Catalyst Volume 8

Poetry Takes Flight

Book Launch & Poetry Performance
with open mic and live music from Le Mot Café

Wednesday 4th November, 7.30pm
Al’s Bar - 31 Dundas St, Christchurch

Poets for Samoa

Poets for the Tsunami

Fiona Farrell

Bernadette Hall

Ben Brown

Jim Norcliffe

Danielle O’Halloran

Tusiata Avia

MC: Victor Rodger

Thursday 5 November, 5.30pm,

Madras Café Bookshop, 135 Madras St.

Fundraiser for the Samoan tsunami relief effort – if you haven’t contributed yet, (or even if you have) here is your chance.

Tickets at the door: $10 donation. Raffle. All proceeds to Samoa tsunami relief.

Catalyst 8 - launching!

Wednesday 4th November - time TBC
Al's Bar, 31 Dundas St
Christchurch

Just advance notice about the biggest party of our year! Please come along, celebrate the launch of the best Catalyst yet, maybe even buy a copy. Or three. We'll be selling subscriptions on the night also: get your Catalyst delivered!

Stay tuned for more information leading up to the launch. Thank you to everyone who's contributed and waited with us for so long!

Fantasy-Fiction Writing Workshop

Check out this great opportunity presented by our pal Helen:

Award-winning author Helen Lowe runs a workshop on writing fantastic fiction, focusing on Fantasy and Sci-Fi. The session includes discussions and exercises on the essential elements of 'fantastic world building', structure and keeping it real. Bring pen and paper.

Saturday 17th October, 10am – 12pm
Venue: Christchurch Central Library
Fee: Free
Bookings: Essential; phone 941 7923

Links:
http://www.helenlowe.info/
http://www.thornspell.info/
http://www.christchurchcitylibraries.com/Events/NZBookMonth/

NZ Book Month & the ChCh Writers Festival

Special poetry event in honour of NZ Book Month, brought to you by the Christchurch Writers Festival. Come and have a glass of wine and see some of Aotearoa's best poets perform their work. Nice.

Friday 2nd October, 5.30pm
Our City, O-Tautahi
cnr Oxford Tce & Worcester Blvd
$10 incl. glass of wine!

Poetry for Wellbeing!

The next Catalyst night just happens to coincide with Mental Health Awareness Week and this happy collision means we can celebrate the life-affirming qualities of that elixir we know as poetry!

The theme for this year's Mental Health Awareness Week is 'Winning Ways to Wellbeing - Connect, Give, Take Notice, Keep Learning, Be Active.'

Come and see how Catalyst fulfills all 5 of the Winning Ways to Wellbeing by encouraging poets to connect with each other, take notice of the beauty of poetry, keep learning about performance techniques and new styles of writing, give freely of their verse and er, move around a lot while they perform!

We can imbibe other kinds of elixirs even as we partake of the heady properties of spoken word!

Where do I go for this unmissable evening of convivial verse and comraderie you wonder? Well, glad you asked:

Catalyst Poetry Open Mic
Wednesday 7th October, 8pm
Al's Bar, 31 Dundas St
Christchurch (behind Pak n' Save)
BYO poetry

Next Catalyst Poetry Open Mic

Lots of fun last night at Al's Bar for the Phantom Billstickers launch of their third series of poetry on posters, on the occasion of Janet Frame's birthday. A bit of an impromptu open mic occurred and Al's famous hospitality was enjoyed by a good crowd of poetry-heads. The Janet Frame literary trust also announced the 2009 winners of the Janet Frame Literary Award:

For Poetry: Geoff Cochrane (latest collection - Pocket Edition)
For Fiction: Alison Wong (her first novel As the Earth Turns Silver out now)

Phew! That's some link-heavy action up there. Let's see some of you down at Al's again this coming Wednesday for Catalyst's open mic.

Catalyst Poetry Open Mic
Wednesday 2nd September, 8pm
Al's Bar, 31 Dundas St (behind Pak n' Scab)
BYO poetry & a sense of adventure!

The Phantom of Janet Frame...

To mark the occasion of Janet Frame's Birthday tomorrow, Phantom Billstickers is launching it's third wave of "Poetry on Posters" which includes Catalyst fave Ben Brown. The winner of the Janet Frame Prize 2009 will also be announced.


“Poetry on the occasion of Janet Frame’s birthday”

Al’s Bar, 31 Dundas Street, Christchurch
Friday 28 August at 5.30pm

There’ll be refreshments and entry is free.
Presented by Phantom Billstickers

Art of Mixology

Ragamuffin Children & Ciaran Fox

Poetry meets Music. They have an affair and the result is beautiful children.
Ragamuffin Children.
As part of Fat Eddie's Art of Mixology series of performances, Ciaran Fox is once again joining the Ragamuffin Children for an evening of music, poetry and spoken word.

Thursday 27th August, 8pm
Fat Eddies
SOL Square
Christchurch

If you missed them in the Christchurch Arts Festival as part of Love Letters in the Margin, now's your chance to experience one of the most sublime pairings to take the stage at the Festival Club in 2009.

Book Launch: Frankie McMillan - Dressing for the Cannibals

Congratulations to local writer and Catalyst friend Frankie McMillan on the release of her first collection of poetry. Sudden Valley Press media release as follows:

Frankie McMillan: Dressing for the Cannibals

Sudden Valley Press

Frankie McMillan's first poetry collection, Dressing for the Cannibals (Sudden Valley Press), will be launched on Thursday 20 August, at 5.30 pm at the Christchurch Central Library, as part of the library's 150th celebrations.

In 2001, Frankie McMillan's short story collection The Bag Lady's Picnic (Shoal Bay Press), described as "dazzling" by the NZ Listener, received widespread critical acclaim. Now Dressing for the Cannibals—described by editor, Michael Harlow, as "full of those surprises that quicken the heart as well as the head"—promises to bring the same excitement to New Zealand poetry.

Described by the Christchurch Press's Poetry Editor, James Norcliffe, as "often surreal, faux-naif and dreamlike" the poems in Dressing for the Cannibals reflect the intriguing cover art by McMillan's daughter, NZ artist Rebecca Harris. As shown so often in her prose, McMillan has a keen, but nonetheless compassionate eye for the eccentricities of human life and nature, as well as a sly but also subversive wit.

Frankie McMillan holds a MA in Creative Writing (with Distinction) from the International Institute of Modern Letters at Victoria University. She held the Creative New Zealand Todd Bursary in 2005 and her poem, My Father’s Balance, won the NZ Poetry Society International Poetry Competition 2009; birthday boy, was runner up in the same competition in 2008. McMillan's short stories have appeared in Best New Zealand Fiction 5 and 6 (Vintage: 2008; 2009) and Essential New Zealand Short Stories (Vintage 2009) and both her poetry and short fiction have been widely published and anthologised. She is currently a creative writing tutor at Hagley Writers' Institute and the Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology.

In addition to the launch of Dressing for the Cannibals on Thursday 20 August, Frankie McMillan and five guest poets (Bernadette Hall, Michael Harlow, Joanna Preston, David Gregory and Ross Brighton) will read at the Christchurch Central Library, from 12.30-1.30 pm on Friday 21 August, again as part of the library's 150th celebrations.

One-Day Short Story Competition

Writers around Christchurch will be digging out their pens and infusing their creativity as they are offered the chance to take part in the One-Day Short Story Competition next week.

Christchurch Art Gallery, Christchurch City Libraries, The Cultural Precinct and the NZ Society of Authors have come together to host the event, which is part of the 150th anniversary of public library service in Christchurch.

On Sunday 2 August, adults and youths are invited to Christchurch Art Gallery to collect their competition packs, containing a list of 12 exciting features in the cultural precinct, competition instructions, a map of the cultural precinct and a blank CD.

To take part, participants will need to follow their maps around the cultural precinct, visiting different highlighted features. They must then write a short story, to a maximum of 1500 words that incorporates at least four of the distinctive features visited. Entries must be submitted on CD, and returned to Christchurch Art Gallery by 4pm the same day.

The competition includes two entry groups, youth aged 13-18 years and adults aged 18 upwards. The winner of the youth category receives $250 and their winning story published in The Press, while the winning adult receives $750, their story in The Press, one night at Classic Villa, dinner for two at the Curator’s House and tickets for the Court Theatre.

The one-day short story competition will be judged by well-known authors Kate De Goldi (winner of the 2009 New Zealand Post Book of the Year Award), Gavin Bishop (renowned children's book author and illustrator, who recently set up the Storylines Gavin Bishop Award) and well-known author Sally Blundell.

The winners will be announced on Wednesday 19 August at the Philip Carter Family Auditorium, Christchurch Art Gallery, as part of the free Literary Shorts event.
The One-Day Short Story Competition takes place on Sunday 2 August from 9.30am – 4.30pm. For entry requirements, visit www.christchurchartgallery.org.nz

For more information call Emily Davies, Communications Advisor on 03 941 8223

Love Letters in the Margin

The two posters, side by side.

Love Letters in the Margin
Saturday 25th July 5.30pm
Festival Club Tickets $15
Pre-sales available from 0800 TICKETEK

Love Letters in the Margin is a performance by 3 poets and 3 bands - poetry powered by songs powered by poetry. Featuring the poetic prowess of Ben Brown, Marissa Johnpillai and Ciaran Fox paired with the musical muscle of The Eastern, Le Mot Cafe and Ragamuffin Children. The show features on the opening weekend of the Christchurch Arts Festival as part of the Wintergarden programme.

Hear Ciaran talk about the show on Plains FM.

A limited edition CD and programme will be available for sale at the show featuring a recording of a live-to-air broadcast show from Lyttelton's Volcano Radio which includes live performances from the poets, and songs from the bands.

Christchurch Art Gallery One Day Short Story Competition

The Christchurch Art Gallery presents:

One-Day Short Story Competition - Sunday 2nd August
Judged by Kate De Goldi, Gavin Bishop and Sally Blundell, this story-writing competition is open to two age-groups. Winners will be announced on Wednesday 19 August

1 day to write a story based on a choice of the triggers provided by the Gallery.

Age groups
13–17yrs: 1500 words max.
First prize $250 and publication of short story in The Press.

18+yrs: 1500 words max.
First prize $750, publication of short story in The Press, one night at the Classic Villa, dinner for two at the Curator’s House and tickets for the Court Theatre.

9.30am: Register at the Gallery and get an information pack, which includes four of the twelve story triggers from within the Cultural Precinct to get your story started.

4.30pm: Entries handed in (late entries will not be accepted).

Foyer / free / for more information click here or tel: (03) 941 7342

Hymns for Her by Marissa Johnpillai

Book Launch! Hymns for Her by Marissa Johnpillai

Wednesday 22nd July, 5.30pm
Beat Street Cafe
cnr Barbadoes & Armagh Sts

Previous Poetry NZ feature poet and well-known Christchurch performance poet Marissa Johnpillai is launching her first collection of poetry next week at Beat St Cafe (a new venue for us poets so we'll see how it goes - it's in the old wooden bicycle shop building for those of you who know inner city Christchurch.)

With introductions on the night by this year's winner of the open section in the NZ Poetry Society International Competition, Frankie McMillan, who's launching her own latest collection next month and live music by flautist extraordinaire Tamara Smith (Mundi) plus some words by the author herself - should be fun times.

Hymns for Her was funded by Christchurch Creative Communities - staunch stalwarts of local poetry and funders of many an interesting underground literature project (we can't sing their praises enough!)

Marissa can also be seen in the upcoming, not-to-be missed live poetry/music salon Loveletters in the Margin as part of this year's Christchurch Arts Festival Wintergarden programme in the TelstraClear Club. Stay tuned for more info on this amazing one-night-only performance but if you can't wait check out the info here.

Next Catalyst Poetry Open Mic

Catalyst Poetry Open Mic
chasing away the winter gloom since 2003

Wednesday 1st July, 8pm
Al's Bar, 31 Dundas St

Come one, come all. Bring yer words, have fun be fun.

Catalyst Live Poetry - Weds 3rd June, 8pm!

Goodness me! It's time for another one!
Wednesday 3rd June 8pm
Al's Bar, 31 Dundas St
Christchurch

Book Launch: Snake Songs

Our very own Doc Drumheller is launching his latest book, a collection of haiku accompanied by original illustrations by Rua Pick.

The launch will feature live readings by the author and an exhibition of the original artwork by Rua. All welcome to attend.

Snake Songs launch
Wednesday 22nd April 6.30pm
Toko Mata Gallery & Studio 82 Lichfield St

Catalyst: Supporting Brother/Sister Poets Since 2003

Poetry in Performance at the Madras Café Bookshop

Canterbury Poets present - Poetry in Performance Wednesdays at 6.30pm at the Madras Café Bookshop.

The evening will feature an open microphone and guest readers.

18 March: Tim Jones, Fiona Farrell, Victoria Broome
25 March: David Howard, Marissa Johnpillai, Helen Lowe
1 April: Frankie McMillan, Tusiata Avia, Ben Brown - followed by Catalyst 8pm at Al's Bar!!!
8 April: Ian Wedde, Charlotte Trevella, Helen Yong
15 April: Richard Reeve, Diana Deans, John O'Connor
22 April: Bernadette Hall, The Hagley Writers
29 April: Kevin Ireland, Joanna Preston, Koenraad Kuiper

All welcome. licensed and BYO.

cost:

$5 at the door.

dates:

Wed 18 Mar 09, 6:30pm

Wed 25 Mar 09, 6:30pm

Wed 01 Apr 09, 6:30pm

Wed 08 Apr 09, 6:30pm

Wed 15 Apr 09, 6:30pm

Wed 22 Apr 09, 6:30pm

Wed 29 Apr 09, 6:30pm

venue:

Madras Cafe Book Shop, 165 Madras Street, Christchurch

Next Poetry Open Mic

Struggling to find anyone to listen?

Come to Catalyst!
Live Poetry Open Mic
First Wednesday every month
Al's Bar, 31 Dundas St (behind Pak n' Save Moorhouse)

Next open mic:

Wednesday 1st April (no kidding!)
8pm the blackboard's open for bid'ness.

Catalyst: Not Participating in Recessions Since 2003

Well! You heeded the call to arms last month and we carried on in fine style from December. Looking forward to hearing new poetry and seeing new faces next week. Tell all your friends (and even your enemies) - we've got some solutions to the economic crisis of our own. It involves wine...


Literary journal Catalyst hosts the longest continuously running poetry/spoken word night in Christchurch. First WEDNESDAY of EVERY month, all welcome to read, perform or listen. Entry is FREE.

CAUTION! Open Minds Operating

Catalyst Poetry Open Mic Night

Wednesday 4th March, 8pm

Al's Bar, 31 Dundas St
Christchurch

Book Launch - Tusiata Avia

A special notice from our friend about her excellent new book - not to be missed!

Talofa

An open invitation to the book launch of “Bloodclot”, Tusiata Avia’s new book.

Nafanua, the Samoan goddess of war, leaves the underworld to wander the earth as a half-caste girl from Christchurch. “Bloodclot” is the astonishing new automythographical book by the author of “Wild Dogs Under My Skirt”.

Saturday 7 February, 5-8pm
Our City Otautahi, corner of Worcester St & Oxford Tce Christchurch
- part of Iva Pacific Arts Festival 09.

Catalyst: Keeping Our New Year's Resolutions Since 2003

Welcome to the '09!

Catalyst is back in business and raring to go - first open mic of the year - be the first to take the stage for 2009!

After the rip-roaring night we had to see off the year in December we can't wait to see what you've all been busy writing over the summer holidays. It better be GOOD. Anyway, come along, have a few wines - everything's good after that!

First Open Mic for 2009!
Weds 4th February, 8pm
Al's Bar, 31 Dundas St

Catalyst: Giving the gift of poetry since 2003.

Catalyst Christmas Extravaganza!

It’s the last open mic for 2008. Come send out the year in a poetic flourish!

It’s a special Xmas party this month with fabulous prizes (kindly donated by Helen Lowe) for the first ever
Catalyst Open Mic People’s Choice award.
Uncle Al’s putting on some wine specials and we’re discounting fantastic books of poetry at never-to-be repeated prices!

Come get merry with us at Al’s Bar, pick up some books for your family and friends and generally have yourself a time!

Catalyst Xmas Extravaganza
8pm, Al’s Bar 31 Dundas St
Wednesday 3rd December

Next Catalyst Open Mic

Wow! A whole month and no posts! Slap our collective wrist!

Anyway - the news is: The Open Mic this month only will happen on the second Wednesday of November. That is all. Goodnight and good luck.

Catalyst Open Mic
Wednesday 12th November, 8pm
Al's Bar 31 Dundas St
(behind Pak n' Save Our Souls)

Catalyst Poetry Open Mic

Yes! There is an open mic this week!!!

Wednesday 1st October 8pm sign up!
Al's Bar, 31 Dundas St (behind Pak n' Scab)

Be there or be Beached As!

Con Cuba hoy - Kiwi arts community goes one step further

Cuban Foreign Minister Perez Roque said, on Friday, that Washington's 50-year-old blockade is the main obstacle hindering development in the country and is making it more difficult for the Cuban people to recover from the devastation that resulted from the hurricanes Gustav and Ike.


Today members of the Kiwi arts community, (Jean Betts, Russell Campbell, Mark Derby, Jeffrey Paparoa Holman, Wanjiku Kiarie, Dean Parker, Rolando Olmedo, Martyn Sanderson and the Equuslive Collective) have launched a petition urging the active engagement by the New Zealand government in addressing this urgent issue.


Below is the new post on the solidarity webpage explaining all and, below that, some suggestions of action you could take.


Con Cuba hoy- Kiwi arts community goes one step further

"Playwrights, poets, film makers and musicians have rallied to a request from their Cuban colleagues to call on the US to lift the economic blockade and in doing so have gone one step further and initiated a petition calling on the New Zealand Government to take decisive action to aid the Cuban people in the face of the devastation wrought by hurricanes Gustav and Ike.


The petition coordinator, film director and playwright Paul Maunder, has called others in the Kiwi cultural community to "assert their solidarity as a national grouping" and request the Prime Minister to grant immediate aid to Cuba and intensify its efforts to have the US blockade of the country lifted.


The recent hurricanes have left Cuba devastated and it will take billions of dollars for Cuba to recover. A recovery Paul notes "that is made hugely more expensive and problematic because of the hypocritical US economic blockade of the country."


"For some reason, Cuban's 'human rights failings' (which includes presumably their ability to cope with these hurricanes with less loss of life than any of the other countries afflicted, including the US) means that this small but significant country, must be punished further, now that they have been punished so severely by the politically indifferent hurricanes."


The petition calls on the NZ Government:

(i) to actively urge the US to lift the blockade,

(ii) to grant Cuba immediate aid,

(iii) and to be willing to support NGO agencies in the usual manner, if any wish to activate an aid programme with Cuba.


Included among the petition initiators are Jean Betts, Russell Campbell, Mark Derby, Jeffrey Paparoa Holman, Wanjiku Kiarie, Dean Parker, Rolando Olmedo, Martyn Sanderson and the Equuslive collective.


The petition is here

The Artists call is here


Action you could take:

Circulate this broadly

Urge the artists, writers, musicians, poets, etc, that you know, to sign on

Circulate this to your local media/ drop copies at your favourite café

Raise the issues relating to the blockade with your MP and/or other election candidates

Raise the issues relating to the blockade at union / community group / sports club meetings

Urge your favourite aid agency / NGO to get involved

--

Cuba Solidarity Christchurch

Spoken Word Event

Just plugging some good friends of ours! If you like your spoken word and poetry gritty, atmospheric, charged and powerful - this is the gig for you.

Their media release follows:

Poetry, Stories, Songs

with AJ Coyle, Ben Brown and I am the Light*

Thursday 25^th September 2008 Wunderbar, London St Lyttelton, ChCh

AJ Coyle’s annual Wunderbar performance is happening on 25^th of September this month and promises to be an upbeat celebration of the magic of words and the imagination, featuring powerful poetry performer Ben Brown, soulful and enigmatic singer I am the Light*, and guest appearances from an exciting array of local musicians.

AJ Coyle is one of Christchurch’s most innovative performers and a captivating story teller. The show will showcase some new material and will include a preview of advance copies of ‘Subreal Urban Myths’ a collection of poetry and stories set in and around Christchurch’s Cathedral Square.

In 2006 ‘Subreal Urban Myths’ first appeared as a performance piece featuring a soundtrack composed by brother James Coyle, keyboardist for reggae groups Hikoikoi and Safari, and folk duo Jessie James. The show was performed with a seven piece jazz/rock ensemble at the Harbourlight Theatre, Lyttelton; the Dunedin Fringe Festival, and the Wellington International Jazz Festival.

“There is a natural sense in the current urban consciousness that the world is on a ticket to human powered self-destruction. “Freedom” is a conundrum and apathy rules. Andrew Coyle’s Subreal Urban Myths explores individual journeys in this environment; each character deals with a collective or global consciousness in their own ways. Their stories form a collective subreal; a narrated and implied groundswell of a population that is on the threshold of a new existence.” - James Coyle

Guest Poet Ben Brown

Ben Brown is a multi published Lyttelton poet well known for his gripping and gruelling spoken word performances. A poet of the old school he has the capacity to grip the audience member by the throat and drag them through a fascinating world full of vivid characters, black humour and great damn lines.

Ben was recently crowned champion of performance poets in Christchurch winning his way to the top in an evening of knock out poetry at the Dux de Lux as part of The Press Christchurch Writers Festival 2008.

Ben will be performing his poems and will be accompanied from time to time from some of the local musicians. Ben will also be reading from his short story work Dogtown Blues, a hard hitting account of life in small town New Zealand.

Support Act: I am the Light*

I Am The Light (Malisa Palalagi) began gigging at age 16 and since then has played in numerous bands such as ska band 4Manbob (CHC), pop-punk band All Left Out (AKL) and currently plays in post-hardcore outfit Mona Vale Falls and folk/soul duo The Gentlys.

This diverse cross-section of genres has given Malisa endless amounts of inspiration for her own song-writing creations. I Am The Light* is an intriguing layer-cake of sounds, ideas and creativity. She is hoping to record some of her latest collaborations with other local artists later this year.