OCT. 5TH 2016: FEATURE DAVID HUEBERT AND OPEN MIC POETS
(Scroll down for slide show.)
Season five of London Open Mic Poetry kicked off Oct. 5th 2016 with a lively reading by featured poet David Huebert, who has developed a following from his numerous previous readings at the open mic.
Huebert, who is currently working on his PhD in English at Western University, was introduced by Andy Verboom, organizer of the popular Couplets reading series. Verboom raved about Huebert’s creativity, but, in particular, expressed admiration for his very strong work ethic, in all genres of writing. That combination earned him the 2016 CBC Short Story Prize for his story, "Enigma". He read from his first collection of poems, We Are No Longer The Smart Kids In Class-- Guernica Editions, 2015, as well as his coming collection, Alkaline Purr, and threw in some prose for good measure.
Check out our excellent interview with Huebert, as well as a sampling of his poetry.
When the questions from the audience finally ran out of steam, London Open Mic organizer Stan Burfield made some announcements, including, to murmurs from the room, that this will be his last season and that so far no one has stepped forward to replace him. He asked everyone to consider it themselves, or to pass the volunteer job opening on to anyone who might be interested. As well, he said that this fifth season will be the season in which his Sidewalk Poetry idea will be proposed to London Arts Council (LAC). The idea, which he has been stewing over for a couple years (of the city stamping poems in fresh sidewalk concrete when repairs are made), is now being researched in detail by three 3rd-year students of Western’s English prof Manina Jones. They will present it to LAC before the current school semester ends.
The evening’s open mic section, hosted by psychotherapist/novelist/screenwriter Joan Clayton in her usual sparkling fashion, included a mini-launch of Harmonia Press’ anthology Another London, a collection of poetry about London by London poets. Many of the poets included in the anthology were on hand to read their selections, including Harmonia Press’ publishers/editors Andreas Gripp and Carrie Lee Connel. Other poets rounded out the open mic of eighteen readers before an audience of thirty eight.
PHOTOS: Please excuse the fuzzy quality. We were working with a different camera than usual, and not used to the gizmos on it yet.
(Scroll down for slide show.)
Season five of London Open Mic Poetry kicked off Oct. 5th 2016 with a lively reading by featured poet David Huebert, who has developed a following from his numerous previous readings at the open mic.
Huebert, who is currently working on his PhD in English at Western University, was introduced by Andy Verboom, organizer of the popular Couplets reading series. Verboom raved about Huebert’s creativity, but, in particular, expressed admiration for his very strong work ethic, in all genres of writing. That combination earned him the 2016 CBC Short Story Prize for his story, "Enigma". He read from his first collection of poems, We Are No Longer The Smart Kids In Class-- Guernica Editions, 2015, as well as his coming collection, Alkaline Purr, and threw in some prose for good measure.
Check out our excellent interview with Huebert, as well as a sampling of his poetry.
When the questions from the audience finally ran out of steam, London Open Mic organizer Stan Burfield made some announcements, including, to murmurs from the room, that this will be his last season and that so far no one has stepped forward to replace him. He asked everyone to consider it themselves, or to pass the volunteer job opening on to anyone who might be interested. As well, he said that this fifth season will be the season in which his Sidewalk Poetry idea will be proposed to London Arts Council (LAC). The idea, which he has been stewing over for a couple years (of the city stamping poems in fresh sidewalk concrete when repairs are made), is now being researched in detail by three 3rd-year students of Western’s English prof Manina Jones. They will present it to LAC before the current school semester ends.
The evening’s open mic section, hosted by psychotherapist/novelist/screenwriter Joan Clayton in her usual sparkling fashion, included a mini-launch of Harmonia Press’ anthology Another London, a collection of poetry about London by London poets. Many of the poets included in the anthology were on hand to read their selections, including Harmonia Press’ publishers/editors Andreas Gripp and Carrie Lee Connel. Other poets rounded out the open mic of eighteen readers before an audience of thirty eight.
PHOTOS: Please excuse the fuzzy quality. We were working with a different camera than usual, and not used to the gizmos on it yet.
