avant-garde, providing a critical extension to previous work the four had done as part of the Vancouver newsletter TISH. The journal quickly expanded into lengthy explorations into various directions in literary and scholarly writing that simply weren’t being covered anywhere else, while retaining a strong foundation of modernism and postmodernism and an essential forum for the critical exploration of experimental Canadian writing. Over the years, various writers, poets and critics have contributed regularly to Open Letter, including the late Toronto poet bpNichol who regularly explored ideas through his Open Letter essays that might not otherwise have seen print, or possibly been composed. A whole series of collaborative essays between Nichol and Steve McCaffery under the name The Toronto Research Group were composed specifically for the journal.
"As much as the journal has long existed as a conversation, it has existed also as an introduction, opening conversation on Canadian “pataphysics, contemporary writing out of Quebec, feminist writing, poststructuralist works, considerations of the long poem and language writing, as well as concrete and visual works." What is impressive about the run of the journal is in how it has not only maintained an argument about writing for nearly five decades, but helped encourage and even shape one as well.
"Edited and published by Frank Davey, Open Letter: A Journal of Writing and Theory has been called “the most important avant-garde periodical in Canada.” (Ken Norris, The Little Magazine in Canada 1925-80), “…one of the most advanced journals of its kind anywhere in the world…” (Wynne Francis, The Oxford Companion to Canadian Literature), “…the most indispensable journal in Canlit” (Nicky Drombolis, George Bowering Condensed), “Canada’s most important forum for discussion and examination of innovative and experimental ideas and texts.” (Gregory Betts, The Canadian Encyclopedia) and “Canada’s most intriguing critical journal, at least where poetry is concerned” (Sina Queyras, Lemonhound, January 8, 2006)."
Open Books interview with Frank Davey (pub. April 18, 2013)
The Event
FEATURED POETS: 7:00 TO 8:15 Frank Davey and Tom Cull read, followed by Q&A.
OPEN MIC: We will have our traditional open mic for part of the last hour. As usual, readings will be five minutes maximum, and will be randomly chosen. They will end at 9:00
MUSIC: From 6:30 to 7:00 we will open the event with live music: Bernie Koenig on vibraphones and Emma Wise on cello. See: more info and a sample.
RAFFLE PRIZES: Donate for a raffle ticket. Three prizes include Brick Books (the best Canadian poets) and two include a book by Frank Davey plus a frameable 'broadsheet' of one of his poems. See: Where Our Income Comes From
WHERE: The event will be held in the Landon Library in Wortley Village, in the large basement room where Poetry London holds its readings. (We return to the Mykonos Restaurant in May.)
WHEN: 6:30 to 9:00 pm on Wed. April 24th, 2013.
NOTE: This month only: APRIL 24TH, AT LANDON LIBRARY, in Wortley Village, then we return May 1st to the terrace of the Mykonos Restaurant..
Afterwards, many of us retire to the Roadhouse Pub across the street to wet our whistles.
"Edited and published by Frank Davey, Open Letter: A Journal of Writing and Theory has been called “the most important avant-garde periodical in Canada.” (Ken Norris, The Little Magazine in Canada 1925-80), “…one of the most advanced journals of its kind anywhere in the world…” (Wynne Francis, The Oxford Companion to Canadian Literature), “…the most indispensable journal in Canlit” (Nicky Drombolis, George Bowering Condensed), “Canada’s most important forum for discussion and examination of innovative and experimental ideas and texts.” (Gregory Betts, The Canadian Encyclopedia) and “Canada’s most intriguing critical journal, at least where poetry is concerned” (Sina Queyras, Lemonhound, January 8, 2006)."
Open Books interview with Frank Davey (pub. April 18, 2013)
The Event
FEATURED POETS: 7:00 TO 8:15 Frank Davey and Tom Cull read, followed by Q&A.
OPEN MIC: We will have our traditional open mic for part of the last hour. As usual, readings will be five minutes maximum, and will be randomly chosen. They will end at 9:00
MUSIC: From 6:30 to 7:00 we will open the event with live music: Bernie Koenig on vibraphones and Emma Wise on cello. See: more info and a sample.
RAFFLE PRIZES: Donate for a raffle ticket. Three prizes include Brick Books (the best Canadian poets) and two include a book by Frank Davey plus a frameable 'broadsheet' of one of his poems. See: Where Our Income Comes From
WHERE: The event will be held in the Landon Library in Wortley Village, in the large basement room where Poetry London holds its readings. (We return to the Mykonos Restaurant in May.)
WHEN: 6:30 to 9:00 pm on Wed. April 24th, 2013.
NOTE: This month only: APRIL 24TH, AT LANDON LIBRARY, in Wortley Village, then we return May 1st to the terrace of the Mykonos Restaurant..
Afterwards, many of us retire to the Roadhouse Pub across the street to wet our whistles.
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