Become Well-Versed in Haiku a Skills³ Haiku Course by Alan Summers at Wiltshire College, Trowbridge Campus

Become Well-Versed in Haiku 

a Skills³ Haiku Course by Alan Summers at Wiltshire College, Trowbridge Campus

Buy before 18 Aug 2012 and save £5.00
http://www.skills3.co.uk/experiences/detail.aspx?ref=CHAIKU&year=12%2f13

Wiltshire Colleges, Trowbridge Campus
http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/wstan/wiltshire-college-trowbridge.htm

A marvellous opportunity to learn about haiku and stretch those haiku muscles if you get the bug to write your own, or increase your knowledge of haiku if you've already started.

This course is designed for those considering learning a new skill; finding a new adventure; or new aspects they didn't know about themselves; for self-development; wanting to go further into haiku or tanka poetry; or consolidating their start into all types of poetry by trying haiku or tanka first.

Some of the aspects included in the haiku course:

An introduction to how haiku originated in Japan and is written throughout the world today.

The various styles of haiku inside and outside Japan.

A number of tools and techniques to your own contemporary haiku.

How to keep a Haiku Journal. 

How to catch the eye of haiku editors and publishers for those of you interested in pursuing that avenue.

I will also touch on forms related to haiku such as tanka, and the fun and interactive group poem called renga. 

All routes lead easily to Trowbridge:

N.B.
See further down for more details and maps on how to get to Trowbridge Campus.

 
Quotes from previous workshop participants:

"You have a very gentle and encouraging way with the students – and you have been generous with your time in giving them deep and positive comments!" Isabelle, Ireland

"...you are one of the poets I have been most interested in. I love your haiku style."  Keiko, Yokohama, JAPAN

"You have a remarkable talent for touching and enriching people’s lives."     Mark, London 2009

"Alan is able to work with people who have no experience of poetry to encourage them to try it.  He watches and listens with patience and respect and offers guidance that is flexible enough to empower the workshop participants but firm enough to support them." 
Rachel, Bristol (2010)


"Very many thanks again for all your constant and splendid help, support and patience.  I am well aware of the fact that I wouldn't be having such an amazing journey with my haiku if wasn't for you.

As you probably know by now, I use every corner of my life as a way of reflection of my psychological personal development - haiku in itself is great for this, but working with you has just elevated the experience a 100 fold.  I can not put into words how much this has meant to me, so as I tried to say on the phone the haiku is almost secondary, but of course both mean a lot to me.  Your support over the last couple of years or so have just been such an amazing gift to me - bless you."  Frances, 2011-2012



Trowbridge Campus
http://www.wiltshire.ac.uk/trowbridge/

The College's largest campus is situated in a largely residential area on the outskirts of the town about one mile from the town centre. Trowbridge is the rapidly expanding county town of Wiltshire and is a well-established manufacturing and service centre set in the growth corridor between the M4 (15 miles) and the A36 and is surrounded by areas of outstanding natural beauty. The centre of the busy town is within easy reach. The historic town of Bradford-on-Avon and the city of Bath are just a short bus or train ride away.

Trowbridge is a friendly and lively campus to study at. There is always a lot to do with the student common room at the centre of student activities. Cafés and a restaurant provide meals throughout the day; there is a large Learning Resource centre, hair and beauty salons, a new STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) centre and dedicated studio space for our Arts students.

Trowbridge campus contact and maps:
http://www.wiltshire.ac.uk/trowbridge/contacts_trowbridge.asp
http://www.wiltshire.ac.uk/trowbridge/map.asp

Campus map:
http://www.wiltshire.ac.uk/trowbridge/trowbridge_centre.pdf


About Skills³
Skills³ is a new range of skills' experiences from Wiltshire College.

You could change your life in just one day by:

    Learning a new hobby or developing a new interest
    Challenging yourself to improve your existing skills for fun or work
    Meet new people who share the same interests as you or will do after the day
    Develop professional skills that will enhance your career prospects or change your career altogether


So much more than a course - all Skills³ experiences include lunch and refreshments throughout the day.

Who are Skills³?
All the experiences offered through Skills³ will be delivered by professional and highly experienced tutors.

Skills³ is supported by the expertise of Wiltshire College. The county of Wiltshire's leading provider of adult training and learning.

Why Skills³?
Practical, Flexible, Fast experience days for you and your friends to enjoy; whether you’re looking to improve on existing skills or you simply want to have some fun, Skills3 have an experience day waiting for you!

The Skills3 online community - you will have the opportunity to “meet” your fellow ‘cubees’ online before you attend and your instructor will contact you in advance so you feel relaxed and comfortable on arrival. Afterwards, there will be an opportunity for you to leave your feedback online.

Can a day really change your life? Try one and see!

Buy before 18 Aug 2012 and save £5.00
http://www.skills3.co.uk/experiences/detail.aspx?ref=CHAIKU&year=12%2f13

Alan Summers, is a Japan Times award-winning writer, and recipient of a Ritsumeikan University of Kyoto Peace Museum Award for haiku.

He has a Masters Degree in Creative Writing from Bath Spa University; and is a past General Secretary of the British Haiku Society.

Alan is an experienced workshop leader, and editor, in haiku and other haikai literature disciplines, and appeared in literary festivals, and readings, all over Britain. 

"Astonishingly moving haiku"  YOMIURI SHIMBUN (Japan) January 2005

As well as being published in over 75 anthologies, and translated into 15 languages, Alan has his own work in collections, and co-edited a number of anthologies himself.

Haiku Collections:
The In-Between Season (With Words Pamphlet Series 2012); Sundog Haiku Journal: an Australian Year (Sunfast Press 1997 reprinted 1998); Moonlighting British Haiku Society Pamphlet (1996).

A new collection of experimental haiku and short verse poetry is forthcoming this Autumn.

Anthology Co-Editor:
Parade of Life: Poems inspired by Japanese Prints ISBN: 09539234-2-8  (Poetry Can/Bristol Museum and Art Gallery/Japan21 2002); The Poetic Image - Haiku and Photography (Birmingham Words/ National Academy of Writing Pamphlet 2006); Fifty-Seven Damn Good Haiku by a Bunch of Our Friends published by Press Here ISBN 978-1-878798-31-2  (2010 USA); Four Virtual Haiku Poets (YTBN Press 2012)
 
An anthology showcasing new British, American and other writers in haiku is forthcoming late Autumn.

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University of Winchester and Notes from the Gean haiku journal present a haiku; haiga; and renku weekend

Haiku/Renga Weekend

There is going to be a haiku/renga weekend at the University of Winchester on Sat 4th and Sun 5th of August, sponsored by the University and hosted by Mark Rutter and the poets of Notes From the Gean on the Road: Alan Summers, Alison Williams, Colin Stewart Jones, and Andy Pomphrey.

There will be haiga (haiku and image) and linked verse workshops and a ginko (haiku walk) in the Winchester watermeadows, where Keats wrote ‘To Autumn.’  All events except the ginko will be held in Stripe Studio 2, in the Stripe Building, University of Winchester.

• Saturday August 4th: 10am: We will meet in Stripe Studio 2, followed by a ginko in the Winchester water meadows (bring camera as well as writing pad, pen, etc).

• Sunday August 5th: 10am: Stripe Studio 2: morning: haiga workshop; afternoon: renga workshop.

Anyone interested in taking part can contact Mark Rutter at mark.rutter@winchester.ac.uk or  flyingsaucers@btinternet.com.

All events are free and all are welcome.

A number of us are British Haiku Society members, and with the extra opportunity of talking to Notes from the Gean haiku journal Editor in Chief, and owner of the Geantree Press, Colin Stewart Jones, from Aberdeen, Scotland, and previous British Haiku Society haiku magazine editor Mark Rutter, this is really a rare chance for anyone wanting to know more about haiku publications, and the art of haiga, haiku, renga/renku, and haibun prose.

 
University of Winchester weblink:
http://www.winchester.ac.uk/ACADEMICDEPARTMENTS/ENGLISHCREATIVEWRITINGANDAMERICANSTUDIES/NEWSANDEVENTS/Pages/NewsandEvents.aspx

The Winchester Watermeadows haiku walk will be a stunning opportunity to walk where Keats wrote 'To Autumn' and also take part in a traditional Japanese custom in haiku poetry.


Saturday August 4th: 10am: We first meet in Stripe Studio 2, followed by a ginko in the Winchester water meadows (bring camera as well as writing pad, pen, etc).

http://www.lymington.org/placestovisit/winchester.html

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Renga Days with Japan Times award-winning writer Alan Summers, with haiku writer Jann Wirtz of Devon

Renga Days in glorious Devon at the Broomhill Arts Hotel:

Where to find Broomhill Arts Hotel:

http://broomhillart.co.uk/information/findingus.html

The Sculpture Gardens:

http://broomhillart.co.uk/sculpturegardens/index.html

What they say about Broomhill Arts Hotel:

http://broomhillart.co.uk/information/what-they-say.html

Contact and information details for the Broomhill Arts Hotel:

http://broomhillart.co.uk/information/contactus.html

This is a great fun inclusive ice-breaking activity, and a way to make friends, and crack a few jokes at the same time as learning one of the most famous of all poetry forms, yet one of the most mysterious.

What is Renga?
 

 

Renga is a traditional Japanese group poem that is ‘shared writing’: everyone is allowed the chance to write, or orally suggest a verse.

Renga is simply writing incredibly short lines (2 or 3 line verses) with almost teasingly invisible connections to each verse.

When completed everyone is a co-author of the renga poem.

For anyone new to renga, we'd love to receive your "micro-memories", whether childhood memories, or very recent memories.

Renga is very inclusive, creative, and encouraging, and the making of this communal poem is as important as the final result.

The cost is only £4.50 entry to the Sculpture Garden:

http://www.broomhillart.co.uk/sculpturegardens/index.html  

More about Renga

Of all the ‘poetic forms’ this is one that works for people who have never written before, and yet offers a great challenge for those who are already comfortable and established writers.

The renga verses are more than the sum of its parts as they capture our thoughts and feelings, which might otherwise be lost at end of the day; we can also share an experience wherein strangers and friends or colleagues connect for a moment.

Welcome to Barnstaple Tourist Information Centre for accomodation details etc... http://www.staynorthdevon.co.uk/

Make this an even longer stay and visit other places:

http://www.broomhillart.co.uk/information/around.html

Alan Summers has been writing haiku and renga for twenty years and as a Japan Times award-winning writer for renga and haiku poetry (haiku evolved from being a renga poem’s ‘starting verse’) he felt renga was ideal for a creative writing event that involved people who might feel they are not poets.

More about Alan Summers

Alan Summers has a Masters Degree in Creative Writing from Bath Spa University; founder and director of With Words; and a Japan Times award-winning writer for renga and haiku.

He has ran workshops at the Royal Festival Hall (London), with Japan-UK 150 and the Thames Festival. 

Alan is regularly published in Japanese magazines & anthologies; and newspapers such as Yomiuri Shimbun; and Mainichi Daily News, Tokyo, Japan.

Alan with some renga busting verses.

More information:

http://area17.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/renga-days-with-alan-summers-and-jann.html

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The new issue of haijinx is out!

haijinx 2010
volume III, 
issue 1
December 2010



The new issue is out, our first new issue since 2002.

We have familiar faces and some new ones for you, enjoy!

Click here to enter our special 2010 issue: weblink

Alan Summers,
haijinx team editor

"Come Write With Me!" National Poetry Day Community Drop In Renga with Alan Summers and guests at Bristol Central Library

"Come Write With Me" with Alan Summers

Bristol Central Library hosts Renga Poet and Organiser Alan Summers of literature organisation With Words as he collects short verses from library visitors to create a multi-voiced renga poem similar to those traditionally created in Japan.

Bristol Central Library is very close to Temple Meads Railway Station; Bristol City Centre (1 -2 minutes walk); and Central Bus Station: Bristol Central Library weblink

• Dates and times: Thursday 7 October, 10am - 6pm
• Venue: Bristol Central Library, College Green, Bristol, BS1 5TL
• Free, for more information contact Andrew Cox, 0117 9222 180

This event is specially adapted to reflect the National Poetry Day theme of Home, and what that means in Bristol, the poem will be developed throughout the day.

This family friendly drop in event is open to everyone!

We are looking for very short mini-memories that can be then be made into brief renga verses.

People love reading these haikulike verses!

•    The whole mini-memory can just take a few seconds to say.
•    The words can present a recent or past memory 

•    It can be about anything from childhood to work, or what you like about your home and/or Bristol.

That's it!  We do the rest, just record the way you say it, making it a brief verse that other people love to read, and share. 

Just give us a recollection of a memory past or present, or even something humourous, and we will link it to the other verses being created so that people will love hearing them, and reading them.

The verses will be posted on this blog, with your permission, where hundreds of people from Bristol and beyond will read and connect with, and share a common experience with you.

.

If you have any questions please drop me an email at: bristolrenga@withwords.org.uk

or give me a ring on my mobile: 07979 656 775.  

.

If you get my voicemail I will call you back as soon as I can, as I want everyone to enjoy this relaxed and highly rewarding experience.

What does 'home'mean to you?

• is it the building you live in
• the place you came from
• a taste of home cooking?
• or is there something else you can think of!

Above all, this is a fun experience which can result in simple but moving verses enjoyed and appreciated by people from all walks of life.
.

Alan Summers is the current Renga Poet-in-Residence for the  Hull Global Renga.

=============
What is Renga?
=============

Bristol bred Alan Summers is the founder of With Words which promotes 
the love of words with events and activities through Haiku and Renga 
poetry.

He is a Japan Times award-winning writer for haiku and renga poetry 
(haiku originated from Renga as its ‘starting verse’).

Renga is a traditional Japanese group poem that's ‘shared writing’: 
everyone is allowed the chance to write, or verbally suggest a verse.

It’s very inclusive, creative, and encouraging, and the making of this 
communal poem is as important as the final result.

===============
More about Renga
===============

Example of a renga led by Japan Times award-winning writer for haiku and renga: www.geantree.com/rengarenku9_10toes.html

Of all the ‘poetic forms’this is one that works for people who have 
never written before, and yet offers a great challenge for those who 
are already comfortable and established writers.

Renga is where people can sit and stay, or come and go, listen or 
write, and above all share in the decision-making of each verse. When 
completed the renga poem is jointly owned by everyone.

The renga verses are more than the sum of its parts as they capture our 
thoughts and feelings, which might otherwise be lost at end of the day; 
we can also share an experience wherein strangers and friends or 
colleagues connect for a moment.

======
The aim
======

The aim is that towards the end of the day at Bristol Central Library 
we can display both finished renga poems in the library; to present a 
sense of achievement to the local community; and to develop a further 
interest in Japanese culture.

=====
 Blog
=====

The whole poem will also be available to read on this blog.


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Larkin on Living Review

Review of the Larkin on Living event with a mention of the Hull Global Reading.

Larkin and all that jazz:

http://hyperfruit.net/2010/08/larkin-and-all-that-jazz/

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Harinezumi-san and the Speckled River : newly published renga at 3Lights Gallery

.

Renga by Helen Buckingham and Alan Summers

weblink:

Harinezumi-san and the Speckled River renga

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Into Sunlight : the unfinished renga

Into Sunlight : the unfinished renga


into tropical air
rainbow lorikeets—
a mango restaurant closed


temperate cardinal
chipping his latin beat


at 45 degrees
the driving rain
filling a beggar’s bowl


these evening showers
in a field of bare trees


the clouds turn green
when snared on eucalyptus

the sacred ibis


raising its wide wings
exposing a sunrise


pointing eastwards
twitching in a dream
the dog’s paws


chasing ruddy deer
through rainbows


morning’s warm moist air
curls around my legs
unseen caress


river reeds rustling
someone comes through the shadow


a dozen crows fly
above the lone cyclist
sparrow on a branch


listening to wind blow
where does it come from?


filling a white sail
bending a tree


holding ancient forms
roots seeking clear waters
under the earth


above the street & stark trees
a gap in clouds: the moon


gentle light bathes
the opened chrysalis
strange new light


in the distance
sacred ibis rise from grass


sudden thunder
a black butterfly flitting
from flower to flower


broken cobweb
a moth flies away


dream changes
on my pillow
black and blue dust


mudprints
across a white bedsheet


the shroud
of a child
before cremation


dirt and dew
glistening pumpkins


stones for the cairn
above the cardinal
claims his old branch


turning, a smile seen
night draws in


so far away
in the deepest darkness
a beacon on the hill


candle out
the sizzle of saliva on fingers


pointing the thread
only the hole can receive
for the needle


unravelled into the wind
kite of many ghosts

first flight
after the broken wing healed

Alan Summers ◊ England
Merrill Ann Gonzales ◊ United States

Publications:
 
Azami magazine  (Osaka, Japan)  'unfinished renga' Into Sunlight  (1998)

snow on the water  

Red Moon Anthology ISBN 0-9657818-8-7  “unfinished renga” (1998)

snow on the water: The Red Moon Anthology of English-Language Haiku 1998, edited by Jim Kacian and the Red Moon Editorial Staff.

This anthology was also a Haiku Society of America Merit Book Award Winner.  

"snow on the water continues the tradition of the most celebrated serial book of haiku in the world. 146 poems, 20 other pieces as selected by 11 of the best haiku poets from around the world."

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Hull Global Renga call out!

 

Hull Global Renga

Alan Summers as renga poet-in-residence for the City of Hull:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingston_upon_Hull
http://hullglobalrenga.blogspot.com

We would love to hear from:

  * people living in Hull.
  * Born in Hull now living elsewhere or abroad.
  * people who have either visited, or worked in Hull.

Hull

is a glorious city despite its poverty levels, and has possibly the friendliest people in Britain.

Part of the Hull Global Renga Project is to promote both the hard work carried out by Hull Libraries for its people and schools; and to show that Hull is a city worth visiting.

There are few places left where you can spend a much needed holiday or short break without being pressured as a tourist.  In Hull you can truly relax, with access to great places both in the city and nearby.

If you feel you can't write a renga verse of 2 or 3 short line duration, please do send an anecdote or brief account of your time spent in Hull.

The Hull Global Renga email: hullrenga@withwords.org.uk

  

The Hull Global Renga Logo

Design by Rory Walker, commissioned by Alan Summers for Hull Libraries.

What is Renga?

Renga is a traditional Japanese group poem that is ‘shared writing’: everyone is allowed the chance to write, or orally suggest a verse.

Renga is simply writing incredibly short lines (2 or 3 line verses) with almost teasingly invisible connections to each verse.  

When completed everyone is a co-author of the renga poem.

For anyone new to renga, we'd love to receive your "micro-memories" of Hull, whether childhood memories, or very recent memories.

Renga is very inclusive, creative, and encouraging, and the making of this communal poem is as important as the final result.

More about Renga

Of all the ‘poetic forms’ this is one that works for people who have never written before, and yet offers a great challenge for those who are already comfortable and established writers.

The renga verses are more than the sum of its parts as they capture our thoughts and feelings, which might otherwise be lost at end of the day; we can also share an experience wherein strangers and friends or colleagues connect for a moment.

Alan Summers has been writing haiku and renga for almost twenty years and as a Japan Times award-winning writer for renga and haiku poetry (haiku evolved from being a renga poem’s ‘starting verse’) he felt renga was ideal for a creative writing event that involved people who might feel they are not poets.

The aim

During the project from June - December 2010 both the central and branch libraries will display renga verses; and that a sense of achievement will be given to the local community through the Press; workshops and activities; displays and readings; and an interest developed for Japanese culture.

Towards the end of the residency a finished renga poem will be available as an eBook on both the With Words website and on the Hull Libraries website, as well as a printed reference book in Hull Central Library.

Alan Summers

Alan Summers has a Masters Degree in Creative Writing from Bath Spa University; founder and director of With Words; a Japan Times award-winning writer for renga and haiku.

He has been a Visiting Tutor with the nationally acclaimed The Poetry School; ran workshops at the Royal Festival Hall (London), with Japan-UK 150 and the Thames Festival.  He has run renga events at various libraries over the years.

Alan is regularly published in Japanese magazines & anthologies; and newspapers such as Yomiuri Shimbun; and Mainichi Daily News, Tokyo, Japan.

As an editor of renga and haiku magazines he studies Classic, Modern, and Contemporary Japanese haiku (and Western haiku); writes and performs haiku and renga, as well as organising haiku and renga events around Britain.

Alan has a CRB Enhanced Disclosure Certificate (April 2010) registered with the National Association of Writers in Education (NAWE) and full world cover public liability insurance cover up to Five Million Pounds Sterling.

Alan Summers

email: hullrenga@withwords.org.uk
Hull Global Renga: http://hullglobalrenga.blogspot.com

With Words: www.withwords.org.uk

With Words Events blog:  http://area17.blogspot.com

Photos and Events Report for 2010 Bath Japanese Festival

photo by Alan Summers
Joe Ryan starts early to set up Blazblue: Calamity Trigger anime cells.

Hazel Hammond also starts her Japanese Tattoo exhibition corner.

photo by Mike Keville (London)

Festival mascot Lola the Low Blood Sugar Guide dog in training making herself known again to Alan Summers!  Lola's companion is Children's Poet Liz Brownlee.

So many highlights, just a few:

Courtesy of our sister festival  International Haiku Spring Festival 2010 we have special guests Masuda Aika（桝田愛佳）a haiga painter, and her mother, Masuda Junko（桝田純子）a haiku poet, came over to give a taste of haiku and haiga from Japan.

Lee Coombes shows off one of his Japanese tattoos to the audience.
photo by Mike Keville (London)










David Johnson, always popular with audiences, brings his own magic to the event.

Lee Coombes shows his tattoos to Hazel Hammond, at her Japanese Tattoo Corner.
photo by Mike Keville (London)













Aika photographs me photographing her mother, Junko.

2010 Bath Japanese Festival
Zen United proudly sponsor the 2010 Bath Japanese Festival

Launch Party guests and participants
Wednesday, 12 May 2010
7-10pm
Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution

BRLSI Group UNI-VERSE Group proudly hosted
The 2010 Bath Japanese Festival Launch Party!

There was something for everyone, from readings from poets and other live word artists plus the Origami Picnic Corner, and Usborne Books for children.

The launch night was both a taster of the festival as a whole, as well as a plethora of mini-exhibitions and activities from



*** ORIGAMI PICNIC CORNER! ***
Fabulous Joanna Tinsley and her "the love of it" magazine team ran an origami animal-making workshop packed full of children and adults alike.

They provided the paper (in a choice of colours, prints and textures), a bunch of clever origami experts and a cosy corner in which to fold. All you needed was a home for your paper creation to go to at the end of the night.  Weblink: The Love of It magazine

***HAIGA (haiku painting and calligraphy)***
*Haiga and haiku straight from Japan (Akita, Northern Honshu) with Masuda Aika（桝田愛佳）a haiga painter, and her mother, Masuda Junko（桝田純子）a haiku poet, giving a taste of haiga art with haiku.  16 year old Aika, and her mother were a big hit with both the exhibition audience, and in the poetry and liveword room.

Karl Jaeger (Modern Japanese Paintings especially for the launch night) is a BRSLI founding member in 1968, and now Co-founder, Trustee and Chairman of Our Future Planet (OFP)

*** SPECIAL LAUNCH OF JAPANESE VIDEOGAME ANIME IMAGES***
Joe Ryan presented/exhibited Anime artwork (cells) from Zen United, the team behind the European release of Blazblue - Calamity Trigger displaying a selection of concept art which documented the creative process of game development. Blazblue - Calamity Trigger is a hugely popular video game with a very recognizable anime style. The Japanese developers are very proud that the European gaming press have been raving about the quality of not only the gameplay but of the rich artwork.

To compliment the exhibition also supplied the Japanese book binding course with a selection of drawings which will be used in the learning process: http://www.blazbluegame.com/

***Japanese Tattoos - Hazel Hammond***
Hazel had us enter the meanings of dragons, koi carp and cherry blossom with Tattoo Poetry, Live Art and Japanese tattoo motifs: Hazel's The Tattoo Project

Hazel Hammond reading some of her tattoo poems.

=========
READINGS
=========

Nikki Bennett, Uni-Verse Poetry Group organiser, and host for the festival launch made everyone welcome and gave a reading in her own light as a highly regarded poet.

Alan Summers - a short welcome from the founder and director of With Words <http://www.withwords.org.uk>, and Literature Director of 2010 Bath Japanese Festival and to ensure you know about all our fun corners.

This was followed by a joint reading by Alan, and Karen Hoy, of With Words, from one of their recent renga poems from an ongoing NHS MSU project.

Rachel Carvosso of Tokyo Art Beat & Japan Editor for Bristol's The Love of It; and co-organiser of the 2010 Bath Japanese Festival read poems and gave a curatorial talk on the contemporary Japanese book-binding (and workshop) exhibition courtesy of Bath Central Library which With Words are in partnership.

***SPECIAL GUESTS FROM AKITA, NORTHERN HONSHU, JAPAN***
Courtesy of our sister festival The International Haiku Spring Festival 2010, and With Word's guests, Masuda Aika（桝田愛佳）a haiga painter, and her mother, Masuda Junko（桝田純子）a haiku poet, gave a taste of haiku from their hometown Akita. After the break, most of the audience immediately went to their haiga art corner to hear more Japanese haiku as well as have haiku written in calligraphy alongside Aika's paintings she created for each person.

***SPECIAL GUEST APPEARANCE***
Carrie Etter opened up our second set to read haiku and senryu from her collection in progress since 1987: "The Broken Kite"
Carrie's latest collection "The Tethers" £7.99 Paperback (ISBN:9781854114921)
is available to buy from: http://www.seren-books.com/books/p/2128/
Carrie's blog: http://carrieetter.blogspot.com/

***MINI LECTURE***
Simon Leake (respected Bristol poet and organiser) presented a talk:
'come May / again / white blossom' - The influence of japanese verse on 20th Century American Poetry including readings from the work of William Carlos Williams and Gary Snyder. (Keep checking Area 17 for a full performance early next year.)

SV Wolfland gave a most beautiful spellbinding eye-opening performance.  SV Wolfland is also Spoken/Written Bulletin S.W.'s Editor: http://bulletin-editor.blogspot.com/

David Johnson: ever popular international and local performance poet Bristol; Bath: USA wowed us with his astute and humourous take on life.

Dru Marland with her ever popular humourous haiku. Dru is an illustrator and photographer.  Here is a photo of Aika doing haiga: http://www.flickr.com/photos/belvedere/4605996750/
Also see photos of Hazel, and even myself with Karen Hoy!

Hazel Hammond read some of her poems from her forthcoming book "Needlepoint" due to be launched in Bristol on the 28th May: http://thetattooproject.co.uk/THE%20BOOK.htm

Lee Coombes, veteran of sell out Bath Fringe Festival events, and now working on a pilot TV series, ended the evening by providing us with raw belly laughs with his comic monologues and also showed us his Japanese tattoos. Catch his fast selling out event with Writing Events Bath!

Further Information

Alan Summers was the Live Word Contact for this launch party: alan@withwords.org.uk

Nikki Bennett was co-Live Word organiser. For information about her popular and well respected Uni-Verse poetry group events at BRSLI: http://www.brlsi.org/admin/group.cfm?group=uv

Rachel Carvosso is founder and co-organiser of the 2010 Bath Japanese Festival, and contact for visual artists: bathjfestival@gmail.com

The list of people to thank for making this so successful is very long. We'd love a comment about your support and involvement for Area 17 readers!

Thanks due to so many include:

The 2010 Bath Japanese Festival logos were designed by Rory Walker: http://www.roryroryrory.com/

Room Set up by BRSLI staff: Jonathan Taylor: Paul Browne; and lastly Bob Draper MBE who stayed past 10pm and did so many of those little things that are so vitally helpful.

Uni-Verse Poetry Group Host: Nikki Bennett

Food and Drink: Supplied by Yen Sushi, and served by Karen Hoy and Tracey Kelly

Door Entrance station: Yurika; Dru Marland; and Ruth Carvosso.

Announcements, and bringing his own unique charm and humour: John Carvosso

All the exhibition people including Karl Jaeger (founding member of BRSLI); Fiona from Usborne Books; and to all those others who helped on the night!

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With Words: http://www.withwords.org.uk

2010 Bath Japanese Festival: http://www.bathjapanesefestival.com

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RENGA: "splicing spontaneity into your writing" with Alan Summers

photograph by Mike Keville

RENGA: splicing spontaneity into your writing 
with Alan Summers

THURSDAY MAY 20th 6.30pm-8.30pm 
Mr. B's Emporium of Reading Delights

This event is part of the 2010 Bath Japanese Festival 

Renga is first of all, great fun!

It's a type of joint group activity where we all get involved in writing a poem with haikulike verses called 'links'.  

Each verse is not so much poetry in the usual sense, but captures snippets of everyday ordinary plain speech and language that we easily forget is just as magical as formal poetry.

It's really easy, and gaining huge popularity all the time: for instance the Bath 1000 Verse Renga (book coming out soon) was so popular with both the public and writers that we actually received more than 1000 verses! 

BBC article weblink:
BBC article: Bristol poet leads giant verse


You don't even have to know what renga is, or its "starting verse" - better known as haiku - to get involved.

Not only is it fun and accessible, it's a great way to bring out the ingenuity of the writers involved, and boost self-confidence in your own writing.

It also provides an extra tool for novelists; poets; and non-fiction writers to help maintain spontaneity in their own writing!

It's really as much the inter-play between writers that makes this both fun, and highly productive to your own writing; as it acts as a real tonic for the writer in isolation
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Alan Summers is founder of With Words, an organisation that exists to promote the love of words. Alan is the Literature Director of the Bath Japanese Festival, and a Japan Times award-winning writer for Haiku and Renga.

Alan Summers
With Words: www.withwords.org.uk
Festival: www.bathjapanesefestival.com

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HOW TO BOOK

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Cost £24 (con £22)  with wine

BOOKING NOW OPEN with WRITING EVENTS BATH:

www.writingeventsbath.co.uk

Renga webpage: 

www.writingeventsbath.co.uk/14/FUTURE-EVENTS.html

2010 Bath Japanese Festival

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2010 Bath Japanese Festival :
Book Arts, Films, Haiku and Renga and a lot more!
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May 12th - 23rd 2010

With Words (Alan Summers) and Rachel Carvosso of Tokyo Art Beat & Japan Editor for Bristol's The Love of It in Partnership with Bath Libraries; Nikki Bennett & Uni-Verse; Mr B's Emporium of Reading Delights; Writing Events Bath; Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution (fondly known as BRSLI); and International Haiku Spring Festival 2010 (Akita, Northern Honshu, Japan).

Watch this space!

Comments from a previous renga workshop:

"we really enjoyed the renga event...it was a very intensely creative act, and I was really struck by the renga form itself, what it could be capable of...a whole new poetic energy" Mark, University of Winchester

"Thanks again for a wonderful poetry session."
Yu Yan, U.S. citizen currently visiting Bath

"I just wanted to thank you again for such a great event...I want to do some more!" Susan, Plymouth

"Thanks so much for yesterday's renga event - it was fantastic! Really got the creative juices flowing. Let me know when the next one is, I will definitely attend!" Tracey, Bath

"Looks like I missed a fantastic event..I hope to be at the next one."
Caroline, Bristol (she was!)

" More! More! " Libby, Bristol

"It is so tempting to get involved in renku/renga with all the excitement you...generate." Melinda, USA

Fully Booked

SOLD OUT, Fully Booked up!
Both days including Saturday night poetry event (150 bookings!)

The University of Bristol Centre for Deaf Studies and the Centre for Personal and Professional Development, in association with Scream Bristol, and Action Deafness Books, are pleased to announce the second Sign Poetry Festival.

Workshops are free and will explore different areas of sign language with the Japanese arts of haiku and renga.

Ffi: Forthcoming Events