The Calgary Blow-Out

fS Subscription Sale

2012-01-08T17:13:00.001-08:00

filling Station Magazine is having a subscription sale. Subscriptions for three issues runs $17 (you pretty much get a free issue at that price) and you can buy gift subscriptions for just ten bucks. Go to http://www.fillingstation.ca/ for more information and to order online through Paypal.

filling Station Volunteer Call Spring 2011

2011-04-27T00:15:00.000-07:00

filling Station Volunteer Call Spring 2011

filling Station has opportunities for Calgarians who love unusual literature and art and would enjoy volunteering in a Collective setting.

filling Station Publications Society encourages emerging writers by publishing filling Station Magazine and creating engaging public events. The magazine’s editorial mandate is to publish original and innovative poetry, fiction, non-fiction, and art. Based in Calgary, filling Station is distributed nationally to independent bookstores and by subscription. It is also available as a Digital Edition through Zinio. An average of 25 volunteers bring filling Station to life each year, many of whom are students or graduates of a complementary practice (design, photography, illustration, journalism) or aspiring creative writers who find friendship and support at the magazine. Since the magazine’s inception in 1996, many filling Station volunteers have gone on to publish books or have embarked on careers in the magazine industry or related industries.

In addition to participating in publishing and events related activities, additional opportunities exist in 2011 for professional development and participation in exciting projects that will expand filling Station’s digital presence at www.fillingstation.ca with video, audio, and blogging.

Whether you can spare a little time or a lot, if you have skills and passion to share and you are interested in learning more, please email mgmt@fillingstation.ca with Volunteer in the subject line.

filling Station's New Website Up & Running!

2011-03-29T09:34:00.000-07:00

filling Station's website has had a complete overhaul. We've got a new drive shaft and catalytic converter. Our thanks to the team at Structure Abstraction and to the Alberta Ministry of Culture and Community Spirit for helping us make this happen! We've got a new blog to keep you up to date on our daring dos, and all the info you've been looking for. You can purchase subscriptions and donate online, too.

Please visit www.fillingstation.ca and check it out!

Re: “Afterword: Michael Lista, On Poetry: Why Literary Magazines Should Fold”, by Michael Lista, Special to the National Post, March 26, 2011

2011-03-27T04:12:00.000-07:00

Re: “Afterword: Michael Lista, On Poetry: Why Literary Magazines Should Fold”, by Michael Lista, Special to the National Post, March 26, 2011

On March 26 2011, the National Post published an article entitled “Afterword: Michael Lista, On Poetry: Why Literary Magazines Should Fold”. In it, Lista shows us he’s done a little research about the Canadian Periodical Fund, a program which replaced the Publishing Assistance Program and the Canadian Magazine Fund (CPF) last year, redirecting funds to magazines with a circulation of more than 5,000. Most literary magazines in the country are low circulation and fall into the less than 5,000 circulation category. The article covers some facts about the CPF and the negative impact it could have on literary magazines over the next few years, and it takes care to complement those who create literary mags, characterizing them as ‘brave staff who work tirelessly and often thanklessly at their tasks’. But then Michael Lista’s article takes a turn for the unlikely. Lista’s daydreams stipulating a positive impact on Canadian literature have little basis within the realities of the literary magazine community, and each of point he makes attempting to prove a positive impact are ill-informed.

Sadly, with low circulation, small literary magazines as they are called are the magazines most, not the least, in need of government assistance compared with higher circ peer publications. Additionally, the role literary magazines fulfill in encouraging and cultivating the work of emerging writers is fundamentally important to the development of Canadian writing. If the new CPF contributes to the demise of some literary magazines, this will affect the quality of writing in the long term for those magazines that will still be supported, since a healthy proportion of articles are written by freelance writers whose primary passion is to write literary work but who pay their bills through journalism. It will negatively affect surviving lit mags, badly damage the Canadian book publishing industry, and slow down the development of Canadian literature on the whole.

First of all, why do these magazines require government support? This is because due to their smaller circulation, advertisers are not attracted. Advertising is the chief component of the success of the commercial magazine industry; that’s why even some large and long-established magazines folded during the recession when companies had to become conservative and advertise less. However, in the past the government has recognized the importance of literary magazines to the development of Canadian literature, and grants were put in place to support non-profit literary magazines. Still, they’re not flagrantly your throwing tax dollars at lit mags. Granting organizations like the Canada Council along with provincial and municipal organizations must be conservative with the money they’re given so that they can support a greater number of magazines, so many magazines’ operating grants tend to cover the bare minimum of what is required for operation.

Lista imagines that if a number of literary magazines fold, their total audience will be divided those magazines that are left, resulting in a larger audience for them. This may appear to make sense from the outside, but for those of us working (or more often, volunteering) at literary magazines, the flaw in his reasoning is immediately apparent. Within the funding schematic described above, what these magazines lack most tends to be marketing dollars. The printing bill is covered first as a priority and all else, including marketing and circulation costs, must be covered by what remains. Marketing is very expensive, meaning newspaper ads, radio, and television commercials more than a little out of reach. For this reason, beyond making the most of grassroots and social media, a common practice of literary magazines of any circulation size are ad swaps, so that someone who picks up one literary magazine can find out about other literary magazines they might enjoy. One magazine trades an ad with another magazine at no cost. Considering that, one could say that each magazine is an advertisement for all Canadian literary magazines. With fewer magazines, there is less advertising for every magazine, and that advertising will be found in fewer locations. Additionally, with fewer magazines, there will be fewer paying dues to magazine publishing associations like Magazines Canada, meaning fewer dollars with which Magazines Canada can offer the great marketing and professional development programs they offer their members. For these reasons, if some magazines die, those who survive are going to end up with smaller, not larger audiences.
This cooperative feature of the literary community leads into a rebuttal of Lista’s next point. He supposes that with fewer magazines, there will be better editors, as though all current literary magazine editors will then compete to get to work at the remaining magazines. It’s true that in the larger magazine industry, when a magazine needs an editor, job calls go out via shared channels such as Magazines Canada, which is the national magazine publisher’s association. Not so with the community of literary magazines. Literary magazines are an incredible labour of love; there is little, if any, compensation at many of them. You could advertise country-wide for a job as literary magazine editor, but who could afford to relocate in order to work for a magazine that cannot cover relocation cost, let alone salary? More often, while other staff positions experience high turnover, at the helm of each one of these magazines there is a Managing Editor or equivalent who either founded the magazine or came into it with reverence for mentors who did. That editor may manage to make a pithy living from publishing the magazine, and some magazines are associated with universities that help subsidize their activities which could include staff salaries. But many editors, if not most, do it free because they believe so strongly in it, and doing whatever else they need to in order to pay their bills, whether freelance writing or translating, instructing at the local college or university, or working odd jobs to make ends meet. It’s also difficult to get low paid or volunteer staff to do difficult and time-consuming activities that don’t fit reasonably and comfortably in the margins on their lives, so that many Managing Editors and Board members (the lines between those roles are often blurred at literary magazines) must fill any unfilled positions themselves, including marketing, circulation, digital presence management, fundraising, special events management, accounting, etc. That sort of commitment begets steadfast individuals used to putting their own time and energy needs aside for their magazine’s benefit, and given this sacrifice of themselves, such editors would be loathe not to make that sacrifice count and tend to hang on tenaciously to their positions for years, sometimes even for the life of a magazine. If there are fewer magazines, that won’t mean that the country’s best editors from all literary magazines will now get to work at those magazines. Instead, editors running the magazines that survive are most likely going to stay where they are whether or not they are relatively good or bad editors compared with others. Editors of magazines that fold due to funding cuts will likely have to find another occupation, and will probably not be very employable if they want to try and work for a commercial magazine, since many lack the formal, industry-related education of those working in that very competitive industry currently.

Lista also figures that of all the best writers would be published in the remaining literary magazines if some mags folded. This is a little bit true technically, but mostly false, and it won’t be good for emerging writers especially. More successful magazines tend to be so because they publish fewer emerging writers and more established writers. With more well-known names on their covers, those magazines sell more copies, meaning they have a little more money for advertising and for paying their writers. By publishing more recognizable names, they can afford to pay their contributors more, and established writers are savvy about who’s paying what and are more likely to send their best work to the magazines offering higher compensation (not that it ever gets very high in this industry). Their relative financial solvency isn’t simply because of higher sales figures however; studies show magazines of any size or success level only tend to be able to subsidize about 15% of their total operating budget with magazine sales. So those magazines publishing more popular writers and lyric narrative writing are getting the remaining 85% of their operating money elsewhere, and it’s suspected by more than just myself that their cash comes mainly from grantors whose peer assessment panels choose to give the greatest amount of their money to magazines with this popular (and safe) publishing mandate of publishing mainly established. In these ways, the literary magazines most likely to remain in business could be seen by some to be publishing the ‘best’ work available; but aside from subjectivity of quality and talent that counters this idea of ‘best’ in the first place (we’ll get to that soon), emerging writers need venues to have their work vetted by others and their best work encouraged by others’ choice in publishing it. After all, how did these established writers become established? They established themselves by publishing in the littlest mags first. Magazines with lower print run and lower sales figures tend to be so because they publish more emerging writers, and it’s not simply because they can’t afford to pay the more established writers, but because as writers themselves, they realize the value of cultivating writers early in their careers. Without the encouragement that comes from early publishing success, many writers would not continue writing; without the choices made by editors at small magazines, they might not catch on about which writing they do is of higher quality than other writing in order to help them determine their path forward as writers. In other words, literary magazines of all sizes have a symbiotic relationship, they’re co-dependent. Without the smallest of these small literary magazines, we wouldn’t have the writers that are getting published in the larger literary magazines. Moreover, fewer lit mags will mean fewer published writers of literature, period. Less may be more when it comes to hairspray, but not so where the number of literary magazines is concerned.

‘Best’ writers is a funny term anyway. Literature is so subjective; the tastes of editors vary across the country as they do for any reader, and the editorial bent or mandate at each magazine varies too. Publishing more original, innovative, or even experimental writing means lower sales, since this work can be a little more academic or difficult to consume compared with lyric narrative writing. The latter is a favorite genre of Canadian publishers like McClelland and Stewart along with some of the bigger small presses; being narrative, it’s a little more like fiction, and easier to consume recreationally, meaning it’s easier to amass a larger audience. But, as is suggested by the example of popular radio versus the better and more authentic independent music you can hear on public and campus stations), mainstream is not necessarily better. You hear too many of the same songs repackaged, and clichés begin to stick out like sore thumbs. (Did that one for you?). For this reason, the littlest magazines tend to offer the bravest content, and writers being truly original, attempting experiment, and taking the risk of innovating is essential to the forward progression of literature in this and any country. Without innovation in technology, we wouldn’t be able to read this article on Smartphones, iPads, or computers. If the tech industry relied on grants, and if only the most monetarily-sound technology companies of the 80s received support, we’d still be listening to cassette tapes. Moves by the Canadian government to reduce funding to the smallest of small literary magazines could result in Canadian literature getting stuck in a literary 80’s. Meanwhile, in the U.S. and elsewhere, literature will progress, adopting new writing technologies, and our narrative lyrics will begin to seem antiquated to the point of Victorian, making it hard for Canadian literature to compete. As an editor at a small magazine offering innovative content, I’m aware of the relatively small yet very loyal and avid global readership for this type of work. If the excited reaction of this audience to our publication is trustworthy, Canadian writers who experiment really are working beyond those of many other countries, pushing boundaries that others are only arriving at the borders of. Eventually, as was the case for technology, new Canadian writing could easily be what leads the way, but not if we stem its flow by putting up the one obstacle writers can’t creatively write themselves across if grants dry up -- that of preclusive financial hardship.

Add to this the detrimental effect that diminishing numbers of literary magazines will have on the small press publishing industry in Canada. It’s an industry that also struggles with financial issues; with the recession, fewer people are buying books, and thanks to other types of media with more marketing dollars competing for people’s attention, everyone knows there are fewer readers. Digital publishing is huge, but for all the hype, sales figures show it is just getting started compared with print sales and is not yet much of an additional to revenue. So these presses have their challenges, and they’ve got to publish the very best writers, continually impressing their audience in order to keep customers and build their customer base. Writers who publish in small magazines build up their skills and publication credits, and they go on to publish books with smaller publishers; those whose books sell well may move to larger publishers later on. Without the lower rungs on the ladder, it’s awfully hard to climb to the top. Additionally, lit mags are the primary source of book reviews and of advertising for small press literary titles, and reviews and advertising are essential for communicating to literary audiences why they should be consuming a particular title or author. Having fewer literary magazines in Canada will carry a very negative impact for Canada’s entire publishing industry, both in quality and variety of writing available to be published, and in the additional challenges it will pose to reaching the book buying audience.

Looking at the facts, despite Lista’s attempts at an optimistic rhetoric about magazine funding cuts benefiting Canadian literature, if we can call his rhetoric optimistic (I can’t), less literary magazines won’t be good for anyone. It will mean both fewer writers and fewer readers all around. One could probably close their eyes and come to the conclusion offered by that easy math without rebuttals from myself and others anyway. The death of lit mags could be good news for those outside the industry however, like people who just can’t wait for Sun Media’s new television station to launch, and probably sometime after that, Fox TV Canada, since holding back approval will seem pointless to the CRTC once Sun Media TV sets the bar low enough. Fewer magazines will mean less guilt about what you could have been reading to enrich yourself instead of watching the tube. After all, Stephen Harper said average Canadians don’t care about the arts, and literature falls under the arts category of course; Margaret Atwood rightly countered that average Canadians do care about the arts; they’re the ones out there creating it. But to both I say, with just one life to live, who wants to be average? So long as literature exists that stimulates our imaginations and improves our cognitive abilities, rather than deteriorating our minds and diminishing our attention spans, those Canadians who choose to read it could have a better chance at leading a more inspired, above-average life. Even if you’re not a big reader, isn’t it comforting to know literature exists if you ever wanted to turn off the TV and read it? I won’t have time in my life to read all the world’s books either, but I’m sure glad there are libraries.

Laurie Fuhr,
Managing Editor
filling Station Magazine

NO PRESS event - Nov 13 7:30 pm at Pages Books (Calgary)

2010-10-31T14:17:00.000-07:00

NO PRESS is pleased to host an evening of readings and performances in celebration of four new chapbooks.

Pages Books November 13th 7:30pm

These small, affordable, books are published in strictly limited editions and feature new and collaborative poetry by established and emerging poetic voices. The event will feature short readings by:

Oana Avasilichioaei is the 2010-2011 Markin-Flanagan writer in residence, and author of Abandon and feria: a poempark. Avasilichioaei will launch her new chapbook, SPELLES.

Natalie Simpson, is past editor of filling Station and author of Accrete or Crumble. Simpson will launch her new chapbook, SMASH SWIZZLE FIZZ.

Paul William Zits just completed his masters thesis at the University of Calgary in creative writing. His new chapbook is a poetic exploration of the language used around the Frog Lake Massacre. Zits will launch his new chapbook, MASSACRE STREET.

For more information contact Pages books or no press publisher derek beaulieu at derek@housepress.ca. derek beaulieu 2 - 733 2nd avenue nw calgary alberta canada T2N 0E4 derek@housepress.cahttp://derekbeaulieu.wordpress.com/

REMINDER: October Flywheel at Pages this Thursday Oct 7th, 7:30 pm!

2010-10-06T18:33:00.001-07:00

Join host Meghan Doraty for the October edition of Flywheel with local writers Patrick Horner, Jen Kunlire and Angela Dillon! And, making a rare Calgary appearance, Hamilton's Gary Barwin will be launching his book of poems from Coach House Books, The Porcupinity of the Stars. For more information about Gary Barwin, check out his Serif of Nottingham blog or visit www.garybarwin.com Also coming through on tour will be Antony DiNardo, reading from his new book, Alien, Correspondent (Brick Books). Check out the Open Book interview with Antony at www.brickbooks.ca

Pages Books on Kensington
1135 Kensington Road NW
Thursday, Oct 7th
7:30pm sharp

Inner Poet – filling Station's Alberta Arts Days Writing Contest!

2010-09-14T22:07:00.000-07:00

This year for Alberta Arts Days, an annual celebration of culture happening September 17-19 2010 and comprising a number of special events, filling Station Magazine presents Inner Poet, an Alberta Arts Days Writing Contest. Win prizes from Pages Books on Kensington, Freehand Books, and filling Station. Ready to tap into your inner poet? Entry is free. Email your one to three page poem during Alberta Arts Days (between September 17th and 19th) to mgmt@fillingstation.ca Deadline is 11:59 pm on Sunday September 19th. Please put Inner Poet in the subject line. In the body of your email, include the title of your piece, your email address, and your mailing address. Attach your poem as Word document. Do not include name or contact info in the Word document, only in the body of your email. Contest open only to residents of Alberta. Good luck!

So now it's begun.. the inevitable gathering - of courage, of fear, of missing archival copies.

2010-07-26T20:29:00.000-07:00

Dear Station Attendants,

I've kept myself so busy these past few years that I haven't been much of a blogger. In fact, I haven't done a lot of writing either. A filling Station editorship, a couple or three bands (Ross Priddle likes to tease me that there are 8 or 10), a marriage, a subsequent failed marriage (but one less band out of it, at least), and a stream of undesirable day jobs (mostly administrative work), along with a healthy (or unhealthy) fear of the passage of time and eventual death, have kept me almost constantly occupied, frantic to fit as much as possible into my busy day. But right now, with the summer partied out of me over 2 folk festivals and a rockabilly mini-tour, with a summer storm pushing itself away off the roof of the house like a swimmer - I need to stop mid-air. I need grounding. For some reason unknown, I feel the need to explain.

Despite the neglect of my own writing in recent years (aside from songs which somehow occasionally still beat their way out of me on a strong bassline), I feel like a part of the thrumming inner workings of Canadian letters. Every time I write an advertising piece or a grant, I sell filling Station to myself once again in the process, reminded about why it's important to keep this magazine going, to try to improve it. It is the only literary magazine in Canada that provides a consistent outlet for alternative literature. Other magazines sometimes include it for flavour, but we like the taste of it, all the time -- because we believe that's how new writing happens. Truly original words come from taking measures to try to get to them, sometimes risky, drastic measures, not from waiting for them to come to you. Like other words, they need encouragement, someone to say yes, you’re strange, and different, and that is completely worthwhile. Just like an artist is different from the other kids, filling Station writers tend to be artists different even from other artists. I really feel like they need us, and that therefore, this magazine plays a vital role for these emerging writers. Yes, we publish established authors too, but that's because we love to juxtapose them with emerging writers, starting an artistic dialogue between them that can also carry on off of the page. Each benefits from a relationship with the other, just as any student benefits from a supportive teacher or mentor. And, we are an 100% volunteer-run, non-profit literary magazine – there could be others in Canada that are run the way we are, by truly Collective decision-making, but if there are I don’t know about them.

And so, I go about my busy days of paper-pushing contract gruntwork perpetually stoked to be part of filling Station, a secret literati in secretary's clothing swilling back coffee meant to keep truckers awake, ready to defend fS's glossy perimeters from any attacker, be it ninja, zombie, or other variety of asshole. Despite disappointments such as fundraisers that sometimes haven’t raised funds, or promising Collective members who suddenly get more interested in bar culture and other 'normal' activities than writing and disappear, or one more longtime subscriber who decides they really spend more time watching cable, anyway, and don't re-subscribe, I feel very palpably the potential for filling Station to grow so that more good things can happen -- payment for writers, colour interiors to better display visual work, a bigger annual festival, an office where Collective members can not only come to work on filling Station, but to work on their own writing when they need a place to go, an amazing new website, a network of reading series -- there are a lot of changes that could come "with just a little more money, and a little more time", as one of our designer James' rootsy songs goes.

Success with grants last year has definitely fueled my imagination too. My very first grant cycle as Managing Editor, I was full of worry. I didn't want to crib heavily from previous grant applications that seemed to use the same language and logic since the beginning of the magazine, but I didn't want to lose our grants. Also, I have a bit of an inferiority complex at times for all my cheeriness -- I might be the least formally educated of Managing Editors so far, having had to quit my English degree partway through for a number of reasons including being broke/hungry/lonely in Ottawa, and a severe illness in the family which brought me back to Cold Lake, and after a couple of years of Northern Alberta quirkiness and hell, to Calgary. I feel I have absorbed a lot of learning from my own reading and by association with filling Stationers over the years, but there’s something in me left from Byward Market street busker days of hardening living and addict boyfriend betrayals that seems to crust the edges of certain turns of phrase so that I can’t quite trust my tongue or my pen when I’m worked up. Were my applications professional enough?

Luckily, my fears were quieted by the rustle of grant letters rolling in for 2009, telling me that the Canada Council, Alberta Foundation for the Arts, and Calgary Arts Development thought we were worth more dollars, too. We hired a new magazine designer, reconsidered our production materials, looked at the possibility of other printers, and found a new web design company. We held our annual Blow-Out Festival at both Pages Bookstore and the beautiful Arrata Opera Centre, a converted cathedral. In 2009, our 5^th annual Blow-Out, there were 7 events over 3 days including an Art Show & Sale, a Small Press Book & Arts Fair, and two Exploding Concerts, along with two big reading-performances that incorporated members of the theatre community. Our Collective membership grew as our outreach activities attracted more new faces to our fold, that delightful notched crease our printer puts on the spine of each issue. We learned the value of piggybacking on other events, and did so whenever we could -- at the High Performance Rodeo, Calgary Folk Music Festival, Banff-Calgary International Writer’s Festival, and, this year, at Sled Island including bands Woodpigeon and Savk.

Things can only get better - why shouldn't they?, is an easy inner mantra I try to pass on to the fS Collective members, some 15-25 hopeful writers (depending on the meeting) and U of C English students who choose the poetry and fiction that makes filling Station happen. I don’t really understand my enduring hope at times, as many shitty things have happened in my life – I honestly think it comes from having had a pretty damn happy childhood up to age 10 or so. If you can keep the happy going in your kids’ lives til that point, I think it gives them a lot versus the world. Anyway, there's so much cynicism out there, and a decent number of opportunities to accumulate it as a writer, as writing is rejected by publications, and manuscripts are rejected at publishers in turn, not necessarily due to quality of writing at all but because there are simply a limited number of magazines and publishers with a limited amount of funding. If a writer is an example for a type of person in the world, being that the world is so packed with people that one person can be considered a cross-section, then no matter what you’re writing, there’s an audience out there for it. But publishing isn’t always easy, for sure.

I remember meeting an elderly writer - a hero of a hero of mine - who, in the first few sentences of a conversation with him after his reading in Ottawa at SAW Gallery, told me in all bitterness and seriousness to stop being a writer if I can. I didn't believe him, but I definitely resented his trying to quell me, a 17 year old determined to write my best and publish my first book before I'm 30, as old as rob was at the time. Now I'm 31 and I still don't believe you, dear Mr. Beissel. In fact, I still can't quite believe you meant it, you seemed so sweet, and wrote so well.. I wonder if you're still alive. One thing's for sure, I never want to be telling younger writers not to try. So, with an almost disgusting faith which I can only hope is more contagious than annoying, I do my best to manage filling Station.

Here I am now, writing you from the home office, a modest place I'm grateful for. First time in my life I've had a place without a ton of roommates, aside from Mom & Dad's. Having inherited the filling Station archive (to Issue 33), overstuffed into a filing box under the window, Issues 34-47 on a nearby bookshelf. Issues As grant letters are stuffed into envelope headed to Box 22135, the one we've had for 17 years over at Banker's Hall, my heart palpitates uncomfortably, my head echoing the words of last year.. "Funding cuts coming.." "Canadian Periodical Fund could be just the beginning.." "Harper says the average Canadian doesn't care about the arts.." “Maggie says he’s full of shit..” (at least one voice in my head about all that is saying something positive – thank you for that glorious Globe & Mail article, Ms. Atwood). It’s hard to know what to do with this mixture of nervous energies. The filebox under the window seems to vibrate, maybe with distant thunder I can’t hear, or maybe for another reason.

filling Station will have published 50 issues by the end of 2010, and has been publishing for 15 years. This has been a tag line, a point of pride I've added to the fS Managing Editor's email signature. Behind it are so many stories, many more than I know right now. I'm interested in those stories, and have now, tonight, begun reading the entirety of the filling Station archive. While my friends challenge themselves to read 95 Books on Tumblr, I challenge myself to read all of the books that come into filling Station – the ones that aren’t scooped up by the Collective before I get through them, that is. (Right now – Glimpse by George Murray). And I will add to that this archive – except for 9, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 38.. these are sadly missing from the archive I’ve inherited. If you’ve got one of these issues, please get in touch. There’s a complete collection at Simon Fraser U, I’ve heard.. anyone good at B&E’s? (Not serious! Please put down that crowbar).

Reading the archive is also a sort of reconstruction for me of the Calgary of many of my filling Station friends, one they’ve known much longer. Tonight I read Issues 1-4 and noted a number of random things:

Random Notes

The first issue features an editorial written by the Collective as a whole, explaining why it’s called filling Station. My personal favorite answer is, “We’re a literary dialysis machine on wheels, a big honkin kidney passin stones at the side of the road.”

Issue 1 mentions that someone named Kevin first thought of the name filling Station. (Kevin who?)

Anita Rau Badami, Roberta Rees, and M.A. Laberge read at the first filling Station fundraiser.

The first filling Stations had no funding as was supported by local advertisers.

Calgary bookstores mentioned that may longer exist: The Book Company, Books n’ Books, A&B Sound Bookstore (seriously!), Doctor Hook’s Used Tapes & Books, Book & Cranny Quality Used Books, A Woman’s Place

Cafes and bars mentioned that also may no longer exist: Max’s Café and Bar (home of weekly meetings according to Issue 1), The Elephant’s Knee (where the first reading series was held)

Bios in Issue 1 were mostly 1 sentence long, except Ashok Mathur, who was just too damn prolific.

Roberta Rees was U of C Writer in Residence when Issue 2 was out.

Issue 3 included a surreal postcard (just a cut out on one of the back pages) by Rylymo Afosed referencing Gordon Lightfoot.

While my Collective emphatically told me last year that ‘Poets don’t wear t-shirts’, they were for sale in the very first issue for $15. By Issue 2, they included the caveat (X-L only) – probably having sold out of the other sizes! A-ha, I knew it.

The Issue 2 editorial was co-written by Theresa Smalec and jacqueline turner.

Issue 4 begins with an elegy for Rob Brander, founding editor of filling Station, written by Blaine Kyllo.

The revelation of that last note moved me among the rest of the happy surprises being discovered. The very first filling Station Managing Editor, the fellow whose work we are continuing some 15 years later, is not around because he passed away. There aren’t a lot of the old guard in town dating back as many years as Issue 1, although Marilyn Heinen is featured in the first two issues, someone I see at the Ship n’ Anchor most Saturdays. And I ran across Russ Rickey (r rickey) over the phone when I had to find out who owned the filling Station Domain Name in order to renew a couple years ago, and called the number the web hosting company had for him. Seemed to me he had just had a baby. But I always wondered where Rob Brander went to, this name I found here and there scrawled on old paperwork.

Now I feel some of the spirit behind filling Station that was his has carried forward through this blind faith I and other Collective members feel in the importance, the goodness, of what filling Station has to offer, up against all cynicism and other odds. Maybe it’s something like the feeling that filled him when he started filling Station, when he did what can be so hard to do as a catalyst, but so thrilling when you’re caught up in that energy – when you ‘catch religion’ as Karen Ball said the other day, no biblical context necessary. Rob motivated people to believe in something only he could see until together, they could make it concrete and see it together. I’m not someone able to believe in life after death, but I do believe in life after life.. that your life, when it leaves you, can leave a lasting impression on the living. Rob, I thank you for this gift to all of us, the readers, writers, and Collective members of the past-present-future. I will be honoured to dedicate Issue 50 to you. And hopefully one day, Issue 100 (so help me Harper).

filling Station seeks Blow-Out Venue in exchange for Ad Package!

2010-07-09T13:12:00.000-07:00

If you have a central venue with a Friday and Saturday free in November, filling Station would like to trade you an amazing ad package for your organization! If you think you can help, please get in touch with Laurie at mgmt@fillingstation.ca

filling Station’s Flywheel, Dandelion Magazine, and Single Onion Present POETRY OCEAN at Sled Island! July 1, Arrata Opera Centre

2010-06-29T17:53:00.000-07:00

filling Station’s Flywheel, Dandelion Magazine, and Single Onion present

POETRY OCEAN
at Sled Island!

Thursday July 1st 2010
Arrata Opera Centre
1315 7 Street SW

Time: Doors at 8:30, Music at 9:30, Poetry at 10:30

Poetry by Natalie Simpson & Rael Bischoff (filling Station's Flywheel), Claire Lacey & ryan fitzpatrick (Dandelion), Francis Willey & Tiana Hunter (Single Onion)

Music by Woodpigeon, Christine Owman, and Savk

Tickets:
Poetry Ocean is presented as part of the Sled Island Music Festival.
Sled Island wristbands are available at www.sledisland.com. Tickets will also be available at the door for $15.

Magazines and CDs will also be available for purchase.

Proceeds from bar sales raise funds for these 3 wonderful non-profit literary organizations.

*Please note that there is no cash machine on site. Machines are nearby on 17th Avenue.*

Don't miss the Poetry Ocean teaser TONIGHT - Tuesday, June 29th 8-9pm, part of

*Writer's Block*, CJSW's weekly foray into literature. Join radio hosts Paul Kennett
and Stephanie Weidmann for a special preview of some of our Sled Island
readers. CJSW: Calgary's independent radio - 90.9 fm or
http://www.cjsw.com/index.html.

For more information about filling Station Magazine, please visit www.fillingstation.ca
For more information about Dandelion Magazine, please visit www.dandelionmag.ca
For more information about Single Onion, please visit http://thesingleonion.blogspot.com/

For media inquiries or to speak to someone about this exciting event, please contact Laurie Fuhr, Event Manager
403-999-2566 mgmt@fillingstation.ca

Please help spread the word!

filling Station seeks reviewers

2010-06-05T12:48:00.001-07:00

filling Station seeks reviewers for upcoming issues. You don't have to live in Calgary to taste test delicious books for fS (but if you do, that's great too!). Email mgmt@fillingstation.ca to find out more.

Free Exchange Fundraiser!

2010-02-03T17:32:00.001-08:00

Join us for a FREE PARTY in support of the UofC English grad. students'
Free Exchange Conference!

Live Music by the Ogden Owls
DJs Chris B & Arlen

Saturday February 13th @ 8pm
Hillhurst Sunnyside Community Centre
1320 5th Avenue NW
Walking distance from Sunnyside Train Station

$4.00 Beer & Wine
donations welcome at the door

Join the Facebook event & help us spread the word:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=281549791777&ref=ts

Free Exchange is an annual graduate student conference organized entirely
by graduate students at the University of Calgary Department of English.
Founded more than fifteen years ago, it has grown to attract participants
from across Canada, the United States, and elsewhere in the world. Due to
the current economic climate, it has become the responsibility of students
to raise much of the funds necessary for hosting Free Exchange. If you are
interested in supporting this conference, but are unable to attend our
fundraiser party, please feel free to contact conference organizers Carmen
Derkson and Colin Martin at freeex@ucalgary.ca. Visit
http://english.ucalgary.ca/FreeExchange for more details.

Stephanie Davis
MA Student
Department of English
University of Calgary

Letter to the Editor FFWD Aug 6 2009 - "Mass Artistic Exodus?"

2009-08-10T18:05:00.001-07:00

Re: 'Mass Artistic Exodus?' by Julie Bevan and Anthea Black, Fast Forward, Thursday August 6 2009

Great article, but I'm hoping to correct one important fact. The article states, "Currently, no national arts magazines are published here at home." What about filling Station?

A non-profit, volunteer-run magazine published here in Calgary with national distribution, we began in 1994 as a literary magazine. Since 2006, we have become a literary & arts magazine publishing Fine Art in our pages. (One of our Fine Arts editors has even been Travis Murphy, one of those interviewed for your article!). Our current Fine Arts editor is Debble.lee Miszaniec, an ACAD graduate and practicing Calgary artist. Our most recent issue, #45, brought Calgary artists Scott Rogers, INgjerd Jentoft Karlsen (stet), Koren Scott, and June Hills to the nation via indie bookstores and subscribers, and our next issue features Calgary's amazing Meags Fitzgerald. In July, filling Station added two artist events to its 5th Annual Blow-Out Festival -- a Show & Sale (curated by local artist Janet Biagioni) and a Small Press & Arts Fair. Soon, our new website will allow us to show our artists' work in full colour beginning with the next issue.

Please don't forget about us - we're here for you Calgary! Always openly accepting submissions and looking for volunteers. See www.fillingstation.ca for guidelines. Travis & Anne, old friends, we're sad to see you go and wish you well. But you're gonna miss out on a revival at home!

Laurie Fuhr, Managing Editor

filling Station

Overview of the Scene for Ricardo from the Tubby Dog Line-Up

2009-07-07T12:55:00.000-07:00

Backstory: After the last night of our 5th Annual Calgary Blow-Out, which was fairly well-attended in spite of the rain, our collective stomach was growling. Clinton St. John and his band (whose multi-media & music performance was completely mind-blowing!) loaded out their gear and ryan, Paul, Morley, Fonda and I finished locking up Arrata and turning off lights, we led the charge to Tubby Dog. We missed Chris Ewart goofing and doing really accurate impressions like last year, but the tube steaks didn't lose their greasy flavour, all topped with chips, wasabi, jelly, and what have you.

In the lineup before we got our hands dirty, I pressed the flesh with one Ricardo, who said he was new to town and wanted to know about the Calgary literary community. He dropped me an email today and I thought I would share my answer in case it comes in handy to the rest of you.

Hi Ricardo! So nice to hear from you. Did you end up having the A-Bomb or the Sumo Dog? How satisfying tubed meat can be at 2:00 a.m. after a literary festival!

In Calgary, there are several community groups that come out of magazines or reading series. These groups overlap occasionally; filling Station attempts to bring them together whenever we can.

Umbrella Organizations:

Small Press Action Network Calgary (SPANC): This is a recently formed group of individuals who put on literary events in Calgary. Events are posted by members of many of the groups below. If you look up the Google Group of the same name, you can sign up to receive an email Digest each day with literary events listed. (It's a bit slow right now but it will grow over time). SPANC is also responsible for the Independent Press & Arts Fair held each year as part of the filling Station Blow-Out festival.

Magazines:

The following are publications that attempt to be innovative & cutting edge, and tend to have members between 18-40 mostly:

- filling Station: A locally created, nationally-distributed literary & arts magazine. We are non-profit and run by an ever-evolving volunteer Collective. We have meetings, launch events, the annual Blow-Out festival, and occasionally sponsor / host out of town readers.

- NoD (pronounced Node) is produced by University of Calgary literary students. They have launch parties at various locations.

- dANDelion (Dandelion's a great little pub but unfortunately they don't have much community involvement).

- Freefall is a magazine produced out of the Alexandra Writer's Centre; it is a more traditional journal focussing mainly on lyric poetry and their target audience seems to be a bit older, say 45-70. Same goes for the Alexandra Centre itself.

Groups / Reading Series:

- Flywheel: This is the filling Station reading series, presented at Pages Books on Kensington every first Thursday of the month. Contact Ian Sampson at iansampson@shaw.ca or Stephanie Davis at stephanielisdavis@gmail.com Free event. filling Station also runs the annual Calgary Blow-Out festival. We are always looking for volunteers for both the magazine and our events. To volunteer, contact me (Laurie) via meditor.fs@gmail.com

- Single Onion: a mix of young & old folks. They present local readers and also bring readers in from out of town with a Canada
Council arts grant. They run the third Thursday of each month at The Marquee Room, 7:30 pm. Contact David Martin at davidmartin_62@hotmail.com Free event.

- Passion Pitch Poetry: Run by a fellow named Kirk Ramdath, this happens at Weeds Cafe in Citadel on the 2nd Wednesday of the month I think). Contact kirkramdath@yahoo.ca Free event.

- Red Mile Revenge: Happens at your favorite spot - Tubby Dog, the first Tuesday of each month. This is exclusively an Open Mic. They usually announce a theme to follow. Contact Selina Clary, seclary@gmail.com Free event.

- Calgary SLAM! and the Calgary International Spoken Word Festival (CISWF): These are run by Sheri-D Wilson and her assistant Caroline Szpak along with other volunteers and members of the Calgary Slam! team. Slams happen variously; the festival is once per year and there are volunteer opportunities. Contact Sheri-D at sheridwilson@ciswf.com or Caroline at caro@ciswf.com There is usually a small cover charge for Slams that goes towards supporting the Slam team as they travel around Canada competing. The CISWF has a mixture of free and ticketed events.

- South Country Fair: The Lotos Land Tent is a poetry tent at this mostly-music festival run by Single Onion and their Lethbridge counterpart, Most Vocal. Contact Dale Herrington at daherrington1@hotmail.com or Lori D. Roadhouse at r4m@shaw.ca

- Calgary Folk Music Festival: filling Station will be running a Poetry Tent at the festival for the first time this year! Happens July 23 to 26 in 2009. Contact Laurie at meditor.fs@gmail.com (Though I don't have further information at this time).

- Wordfest: Happens each October in Calgary & Banff, featuring a plethora of writers of all genres from all over the world. Contact info@wordfest.com

- Calgary Writers' Group: Run by writer Alison Bracegirdle, the group meets the first Tuesday of each month at the Auburn (in the base of Calgary Tower) where writers discuss their work, their projects, and share writing. Contact Alison at alisonbracegirdle@gmail.com

- Magpie Haiku: A group of poets who write haiku. Contact Joanne Morcom via the form on her website, http://www.joannemorcom.com/home.html
- Drunken Poets: Meet every night at the Ship & Anchor pub. Some folks from Single Onion and random drop ins. People bring books and read aloud or talk about poetry over pints. Contact Kirk Miles at kmiles@nucleus.com

This provides a bit of a cross-section of the community, and there is likely something I've missed.. but this should give you a good start!

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to get in touch.

Best,
Laurie

Exploding Contest! Tune in to CJSW 90.9 on Thurs June 25 from 6-7 pm to win!

2009-06-23T19:08:00.000-07:00

*NEWS*Updated June 23 09

Blow-Out Exploding Contest!

How deep are you? How low can you go?

You could perform alongside Clinton St. John (The Cape May, Pale Air Singers) with his band on one of his songs during his Saturday July 4th Exploding Concert performance, plus take home two Full Passes to Blow-Out, a subscription to filling Station Magazine, and a Clinton St. John CD!

For your chance to win, tune into CJSW 90.9 FM’s Writer's Block this Thursday, June 25th from 6 to 7 pm! Call in to the studio at (403) 220-3991 and read two lines of poetry in your deepest voice, and hosts Stephanie Weidmann & Paul Kennett (plus a special guest or two) will decide who's the deepest!

More about Writer's Block:

CJSW's weekly foray into literature just got a lot more local! New co-host Paul Kennett will join regular host Stephanie Weidmann to create a revamped literary program, focused on local events, writers, poets, publishers, while keeping an eye on the bigger literary picture across the country and around the world! Be sure to tune in to Writer's Block, 6-7pm Thursday evenings, you won't be disappointed!

Announcing The 5th Annual Calgary Blow-Out! July 2-4 2009

2009-06-09T17:09:00.001-07:00

Filling Station Magazine, NoD Magazine & CJSW present

The 5th Annual
CALGARY
BLOW-OUT!

7 Events Over 3 Days!
Thursday July 2 to Saturday July 4

This dangerously explosive festival, benefit, and launch for Filling Station Magazine and NoD Magazine once again puts the spotlight on Calgary’s innovative writing & arts community with
7 exciting events featuring readings, performances, concerts, art, film, and more!

TICKETS: $5 per Performance Event, $8 per Exploding Concert, or $20 Festival Pass. Available Now at Megatunes, Pages Books on Kensington, and Sloth Records!

BLOW-OUT SCHEDULE 2009

Event A: Flywheel Throwdown & NoD Magazine Launch!
Thursday July 2, 7:00 PM, FREE
Pages Books on Kensington
1135 Kensington Road N.W.
(PLEASE NOTE EARLIER TIME!)
Performers: Eva Gonzalez, Kye Kocher, John Creary, Andrew Barbero, Stephanie Davis,
Lesley Battler, Dale Herrington, Kim Tan MacNeal,
Jani Krulc (Guest Artist! Montreal)
Hosts: Ian Sampson & Ian Kinney

*
Event B: The Show Ain’t Over Performance Event
& Filling Station Issue 45 Launch
Friday July 3, 7:30 PM, $5
Arrata Opera Centre1315 - 7 Street SW
A fast-paced night of poetry, fiction, film, and performance!
Performers: Ian Kinney, Samantha Warwick, Helen Hajnoczky, Paul Kennett, Eric
Moschopedis & Samuel Garrigó Meza, Nikki Reimer (Guest Artist – Vancouver)
Host: Andrew Wedderburn

*
Event C: Exploding Concert!
Friday July 3, 9:30 PM, $8
Arrata Opera Centre1315 - 7 Street SW
Bands: The Beija Flor with Dolly Sillito

*
Event D: Independent Press & Arts Fair
Saturday July 4, 10:00 A.M. to 3:00 PM, FREE
Arrata Opera Centre1315 - 7 Street SW
Participants: Small pressers and artists hawk handmade books, glossy mags, zines, broadsides, CDs, art objets, handicrafts, and other enticing you-name-its.

*
Event E: Blow-Out Art Show & Sale
Ongoing throughout the Festival
Reception: Saturday July 4, 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM, FREE
Arrata Opera Centre1315 - 7 Street SW
Participants: Challenged to find new ways to present their work in Arrata’s no-nails heritage space, local artists show both art and ingenuity!
Music by: Kaley Kinjo

*
Event F: Til the Fat Lady Sings Performance Event
Saturday July 4, 7:30 PM, $5
Arrata Opera Centre1315 - 7 Street SW
An exciting mix of fiction, poetry, film, and theatre!
Performers: Colin Martin, W. Mark Giles, Ian Samuels, Swallow a Bicycle,
Jon Paul Fiorentino (Guest Artist - Montreal)
Host: Jen Kunlire

*
Event G: Exploding Concert!
Saturday, July 4, 9:30 PM, $8
Arrata Opera Centre1315 - 7 Street SW
Bands: Clinton St. John with The Ogden Owls

***
CONTACT: Laurie Fuhr, Managing Editor, Filling Station Magazine 403.999.2566 blowout.fs@gmail.com

ABOUT BLOW-OUT & FILLING STATION MAGAZINE: Since 1996, Filling Station Magazine has been an innovative locally-based non-profit literary and arts magazine with national distribution. Blow-Out started in 2004 to celebrate the diverse literary and arts talent in Calgary.

SPONSORS: Filling Station gratefully acknowledges ALBERTA FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS, ARRATA OPERA CENTRE, CALGARY ARTS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, CANADA COUNCIL FOR THE ARTS, CJSW RADIO, LUCID DESIGNS, NoD MAGAZINE, PAGES BOOKS ON KENSINGTON, PK SOUND, STEAMWHISTLE, & all our volunteers!

Two June Events Presented by Filling Station!

2009-06-05T16:11:00.001-07:00

Talonbooks Launch!

Date: June 9 2009
Time: 7:30 PM
Venue: Pages Books on Kensington
1135 Kensington Rd NW, Calgary
Cost: Free
Presented by Filling Station

Join us for an evening of readings, conversation, and wine at Pages bookstore on Kensington! Talonbooks is pleased to be launching Adeena Karasick’s provocative and visually arresting book of verse, Amuse Bouche; griddle talk, a compilation of engaging brunch conversations between poet bill bissett and author Carol Malyon, plus bill's latest book of poetry, sublingual; a series of captivating poems, gifts, by rob mclennan; and collection of new short stories by Garry Thomas Morse, Death in Vancouver.

-

Pookapalooza! Pooka Press celebrates 15 years!

Date: June 15
Venue: Pages Books on Kensington
1135 Kensington Road N.W.
Time: 7:30 sharp
Cost: Reading is free and open to the public
Presented by Filling Station

Featuring readings from Shannon Rayne, ryan fitzpatrick, Laurie Fuhr (launching night flying), and Pooka Press publisher Warren Dean Fulton.

filling Station magazine is proud to host a celebration of the 15th anniversary of Vancouver/Ottawa’s own Pooka Press. Publisher Warren Dean Fulton will be in Calgary to help us toast one of Canada’s most vital micropresses.
Since 1994, Pooka Press has published stellar poetry from many Canadian writers, both established and emerging, including such luminaries as George Bowering, Susan Musgrave, and bill bissett. We hope you will join us for an evening of literary excitement and fun!

--

Filling Station Blow-Out Seeks Volunteers! July 2-4 2009

2009-06-02T17:06:00.000-07:00

Filling Station Blow-Out Seeks Volunteers! July 2-4 2009

Volunteers are needed for Filling Station Magazine’s 5th Annual Blow-Out, July 2nd to 4th 2009. Held at Pages Books on Kensington and Arrata Opera Centre, this year’s festival is bigger than ever featuring 7 events: 3 performance events, an Independent Press & Arts Fair, The Blow-Out Art Show & Sale, and 2 Exploding Concerts.

If you would like to participate as a volunteer, or for more information about Filling Station Magazine or the incredible Blow-Out festival, please email Laurie via blowout.fs@gmail.com or call 403-999-2566

Thanks!
Filling Station

2 Calls to Artists: Filling Station Blow Out fest 09

2009-05-26T20:55:00.000-07:00

2 CALLS to ARTISTS

The Filling Station Independent Press & Arts Fair
AND The Filling Station Blow-Out Art Show & Sale

Summary of Two Calls:

Filling Station Magazine, an innovative literary & arts magazine based in Calgary, invites artists to submit to our first annual Filling Station Blow-Out Art Show, curated by multidisciplinary artist, ACAD grad, and Lucid Designs founder Janet Biagioni. We are also inviting the participation of small press publishers and artists alike in our Independent Press & Arts Fair!

About the Independent Press & Arts Fair:

The Independent Press & Arts Fair will take place from 10-4 pm on Saturday July 4 2009. Tables are just $20, or $10 with the donation of a prize to our Silent Auction. To differentiate the Fair from the Art Show, we would especially like to accommodate artists producing art objects rather than strictly visual work. If you would be interested in purchasing a table, please reply to Managing Editor Laurie Fuhr via meditor.fs@gmail.com Laurie can also be reached by cell phone at 403-999-2566. Space at the Fair will fill up fast, so we hope to hear from you soon!

About the Blow Out Art Show & Sale:

Due to restrictions for hanging art in Arrata Centre (a heritage building), we challenge artists to find new and interesting means of displaying their art for this show. For visual artists, items can be affixed with wall-friendly materials like white Uhu tack, displayed using traditional free-standing options like easels or stand frames, or use can be made of unexpected solutions like laundry drying racks, planters, bicycles, etc. Visual and sculpture artists may both submit image files or queries via email to curator Janet Biagioni janet@luciddesigns.ca for the Blow-Out Art Show. To mirror the content of our innovative and original magazine, innovative and original submissions are preferred. Artists are encouraged to provide an artist statement including a means for potential customers to reach you if your work is for sale, and pricing for sale work. Artists may set up their work on Thursday July 2 from 6-10 pm or on Friday July 3 from 6-7 pm. Art will be on display on July 3 and 4 during other events of the Blow Out (2 reading & performance events, a concert, and a DJ night), and a reception will take place from 12-4 on Saturday July 4 including music and refreshments.

Where it’s all Happening:

These events takes place in the heart of downtown Calgary in the beautiful Arrata Opera Centre, a converted cathedral. Just steps from 17th Avenue, we not only get visitors who have heard about our Fair in the media, but also visitors who have been drawn down the street thanks to advertisements along 17th Avenue on the day of the event.

About Filling Station Magazine & The Blow Out:

Filling Station Magazine is an innovative Calgary literary & arts magazine with national distribution. We are a Non-Profit Society registered with the Government of Alberta. This year, Filling Station Magazine’s 5th Annual Blow-Out will take place on July 2 at Pages, and July 3-4 at the Arrata Opera Centre. The Filling Station Blow Out is a festival which celebrates established and upcoming local writers, and also includes performance artists, visual artists, independent music, and Calgary's only Independent Press & Arts Fair. Unlike other local festivals, Blow Out puts clear emphasis on our Calgary literary community and plays a key role in energizing its members. The event also serves as Filling Station Magazine’s most crucial annual fundraiser.

For More Info:

Our website is currently under construction, so please keep an eye on our Blogspot at http://calgaryblowout.blogspot.com/

Pookapalooza! Pooka Press celebrates 15 years!

2009-05-26T17:00:00.000-07:00

filling Station magazine is proud to host a celebration of the 15th anniversary of Vancouver/Ottawa’s own Pooka Press. Publisher Warren Dean Fulton will be in Calgary to help us toast one of Canada’s most vital micropresses.

Since 1994, Pooka Press has published stellar poetry from many Canadian writers, both established and emerging, including such luminaries as George Bowering, Susan Musgrave, and bill bissett.

We hope you will join us for an evening of literary excitement and fun!

Featuring readings from:

Shannon Rayne
ryan fitzpatrick
Laurie Fuhr (launching her Pooka Press chapbook “night flying: cold lake poems”)
and Pooka Press publisher Warren Dean Fulton

Monday, June 15
Pages Books on Kensington
1135 Kensington Road N.W.
7:30 sharp

Reading is free and open to the public

rob mclennan's blog, Fast Forward Magazine, Geist appreciation, & other news!

2009-04-16T17:19:00.001-07:00

rob mclennan's blog

Thanks to rob for a really nice write-up about Filling Station Issue #44!

http://www.robmclennan.blogspot.com/

45 is almost live

For Issue 45, Poetry Editor Helen Hajnoczky is now fully installed. Our faithful designer Andy Kennett is back, and will now be trading design duties every other issue with James Dangerous.

See what else James is up to at:

www.jamesdangerous.com

The 'M' Word

We have a bright new Marketing team led by sweet Mary Gelinas, so we're hoping with Mary's help, Filling Station will soon be something that more folks have heard of. Have any desire to help us design a cool shirt or business cards? Want to place an ad in Filling Station? Feel free to get in touch with Mary.
Also, if you're not a subscriber, you're going to miss out on some really great writ!
Subscriptions are relatively painless. $22 for 3 Issues or $48 for 6.
Mary can hook you up:

marketingdir.fs@gmail.com

Geist = hope

Stephen Osbourne from Geist was very inspiring at a recent Alberta Magazines Conference with his Subsidy Management Model; he makes a really good case for means to save ourselves vs. potential loss of funding through changing government grant criteria. Basically, it means put your reservations aside and go after a little bit of the right kind of advertising, a little bit of fundraising at your events, a little bit of merchandising. If you do it right, it doesn't mean you're selling out - it means you're not going to die if you lose one means of paying your bills because you'll have other means too. Look to contra as a valid means of doing business, such as giving a business adspace for the donation of venue space for a fundraiser, there's a good one. Also, don't just be a magazine, be an expert in your field, and why not put together some workshops and get more people writing in your community? You'll be building your audience anyway. Stephen has an incredible brain in his noggin and I thank him for sharing his insight rather than hording it. Plenty to be found in the Geist Writer's Toolbox:

http://www.geist.com/toolbox

And what a damn beautiful magazine they make. Look for their new format out soon.

While you're at it, check out this awesome Geist profile on Filling Station alumni ryan fitzpatrick & Natalie Zina Walschots venerable brainchild! It's going to be a work of art and it'll hopefully make a really good point to those who ought to listen.

http://www.geist.com/news/stephen-harper-literary-arts-journal

Filling Station goes Fast Forward

Fast Forward Magazine in Calgary recently covered the funding issue and gave me a little interview grilling of an early Tuesday morning pre-coffee, I think I did okay. It was a bit of a bad face day though. Damn you Jon Paul for your sexy Hour mag photo! Anyway, please see:

http://www.ffwdweekly.com/article/arts/books/literary-mags-concerned-over-proposed-funding-changes-3522/

Blow Out: July 2-4 2009!

Now, are there any long-lost Calgarian writers or writers with Calgary connections that I don't know about, newish as I am on this scene compared to some, who may like to come read during our Blow-Out this year (July 2-4)?. Or Calgarian writers for that matter who would like to come out of the woodwork and see about a reading at Flywheel? Drop me a line about Blow-Out:

meditor.fs@gmail.com

Or chat up Ian Sampson about Flywheel:

iansampson@shaw.ca

And by the way, send us your submissions for our May 1 2009 deadline! That'll be Issue 46. Issue 45 is under wraps and going to print real soon.
Issue 44 is on newsstands..

Sticky love,

Laurie Fuhr
Managing Editor

Filling Station Seeks New Webmaster

2009-04-08T16:17:00.001-07:00

The Search is On

Do you love design? Can you make a website look cooler than all the other websites? Do you live in Calgary? Want to add impressive design experience to your resume and show your love for great lit?

Filling Station Magazine is actively seeking a new web designer and webmaster to help take us into the digital age.

Drop Filling Station a line via meditor.fs@gmail.com and you could help Filling Station Magazine's website get as hip as our magazine!

Laurie Fuhr, Managing Editor

STEPHEN HARPER: a journal of the literary arts

2009-03-24T18:16:00.001-07:00

Announcing the formation of a new Canadian literary magazine!

STEPHEN HARPER: a journal of the literary arts

Dedicated to the publication of Canadian literary talent, STEPHEN
HARPER is looking for said talent to bombard our inbox with your best
writing. We are looking for submissions from across Canada in both
official languages.

Submissions should be made via email to
stephen.harper.literary.concern@gmail.com. Submissions should remain
under 1 page as budget constraints are also size restraints. Deadline
is as soon as possible! We will start reading as soon as submissions
start rolling in!

We look forward to reading your submissions!

ryan fitzpatrick & Natalie Zina Walschots
STEPHEN HARPER Managing Editors

About STEPHEN HARPER:

STEPHEN HARPER was started as the first magazine under new funding
guidelines made by the Canadian Periodical Fund. We believe that the
best response to these new guidelines is to try to produce a literary
journal streamlined enough to meet the new realities of today’s
publishing industry. STEPHEN HARPER has an official subscription base
of 413 – each MP and senator in the Canadian government is a
subscriber, including our namesake! As well, STEPHEN HARPER will be
starting a list of unsubscribers (the SH! list) of people not quite
lucky enough to be members of Canada’s own government, but who still
wish to receive the light of STEPHEN HARPER into their heart.

MISC @ Palomino

2009-02-20T07:02:00.000-08:00

*MISC Presents #1

Friday, February 27, 2009

9:30 PM

The Palomino

109-7th Avenue SW

Cover: $10

Event Purpose:

*MISC Presents is a new events series celebrating the appreciation of more than one genre at a time. A night for evolved humanoids! *(Mutual Inspiration Society of Calgary) A portion of proceeds will go to Inn from the Cold charity.

Featuring Bands:

Gutterawl (rock), Dolly Sillito (indie), & Cowpuncher (roots)

Featuring: Poets:

Wakefield Brewster (Calgary Slam! Champion), Colin Martin (filling Station Magazine), Markus Overland (Gutterawl / Lucid 44), & beautiful newcomer Marie Specht.

Listing:

Fri Feb 27^th – *MISC Presents Gutterawl, Dolly Sillito, & Cowpuncher. With Wakefield Brewster, Marie Specht, Markus Overland & Colin Martin. 9:30, Palomino Smokehouse (downstairs)

Contact:

Laurie Fuhr, Event Manager

Mutual Inspiration Society of Calgary (*MISC)

403-999-2566

meditor.fs@gmail.com

NōD 9 Launch

2009-02-12T14:18:00.000-08:00

Issue 9 Launch is a go!

We will be holding the launch party at Weeds' cafe, 1903 20 Avenue NW
Calgary (on the corner of 18 St and
20 Ave NW) at 7:30 pm on Friday, February 20th.

Readers include Tyler Perry, Lorne Macdonald, Sarah Gibbs and Derek Beaulieu

Also in the blast radius, music by James Dangerous and the CIA.
--
NōD Magazine
Department of English, University of Calgary
2500 University Drive N.W.
Calgary, AB
T2T 1N4

nodmagazine@gmail.com

Passion: An Epic Poetry Dance Party, Feb. 26, Marque Room

2009-02-01T23:32:00.000-08:00

Passion
An Epic Poetry Dance Party

Thursday, February 26, Marquee Room (610 8 Ave SW)
$10 at door, $15 gets copy of chapbook

Doors at 7:30 pm, Show starts at 8 pm with PAID Poetry Open Mic. Come early to sign up. 18+.

This event is brought to you by Passion Pitch Poetry, and is made possible in part by a grant from Canada Council for the Arts.

-passionpitch.com-
-403-714-5517-

Featuring:
"Love in a Handful of Dust", Kirk Ramdath's epic poem about love and war and language and the power of creativity and the beating heart to triumph over the cold logic of machines and corporate media manipulation.

Also featuring passionate performances by:
Bambalamb! - Niyabinghi Drumming
Sheri-D Wilson - Debut Djembe Performance
Jon Delerious - House Music Legend

MC: Selina Clary, organizer and host of Red Mile Revenge.

This event will be EPIC. Drumming by the world famous Bambalamb! and Sheri-D Wilson will open the hearts and minds of the audience, bringing them to rapt attention. Kirk Ramdath’s poem follows and builds on this energy, taking the audience on a sometimes difficult journey in the search for beauty and love in a world of war and lies.

Then the dance party starts, allowing pent up energies to be released on the dance floor, possibly causing the entire audience to spontaneously combust to the rhythm of Jon Delerious's deliciously dancy deep house grooves.

The party continues into the night with DJ Sublight, and other artists.

Feature Bios:
Kirk Ramdath: Kirk is a member of the 2006, 2007, and 2008 Calgary Slam Teams. He has featured at the Calgary International Spoken Word Festival and Globalfest. His socially engaged and love infused words have taken him to Vancouver and Halifax and many places in between. He writes about love and always in praise of women. In 2008 he received a Canada Council grant to complete a poetry manuscript. The poem "Love in a Handful of Dust" is a grand poetic statement written with grateful support of this grant and Kirk is excited to share this moment with the city he loves. Kirk performs regularly in Calgary and is the organizer of Passion Pitch Poetry.

Bambalamb!: The instinctive art of drumming is primal. It is the heartbeat of all music, the pulse that keeps us alive. The sound of a heartbeat, Niyabinghi drumming is the fundamental element that drives the 30-year career of Bambalamb!. Inspired and taught by roots man Niyabinghi specialist Ras Michael of Ras Michael and the Sons of Negus, Bambalamb! has shared musical vibrations and stages with illustrious entertainers such as Eric Gayle, Alex Accunia, Isaac Hayes, Ice T, Beat Master Vic, and more.

Sheri-D Wilson: Seven books of poetry under her belt, an illustrious performance record, and organizer of the always amazing Calgary International Spoken Word Festival. Her latest book is 2008’s Autopsy of a Turvy World. Sheri-D is responsible for the evolution of poetry and spoken word in Calgary. Continuing her own evolution as an artist and performer, Sheri-D will perform at PASSION as a percussionist, using her hands on a drum to do what she usually does with her lips and her tongue: blow everyone away. Don't miss this.

Jon Delerious: Jon is Calgary’s homegrown house music legend. He has rocked the decks in San Fransico, Seattle, Dallas, Austin, Munich, London (U.K.), Manchester (U.K.), Bilbao (Spain), Madrid (Spain), Montpellier (France), Graz (Austria), Ljubljana, and Amsterdam, amongst others. His music ranges from smoked out dubby house, down tempo to top-notch dance floor chuggers and has been name checked from diverse artists like Gilles Peterson through to Laurent Garnier. Most recently Jon released his full length, No Warning, which received acclaim in such publications as XLR8R and play throughout the world, particularly charting strong in the US, UK, Canada, France and Germany. With over 14 years of DJing experience behind him, Jon Delerious continues to refine his skills as one of Canada’s leading electronic musical innovators.

Choose Yer Own Festival!

2008-08-04T20:54:00.001-07:00

CHOOSE YER OWN
The Summerwood Warren presents a collaborative festival!
August 7th- 11th, 2008

All Ages Shows, Bicycle Parades, Robot Battles, and Breakfast with the Landlord!!
(among other things)

Happening throughout Calgary from august 7th to 11th, Choose Yer Own is a collaborative attempt to create a festival that is accessible and super awesome, with the idea that everyone chooses the shape and nature of their own involvement. festival events were determined by an open call for submissions, and include everything from a bicycle obstacle course and an island beach party, to interesting musical performances and DJs with Lemonade. Contributions come from many talented and interesting enthusiasts, including many local loved ones. The festival will also feature a performance by krecs' O Paon (formerly Woelve) hailing from Anacortes, Washington. Check www.summerwoodwarren.com for details. The full schedule and map go up on monday.

The festival is based on the idea that "you choose the level of your own involvement", and also around the concept of a "choose your own adventure" book, thus trying to remain open and adventuresome on all levels, and ultimately being shaped by the community itself. It is also committed to making events accessible and sustainably inclined. The festival embraces the idea of "bike-ability", with sponsorship and workshops from the Good Life community bike shop, and guided bike convoys between destinations.

The festival is mostly free and all ages. Thank you to The Good Life, CJSW, EMMEDIA, the Arusha Center, and Beatroute for their support and sponsorship.

Blow Out! 2008

2008-07-18T20:58:00.001-07:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

filling Station Magazine is thrilled to announce
The Fourth Annual
CALGARY BLOW OUT!

Thursday July 31 to Saturday August 2 2008

PLUS: NEW! Small Press Book & Arts Fair, Saturday August 2 1:00-5:00 PM
with media artist performances by local artists Travis Murphy & Anne Koizumi,
Samuel Garrigó Meza and The Arbour Lake Sghool

FREE!
This explosive literary festival once again puts the spotlight on Calgary's talented writing community, featuring twenty-five poets, performers, and fiction writers that are either locally-based or have strong ties to the city.

Four Amazing Events:

Event A: Flywheel Throwdown!
Filling Station's regular reading series pumps us up for the Blow Out!
(Please note the new venue!)

Thursday July 31, 7:30 PM
Pages Books on Kensington
1135 Kensington Road N.W.
Readers: Christopher Blais, Emily Carr, Jocelyn Grossé, Jonathan Ball

**

Event B: The Big Fat Opera Takeover
Great big literary voices challenge the Pavarotti-sized acoustics of Arrata!

Friday August 1, 8:00 PM
Arrata Opera Centre
1315 - 7 Street SW
Readers: Christian Bök, Aritha Van Herk, Carmen Derksen, Glen Dresser, Ian Sampson, Jordan Scott, Julia Williams
Host: Jonathan Ball
DJ: DJ Geosphere

**

Event C: Small Press Book & Arts Fair
New addition to the Blow Out! Includes media artist performances by local artists Travis Murphy & Anne Koizumi, Samuel Garrigó Meza and The Arbour Lake Sghool starting at 3:00 PM!

Saturday August 2, 1-5 PM
Arrata Opera Centre
1315 - 7 Street SW
Participants: Small pressers, artists, bands, and other folk hawk handmade books, glossy print mags, zines, broadsides, CDs, and other enticing you-name-its.

**

Event D: The Pantoum of the Opera
There may not be phantoms or even pantoums*, but all manner of words haunt Arrata tonight!

Saturday August 2, 8:00 PM
Arrata Opera Centre
1315 - 7 Street SW
Readers: Craig Boyko, Jason Christie, Melanie Little, Chris Ewart, Clem Martini, Andrew Wedderburn, Sheri-D Wilson
Host: Derek Beaulieu
DJ: Pilgrim

* The pantoum consists of a series of quatrains rhyming abab. The second and fourth lines of the first quatrain recur as the first and third lines in the following quatrain. Succeeding quatrains introduce a new second rhyme, i.e. abab bcbc. The form can include as many stanzas as the poet wishes as long as they follow this structure. The closing stanza opens with the second line of the previous stanza, but the second and fourth lines come from the first stanza. Hence, the last stanza is structured like this: Line 2 of previous stanza Line 3 of first stanza Line 4 of previous stanza Line 1 of first stanza. Most Blow Out readers won't be reading these!

**

Of course, there'll also be books, booze and plenty of filling Station Magazines available for purchase!

All Blow Out! events are absolutely FREE and open to the public. Join us in celebration of Calgary's booming literary talent!

CONTACT:

Laurie Fuhr
Managing Editor, filling Station
403.999.2566
lauriefuhr@yahoo.ca
calgaryblowout.blogspot.com

SPONSORS
filling Station gratefully acknowledges the kind support of the following sponsors of Blow Out! #4:

ALBERTA FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS
ARRATA OPERA CENTRE
CALGARY ARTS DEVELOPMENT
CALGARY COUNCIL FOR THE ARTS
PAGES BOOKS ON KENSINGTON
STEAM WHISTLE

EVENT HISTORY
Started in 2004 as a one-night event to celebrate the diverse literary talent in Calgary, The Calgary Blow Out! became a full-fledged festival in 2005. Held in the late summer every year since then by the editorial collective of filling Station magazine, the festival has expanded at times to include music, film, theatre, and, this year, visual art. Blow Out! continues to showcase an explosive amount of creative work from both established and emerging artists.

ABOUT filling Station
filling Station is a locally-based, nationally-distributed literary magazine that is dedicated to showcasing innovative poetry, fiction, drama, film and visual art, and promoting local and international arts communities.

The Flywheel Blow-Out Throwdown!

2008-07-12T23:00:00.000-07:00

Usually, filling Station’s Flywheel reading series happens on the first Thursday of the month. But the stars have aligned strangely this month making the first Thursday of August actually the last Thursday in July so that our beloved Flywheel might warm us up for filling Station’s annual Blow Out! literary festival. In order to make up for the possible tearing of the space-time continuum on this one, we promise to harness the heat and power of the sun at its hottest and most powerful to deliver readings so hot and powerful that you will need some pretty epic sunscreen. Hot!

Our readers this month:

Christopher Blais
Emily Carr
Jocelyn Grossé
and Jonathan Ball

At the (new) usual place and slightly-altered time:

Thursday, July 31, 2008
7:30pm sharp
Pages Bookstore on Kensington (1135 Kensington Road NW)

The Flywheel reading series is free and open to the public

June Flywheel: Cross-Pollination

2008-05-13T14:19:00.000-07:00

The June Flywheel Experiment: Cross-Pollination

Please join us at McNally Robinson for our daringest, death-defyingest Flywheel Experiment to date: for your entertainment, we have paired up two fiction writers and two poets and asked them to collaborate. Featuring the talents of ryan fitzpatrick, Jonathan Ball, Angie Abdou and Joni Krats, the Corss-Pollination Experiment will surely be a night to remember. Don't miss this epic generic battle-royale, taking place Thursday, June 5th at McNally Robinson Booksellers (120 8 Avenue SW).

Please note that this flywheel will be taking place at a special, earlier time: 5pm. This event is free and open to the public.

For more information, please contact Natalie Zina Waschots (nzwalschots@gmail.com), bronwyn haslam (bdhaslam@ucalgary.ca) or Emily Elder (emily.elder@gmail.com).

Claudia Dey Launches Stunt at pages

2008-05-13T09:59:00.001-07:00

Stunt Calgary Book Launch

featuring Claudia Dey

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Pages Books on Kensington, 1135 Kensington Road NW

7:30 p.m.

Dey is renowned as a playwright (Trout Stanley, The Gwendolyn Poems) and known as a Globe and Mail columnist ('Group Therapy'), but Stunt proves her talents extend to narrative literature, as well. Her novel. Stunt, is a kaleidoscopic quest filled with funambulists, fires and macabre twins.

'You want to read this novel carefully; you want to read it again ... Hypnotic and dazzling, Stunt is, quite simply, a feat.' – Globe and Mail

'It’s as if poet Anne Carson and satirist Mordecai Richler accidentally collided at a drunken PEN fundraiser to produce a mischievous, magical and observant girl-child.' – Toronto Star

‘Claudia Dey’s debut novel is like a snowflake, utterly unique, compellingly intricate and sparkle-riven, sharp as broken crystal and just as dazzling. Stunt is daring, poignant, full of abandon and abandonment, wistful and funny. Brilliant.’ – Lisa Moore

Come out and show your support for this talented novelist.

Old School: Back it up at the Truck

2008-04-03T11:34:00.000-07:00

Don't miss Old School: Back it up at the Truck!

Featuring readings by: Brea Burton, Emily Cargan, Carmen Derkson, Jill Hartman, Natalie Simpson, Lindsay Tipping, and Julia Williams!

When: Saturday, April 19, 2008
Doors open at 7:00
Reading starts at 7:30

Where: The Truck Gallery
The Grain Exchange (Lower Level)
815 -1st Street SW

Cost: Free!

Licensed: Hell yeah!

Brea Burton would like to report she is saddened by the fact that she can no longer wear jeans and Converse runners with skulls on them to work. She has recently become a downtown lemming, a strange little animal that feeds mostly on chai lattes and stale Easter candy. Her cubicle is small and dimly lit but her heart is big and her spirit bright. Sometimes, she makes jokes about ergonomically correct staplers and cleans under her nails with misshapen paper clips.

Calgary-based Mary Emily Cargan is now under new ownership, following the successful take-over of MEC Enterprises Inc. (formally D-Ed) by Turfcutters International of London and New York. Activist shareholders supported Turfcutters’ hostile bid for MEC Ent., which had shown poor returns for quarters two and three of 2007 predicated on last year’s sharp drop in bog futures. Heavily invested in bog futures, Turfcutters’ take-over of MEC Ent., a specialty player in detritus distribution systems, promises to steadily return shares to their former market value. Investors have so far reacted favourably to the newly installed Board of Directors and their projected restructuring of the company.

Carmen Derkson writes nomadic poetry.

According to Canada Council guidelines, Jill Hartman is a mid-career-writer. Does that mean her career will be over in 5 more years? Aw, who’s she kidding, she’s been at it for at least ten now. A lot can happen in ten years. Or not. Well, here’s to the next ten—it’s all downhill from here. Or uphill. Or maybe this is her hump-year.

Lately, Natalie Simpson spends her days annoying the cat, completing the bar, writing about writing, sporadically blogging, and publishing chapbooks through edits all over press. Her previous accomplishments include poems in Post-Prairie, Shift & Switch, Queen Street Quarterly, The Capilano Review, West Coast Line, and filling Station. Her recent publications include accrete or crumble (LINEbooks 2006) and Dirty Work (aboveground press series #4).

Lindsay Tipping did a lot of writing in Calgary before running away to become a TV star, horoscope writer and music promoter in China. She has been published in filling station, dandelion, house press and various ESL textbooks across Asia. She lives in Toronto...for now. She likes messing with confessional literature. She like lies that are more fun than truth. She likes that place between story and reality where the reader starts to wonder, "Did Lindsay really stab some guy in the heart in a back alley?" Don't worry, she didn't stab anyone.

Julia Williams writes poetry and prose. Her work has appeared in The Capilano Review, The Literary Review of Canada, Matrix Magazine and CV2, and was selected for the anthology Shift & Switch: New Canadian Poetry. Her first book of poetry, The Sink House, was published by Coach House Books in 2004. She lives in Calgary.

9 Freight Pulls In to Calgary

2008-03-25T08:09:00.001-07:00

filling Station presents:

The Calgary Launch

of

Kim Minkus' 9 Freight

Where: Pages Books in Kensington

When: Saturday, April 12th at 7:30 pm

9 Freight is a material quotidien intervention into
the epoch of later capital...oh and it is also erotic.

Kim Minkus is a Vancouver poet and a Ph.D. Candidate in the English
Department at Simon Fraser University. Her first book of poetry, 9 Freight,
was published by LINEbooks in the fall of 2007. She has also published in
West Coast Line, ottawater, Jacket and The Poetic Front.

flying Onion – Writing Also Lives Here!

2008-03-24T08:50:00.001-07:00

filling Station magazine and Single Onion Reading Series present:

flying Onion – Writing Also Lives Here!

(for April only, a collaboration!)

Readings by:

rob mclennan

Andrew Wedderburn

Paul Marshall

and

Music by the Jagatha Christies

Hosts: Emily Elder (flywheel) and Dale Herrington (Single Onion)

Thursday, April 3rd @ 7:00 pm

Prairie Ink Restaurant (McNally Robinson Bookstore – 120 8th Ave SW)

Move over, Juno celebrations… writing lives here, too! Join long-time literary players flywheel and Single Onion reading series Thursday, April 3, as they partner to show off the overlap between writing and music! As always, we are proud participants in First Thursday, hosted by the Olympic Plaza Cultural District!

This month, we feature Ottawa's rob mclennan, current writer-in-residence at the University of Alberta. mclennan appears for Single Onion under the sponsorship of the Canada Council for the Arts. Onion Paul Marshall will join him on the McNally Robinson stage.

flywheel supplies the musical/literary talent this month, with Andrew Wedderburn of Hot Little Rocket fame heating up the stage, and local cult faves the Jagatha Christies bringing acoustic marvels to round out our unique celebration of Music Lives Here.

We all sing in the key of c-minor at the news of McNally Robinson's closure. They have supported the flywheel reading series since our inception in November 2003. Their loss is a serious blow to the Calgary literary community.

PLUS: Don't forget the flywheel prize draw, and the flywheel limited edition posters! Not only will attendees get to hear top-notch literature AND music, they'll also have the chance to win swag from filling Station magazine and McNally Robinson Booksellers.

CONTACTS:

Emily Elder 403.383.1356

Bronwyn Haslam 403.209.1010

flywheel.fs@gmail.com

Next flywheel: May 1, 2008

Concordia Grad Colloquium and Readings

2008-03-20T16:14:00.000-07:00

The Colloquium Committee proudly presents the sixth Annual Concordia Graduate Colloquium, "Anatomy of Passions."

The conference will take place on March 28 and March 29 in room H-762, and features graduate students from Concordia University and universities abroad. Please see the schedule below for more information.
For anyone who happens to be in Montreal next weekend...

We look forward to seeing you there,

English Graduate Colloquium Committee:
Bassel Atallah, Jennifer Baker, Jean-Francois Bernard, Lizzy Edwards, Megan Findlay, Caitlin Hartnett, Rachel Kyne, Jean-Marc Leblanc, Colin Martin, Valerie Medzalabanleth, Kathleen Ogden, Simon Reader, Katye Seip

------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------

CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY - DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH
SIXTH ANNUAL GRADUATE COLLOQUIUM

ANATOMY OF PASSIONS

FRIDAY MARCH 28th

All panels held in Room H-762 (Hall Building)

PANEL 1: PENNING PERVERSION 11:30am – 1:00pm
Chair: Colin Martin

Sarah Cochrane, (University of British Columbia)
Psychopathic Feeling: Representations of Affect and Abnormality in Patricia Highsmith's The Talented Mr. Ripley

Mariiane Mays, (University of Manitoba)
Blood Runs Thicker Than Water: Perverse Humour(s) in Jean Stafford's The Mountain Lion

Holly Luhning, (University of Saskatchewan)
Humanization of the Rake: Eliza Haywood's Love in Excess

PANEL 2: INSIDE OUTSIDE UPSIDE DOWN 2:15pm – 3:30pm
Chair: Caitlin Hartnett

Philip Koch, (University of Manitoba)
Dark Matters: Architectural Resistances and the Productions of Space

David Rozon, (Concordia University)
Architectural Personalities: Deviance in Norman Mailer's The Armies of
the Night

Jennifer Baker, (Concordia University)
Small Sources of Power: 18th Century Service and the Economy of
Information

KEYNOTE LECTURE 4pm – 5pm

Professor Allan Pero (University of Western Ontario)
"A Corporal Radioscopy": Lacan, Badiou and Baroque Love

EVENING RECEPTION 8pm
Irish Embassy Pub & Grill—1234 rue Bishop

SATURDAY MARCH 29TH

All panels held in Room H-762

PANEL 3: EXECUTION OF FEELING 10:45am – 12:15pm
Chair: Kathleen Ogden

Stephanie Yorke, (University of New Brunswick)
Affect and Representation in Two Accounts of the Execution of Mary Stuart, or Mary Stuart: Beheaded, and Still Talking Out Both Sides of Her Mouth

Nathan Szymanski, (Concordia University)
Anti-Catharsis and the Passions in Marlowe's Edward II

Rachel Price, (Concordia University)
Stoic Agency in John Donne's View of Death

PANEL 4: MASSIVE MANIPULATIONS 1:45pm – 3:15pm
Chair: Jean-Francois Bernard

Kate Trebuss, (University of Toronto)
Ordering the Elements of Affect: The Language of the Passions in
Paradise Lost

Chris Dilworth, (University of Montreal)
Drives and Affect: Motivation in the Theories of Butler and Sedgwick

Colin Martin, (Concordia University)
When Logic Fails: Nationalism, Marxism and a Place for Poesy

PANEL 5: SHOCK THERAPY: READING, REACTING AND REINTERPRETING 3:30-5:00pm
Chair: Valerie Medzalabanleth

Tine Appelman, (Concordia University)
Samuel Pepys: "all alone, like a man out of the world

Natalie Huffels, (McGill University)
Tracing the History of Trauma in Wilkie Collins' The Woman in White

Joan Wry, (McGill University)
Shelley's Mont Blanc: Romantic Affect and the Negative Sublime

THIRD ANNUAL YEAR END GRADUATE READING 8PM
Arts Café—201 Fairmount Ouest

A Celebration of Creative Writing Success!

2008-03-11T09:33:00.001-07:00

THE CREATIVE WRITING RESEARCH GROUP PRESENTS

A CELEBRATION OF

CREATIVE WRITING SUCCESS

Monday March 17, 2008 7:30pm

University of Calgary, Evans Room, Rozsa Centre.

Featuring readings by:

Angie Abdou, The Bone Cage. (Edmonton: NeWest Press)

Derek Beaulieu, Flatland. (York, UK: information as material)

Brea Burton and Jill Hartman, Booty: Hurricane Jane and Typhoon Mary. (Toronto: The Mercury Press)

ryan fitzpatrick, Fake Math. (Montreal: Snare Books)

Diane Guichon, Birch Split Bark. (Gibson's Landing: Nightwood Editions)

Cara Hedley, Twenty Miles. (Toronto: Coach House Books)

William Neil Scott, Wonderfull. (Edmonton: NeWest Press)

Natalie Zina Walschots, Thumbscrews. (Montreal: Snare Books)

Andrew Wedderburn, The Milk Chicken Bomb. (Toronto: Coach House Books)

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Eleventh Transmission March 2008 issue online

2008-03-03T11:02:00.000-08:00

The March 2008 Issue of Eleventh Transmission is now online!

www.eleventhtransmission.org

Featuring:
-Interview and Images with Gord Cummings, Calgary comic producer and creator of the Mercy Seat series
-Poems by Calgary's j.fisher

This month we have several interesting interviews. We talked to Bridgette Ayume and Jennie Palmer, hosts of Yeah, What She Said, a weekly women's radio show on CJSW. We also spoke to Kat Cardiff, who is organizing the Youth Action Symposium, and to Julien Testa, member of Food Not Bombs.

At press time, we got wind of a new house music mix by Dylan Leroy, and we had to include it in this issue. The set is called Jack MixTape, and contains some of the best 80s house music. Be sure to check it out.

Plus... more! Check it out, and groove you later.

www.eleventhtransmission.org

March Flywheel

2008-02-28T09:49:00.000-08:00

filling Station magazine presents:

March flywheel – New Voices in the Spotlight!

Readings by:

Alyson Fortowsky

Helen Hajnoczky

Amin Karim

Makyee Mak

Hosts: Emily Elder, Bronwyn Haslam, and Natalie Zina Walschots.

Thursday, March 6th @ 7:00 pm

Prairie Ink Restaurant (McNally Robinson Bookstore – 120 8th Ave SW)

Mark your calendars for Thursday, March 6, as flywheel prepares to offer up a dazzling selection of Calgary's new literary voices! As always, we participate in First Thursday, hosted by the Olympic Plaza Cultural District… so start your month off with some creative sparkle!

This month, we feature Amin Karim's recently published novel, The Nightingale Sings. Not only will the author will read, he will sign copies after the event! Our readers this month are all brand new to the flywheel stage – Karim's glow meets the effervescence of Alyson Fortowsky, the luminosity of Helen Hajnoczky, and Makyee Mak's luster for a magnificent new show under Prairie Ink's tasteful track lighting.

PLUS: Don't forget the flywheel prize draw, and the flywheel limited edition posters! Not only will attendees get to hear top-notch literature, but they'll also have the chance to win swag from filling Station magazine and McNally Robinson Booksellers.

Every month since November 2003, filling Station magazine's flywheel reading series has brought poetry, prose, music, lectures and performance to the heart of downtown Calgary. It's a place for first-time readers to share the stage with professional authors, for Calgary audiences to see their favourite writers alongside the next generation of literary superstars.

CONTACTS:

Emily Elder 403.383.1356

Bronwyn Haslam 403.209.1010

Natalie Walschots 403.283.7212

flywheel.fs@gmail.com

Next flywheel: April 1, 2008

call for submissions

2008-02-26T05:42:00.000-08:00

The University of Calgary's student newspaper, The Gauntlet, and the UofC's creative works magazine, NōD Magazine, are working together to publish a creative literary insert later this March.

Which means...

Open Call for creative submissions!

Interested? Or know someone who might be?
Submit to the Gauntlet via email to- gauntlet@ucalgary.ca.

Deadline: thurs. march15. 08.

Please include a few sentences of biographical information with your submission.
Submissions over 1500 words will not be considered.

One last reminder:
NōD will be accepting submissions for Issue 8 until March 1st. Issue 8 will be viral themed. We will consider creative work that is parasitic, replicative, or related to computer viruses, sickness or epidemics.

Quickly, spread the word!

Cheers,

Ian Kinney,
Editor, NōD

--
NōD Magazine
Department of English, University of Calgary
2500 University Drive N.W.
Calgary, AB
T2T 1N4

Passion Pitch Poetry, Alberta-only Fiction Contest, Haiku Contest

2008-02-15T22:06:00.000-08:00

(please forward)

Hi everyone,

Here is some of what's going on at Eleventh Transmission, Calgary's arts, culture, media, and activism magazine. www.eleventhtransmission.org.

Passion Pitch Poetry featuring Danielle French

Accomplished Calgary singer/songwriter Danielle French is the first musical feature at Passion Pitch Poetry. Wednesday, February 20, 8 pm at Oolong Tea House in Kensington. Please show up by 7:30 to sign up for the open mic.

www.passionpitchpoetry.com

Facebook group: www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=21366335408

Alberta-only Fiction Contest

Eleventh Transmission's second fiction contest is for Alberta-residents only! Plus, it's free to enter. There is a cash prize, and the contest closes March 31.

www.eleventhtransmission.org/alberta_fictioncontest.html

Second Annual Haiku Contest

Eleventh Transmission and the Magpie Haiku Poets are sponsoring their Second Annual Haiku Contest. This contest is open to everyone and is free to enter. There is a cash prize. Go ahead and try your hand at writing a haiku! Contest closes April 30

www.eleventhtransmission.org/haikucontest.html

Submit to filling Station

2008-02-12T08:01:00.000-08:00

Submit to filling Station

filling Station is a literary magazine based in Calgary, Alberta, that is dedicated to showcasing innovative poetry, fiction, drama, film and visual art, and to promotion local and international arts communities.

We are now accepting submissions for 2008. filling Station accepts poetry, visual art, fiction, drama, film, interviews and reviews.

Spring Issue (#42)Deadline: March 1st.

Summer Issue (#43) Deadline: June 1st. The release of this year's summer issue will coincide with the fourth annual Calgary Blow-Out! literary festival. Theme: Ugliness and Undesirability. If your work engages in any way with with the aesthetics and poetics of disgust, ugliness, and revulsion, please send in work for this issue.

Fall Issue (#44) Deadline: September 1st

Please visit http://www.fillingstation.ca for submission guidelines.

Lisa Robertson and Christine Stewart at Pages

2008-01-18T13:42:00.000-08:00

Reading at PAGES Bookstore in Kensington
January 22, 7:30 PM

Round-table Discussion at the University of Calgary, SS1339
January 23, 3 PM

Both events are free and open to the public.

Two of Canada's most innovative and exciting poets come to Calgary to read and talk about their work.

Lisa Robertson, author of The Weather, Debbie: an Epic and The Men, is a long time member of the Kootenay School of Writing and a past editor of Raddle Moon. She is presently the poet-in-residence at University of California in Berkeley.

Christine Stewart, author of Pessoa's July: or the Months of Astonishments and From Taxonomy, and numerous critical articles, particularly on experimental poetry by women, currently teaches at the University of Alberta.

www.english.ucalgary.ca/

Eleventh Transmission v 2, #1 online now!

2008-01-07T11:21:00.000-08:00

Happy new year, dear readers!

Eleventh Transmission is starting 2008 off with our best issue ever!

http://www.eleventhtransmission.org

Featuring:
-Calgary Street Portraits by James Tmorow
-Poems by Maryland's Allan Britt
-Rebel Frequencies article on the legacy of Clash front man Joe Strummer

Also, poems from SIX poets, stories from THREE writers, video of ROBOTS EATING CAKE, and more!

(such as an Alberta-only fiction writing contest and Shone Abet at Passion Pitch... but we'll send another note out shortly about those two things).

As always, your feedback is desired and appreciated. If there's something you like or don't like, please let us know!

If there's something that you do like, please tell your friends.

-Kirk

The Calgary Extravanganza

2007-11-19T14:35:00.000-08:00

filling Station Magazine and the Snaring the New West Tour are thrilled to announce:

The Calgary Extravanganza!

This fall has been an incredible season for Calgary authors. No less than twelve local authors have launched books just in the last few weeks. Please join us as we celebrate all the recent success in the Calgary literary community with a marathon reading.

The Calgary Extravaganza will take place from 7pm to 10pm on December 8th at Lunchbox Theatre ( 2nd Level, Bow Valley Square, 229, 205-5th Ave SW).

Readers include:

derek beaulieu -- Flatland (Information as Material)
Brea Burton and Jill Hartman - Booty: Hurricane Jane and Typhoon Mary (The Mercury Press)
Glen Dresser - Correction Road (Oberon Press)
ryan fitzpatrick - Fake Math (Snare Books)
Diane Guichon - Birch Split Bark (Nightwood Editions)
Cara Hedley - Twenty Miles (Coach House Books)
Claire Huot - The Prison Tangram (The Mercury Press)
Robert Majzels - The Humbugs Diet (The Mercury Press)
Riley Rossmo - Proof (Image)
William Neil Scott - Wonderfull (NeWest Press)
Natalie Zina Walschots - Thumbscrews (Snare Books)

Thank you for all your support and we can't wait to see you there.

Natalie Simpson & Suzanne Zelazo at Pages

2007-11-11T13:07:00.000-08:00

filling Station is proud to present an evening of poetry by:

Suzanne Zelazo & Natalie Simpson

November 15, 7:30pm at Pages Books!

Free admission!

Join filling Station (with support from The University of Calgary Creative Writing Research Group and the Canada Council) as we present an evening of poetry with 2 of Canada's leading poets!

Suzanne Zelazo is a Toronto poet and author of Parlance (Coach House 2003), a book of poems that range from experiments in fragmenting sentences from Virginia Woolf’s Through the lighthouse to prose poems bridging the confessional and abstract. She is also the editor-in-chief of Queen Street Quarterly (a journal of contemporary writing), and a Ph.D. candidate in English at York University, a part-time competitive runner, and full-time identical twin.

Natalie Simpson is a former Managing Editor at filling Station, a recent graduate from UBC's law school and author of accrete or crumble (Linebooks 2006). Her work has been featured in magazines and anthologies across Canada.

Cara Hedley Jessica Westhead Launch

2007-11-06T19:29:00.000-08:00

On Thursday!

Eleventh Transmission Issue 16! + Launching New Open Mic

2007-11-05T17:34:00.000-08:00

Dear readers,

Issue 16 of Eleventh Transmission is now online. www.eleventhtransmission.org. Featuring coverage of the 2007 Canadian Festival of Spoken Word in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Plus lots more great articles, poems, fiction, videos, and more!

We are happy to announce the launch of our new open mic reading series:
Passion Pitch Poetry at Oolong Tea House. Wednesday, November 21, 8pm.

Passion Pitch Poetry is a new monthly open mic poetry reading series and showcase that will allow local and visiting artists to perform in a welcoming atmosphere intended to foster personal and artistic growth. Passion Pitch Poetry will happen on the third Wednesday of every month at Oolong Tea House in Kensington (110 10th Street NW Calgary).

Every month, the open mic will be followed by a featured performance by a local or visiting artist. In keeping with Eleventh Transmission's goal of bringing different audiences together, the feature will be a performer in any of a number of disciplines. Often a poet, sometimes a musician, performance artist, or
anyone else that can be imagined with creative use of the provided space.

We are happy to announce that the featured performer for the first Passion Pitch Poetry event will be the always sensational Moe Clark. Visit www.passionpitchpoetry.com for more details.

A Call for Papers

2007-10-30T17:07:00.000-07:00

To all you grad students out there, we're calling for papers! If you think you can be in Montreal for the end of March...

Concordia University - Department of English - Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Sixth Annual Graduate Colloquium
March 28 & 29, 2008
Theme: Anatomy of Passions

In recent years, many critics in the humanities have turned their
attention to affect and emotion. As Brian Massumi tells us, "affect is
central to an understanding of our information- and image-based late
capitalist culture." But how do we account for affect's putative
centrality in contemporary culture? How is the value of emotion
figured in other historical periods? Literature and the arts offer the
most nuanced and sophisticated articulation of these issues: how do
art objects anatomize emotions and the complicated force they take on
in our lives?

The 6th annual Concordia Graduate Colloquium, hosted by
the English Department, invites papers that engage the question of
affect in its philosophical, aesthetic, and political guises. Our
cultural history may be read as a repository of claims about emotion's
origin, expression, and purpose, ranging from classical notions of
Eros and catharsis to claims about the current "waning of affect"
(Jameson). We invite emerging critics to engage this vital field of
aesthetic and cultural inquiry. Papers may be inspired by but are not
limited to the following:

• "Empty" states: dread, anxiety, apathy, acedia
• Second-order emotions and minor emotional categories
• Subjectivity/Objectivity; Passivity/Activity
• Moral Sentiments
• Allegories and symbols of feeling
• Propaganda, group mentalities, theories of audience
• Libertinism and aestheticism
• Privileged and underprivileged emotions
• Volition, Agency, and Responsibility
• Consuming passions: commodities, technologies, and substances

Please send a 200-300 word abstract by Monday, January 7, 2008:
By e-mail: colloquiumconcordia@gmail.com

At last! FAKE LAUNCH! November 30!

2007-10-27T10:13:00.001-07:00

To celebrate the end of the ambitious "Snaring the New West" book tour and the release of ryan fitzpatrick's first trade collection of poetry, you are invited to bask in the glowing, warming, warming glow of FAKE MATH, a book that attempts to interrogate the profit motive and the ways in which it affects and controls our lives. FAKE MATH has been hailed (by ryan's good friend Chris Blais in a private email) as "F-ing Genius": a claim that may or may not be true. Only you can attend the launch to validate or disprove these claims!

When: Friday, November 30, 2007 7:30pm

Where: Birds and Stone Performance Theatre
204 16th Ave NW, (in the basement of the Unitarian Church of Calgary)

Cost: Free!

This event is open to the public and is all-ages.

Thumbscrews Book Launch!

2007-10-22T08:21:00.000-07:00

Come celebrate the launch of Natalie Zina Walschots' first book.

Friday, October 26th at 7:30pm
Pages Books, 1135 Kensington Road

Thumbscrews is a poetic engagement with the aesthetics of sadomasochism and consensual pain. It employs the techniques of mannerist poetry to constrain language as ropes, cuffs, or shackles might be used to constrain the body. Each poem can be taken as a miniature sadomasochistic encounter where language is tied up, beaten, and twisted into submission. This book abuses language; language begs for it.

November Flywheel: Day of the Dead

2007-10-22T08:20:00.000-07:00

Readings from:
Glen Dresser
Doug Ferguson
Ian Kinney
Andre Rodrigues

Hosts: Emily Elder, Bronwyn Haslam, and Natalie Zina Walschots

Thursday, November 1 – 7:00 pm
Prairie Ink Restaurant
McNally Robinson Bookstore – 120 8th Ave SW

Do you find that Halloween doesn't satisfy your need for creativity? A
proud participant in the Olympic Plaza Cultural District's First
Thursday initiative, this instalment of the flywheel reading series
promises an evening of literary and experimental madness at McNally
Robinson. On November 1, you will find a creatively satiating line-up
of Calgary writerly gentlemen who will titillate, provoke, and
challenge daily conventions.

Join Glen Dresser and Doug Ferguson to celebrate their recently
released novels! Experience the pleasing insanity of Andre Rodrigues'
linguistic gymnastics! Finally, discover the newcomer Ian Kinney,
editor of cutting edge publication NōD magazine!

PLUS: Don't forget the flywheel prize draw, and the flywheel limited
edition posters! Not only will attendees get to hear top-notch
literature, but they'll also have the chance to win swag from filling
Station magazine and McNally Robinson Booksellers.

Every month since November 2003, filling Station magazine's flywheel
reading series has brought poetry, prose, music, lectures and
performance to the heart of downtown Calgary. It's a place for
first-time readers to share the stage with professional authors, for
Calgary audiences to see their favourite writers alongside the next
generation of literary superstars.

CONTACTS:
Emily Elder 403.383.1356
Bronwyn Haslam 403.209.1010
flywheel.fs@gmail.com

Next flywheel: December 6, 2007 – Multi-Lingual Edition of flywheel

Mature Writers Call for Poetry Submissions

2007-10-04T14:39:00.001-07:00

In response to the cultural emphasis placed on young & emerging authors, we seek submissions for an anthology of contemporary Canadian poetry featuring up-and-coming mature writers. Work can be in any style or tradition, collaborative or by a single author, but please limit submissions to twenty pages. If you feel these criteria apply to you, please send poetry as an attachment in Word .doc or .rtf format or in the message of an email to the editors, kevin mcpherson eckhoff & Heidi Garnett, at portage.anthology@gmail.com. Be sure to include your email address, phone number & a brief bio. The sooner submissions are received, the better, but the final deadline for work is January 31st, 2008.

You Are Invited! Yes, YOU!

2007-10-02T12:11:00.000-07:00

To the Toronto launch for Booty: Hurricane Jane and Typhoon Mary. Mercury is launching all their fall titles! So Exciting!

Eleventh Transmission Issue #15 now online!

2007-10-01T10:17:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone,Issue #15 of Eleventh Transmission is now online! http://www.eleventhtransmission.org.

Eleventh Transmission is Calgary's arts, culture, media, and activism magazine. This issue features:
-art by John Antoski
-poems from the 2007 Calgary Slam Team's new chapbook titled Fourskin
-Calgary to Banff timelapse video by Greg Waschmann

Also included is "In History," a poem from Belgium's Martin Burke, articles on Calgary's Take Back the Night and Street Fashion Show, follow up fiction to last month's "The Secret," and more!

Check it out at http://www.eleventhtransmission.org.

Don't forget to check out details of the Second Annual Fiction Contest.

Hope you enjoy this issue.

Much love to all,
Kirk

Nicole Brossard joined in Calgary by Erín Moure, Robert Majzels, and Robert Kroetsch

2007-09-18T11:44:00.001-07:00

The Believer says that "Brossard conflates writing with lovemaking — 'at the hour of bedsheets or ink'—[her] poems forming a grammar of desire, like a diagrammed body." But see for yourself — why believe The Believer?

On September 24, literary legend Nicole Brossard, two-time winner of the Governor General's Award for Poetry, will give a reading in Calgary to celebrate the English translation of her book Notebook of Roses and Civilization (published by Coach House Books). Brossard will be joined by her translators, Governor General's Award-winning authors Erín Moure and Robert Majzels. The event takes place at the Nickle Arts Museum on the University of Calgary campus at 7:30 p.m. The event is a pre-launch for a special themed issue of dANDelion magazine, which focuses on "Radical Translations" and will contain work by all three authors.

Then, on September 25, Brossard is joined by Governor General's Award-winning author Robert Kroetsch for a Q&A on campus at 3:00 p.m., in Science Theatre 147. Don't miss this valuable opportunity to talk with two of Canada's most significant writers in an intimate venue.

Both events are free and open to the public — that's four of Canada's best writers, for the price of none.

Presented by dANDelion magazine, Coach House Books, and the English Department at the University of Calgary, with generous funding from the Canada Council for the Arts, Alberta Foundation for the Arts, Calgary Arts Development, and Canadian Heritage.

October Flywheel

2007-09-07T09:46:00.001-07:00

Just because we can't let our audience get to comfortable, flywheel is shaking it up as things cool down with an alternate date and location for this month's reading.

When: Tuesday, October 2nd @ 7pm !
Where: Pages Books in Kensington !

It's not just the shake up that makes October's flywheel special. This month, we present four exceptionally talented women who have been published by Coach House books:

Rachel Zolf (Human Resources, Spring 2007)
Sarah Lang (Work of Days, Fall 2007)
Julia Williams (The Sink House, Fall 2004)
Jill Hartman (A Painted Elephant, Spring 2003)

CONTACT: flywheel.fS@gmail.com

Blow-Out! 3 schedule of events

2007-09-06T15:26:00.000-07:00

Friday night: September 14^th, 7pm

host: Natalie Simpson

readers: Emily Elder, Helen Hajnoczky, Mark Hopkins, Brea Burton, Shane Rhodes, Jani Krulc, Jaspreet Singh, Robert Majzels

music: The Lonely Hunters

Saturday afternoon: September 15^th 1pm

host: ryan fitzpatrick

readers: Ian Kinney, Ross Priddle, Kevin McPherson-Eckhoff, Chris Ewart, Weyman Chan

music: Heather Blush

Saturday night: September 15^th, 7pm

host: derek beaulieu

readers: Emily Carr, Bronwyn Haslam, Peter Norman, Laurie Fuhr, Aaron Giovannone, William Neil Scott, Sina Queyras

film: Garth Whelan

September Flywheel!

2007-09-01T16:48:00.000-07:00

September 6th, 7pm
McNally Robinson Booksellers
ON THE PATIO!

This month's flywheel features some of the newest members of Calgary's literary community: the U of C's incoming creative writing students. This month's talented readers are:

Sable Sweetgrass
Michael Yip
Ian Sampson

CONTACT: flywheel.fS@gmail.com

Next flywheel: September 2, 2007
@ PAGES BOOKS IN KENSINGTON!

The Third Annual Calgary Blow-Out!

2007-08-31T07:09:00.000-07:00

filling Station is thrilled to announce...

The Third Annual

CALGARY BLOW-OUT!

Friday, September 14 – 7:00 PM

Saturday, September 15 – 1:00 PM

Saturday, September 15 – 7:00 PM

All Events at the Carpenter’s Union Hall

(310 10^th St NW)

FREE!

This explosive literary festival puts the spotlight on Calgary’s talented writing community, featuring over twenty poets, playwrights and fiction writers that are either locally-based, or who have strong ties to the city, including:

Robert Majzels

Kevin McPherson-Eckhoff

Sina Queyras

William Neil Scott

Brea Burton Chris Ewart

Emily Elder

Bronwyn Haslam

Emily Carr

Mark Hopkins

Peter Norman

Laurie Fuhr

Helen Hajnoczky

Weyman Chan

Ian Kinney

Jaspreet Singh

Ross Priddle

Aaron Giovannone

Garth Whelan

Shane Rhodes

The writers will be joined by musical guests Heather Blush and The Lonely Hunters !

filling Station Film Editor Garth Whelan will present a series of short films.

ryan fitzpatrick, derek beaulieu, and Natalie Simpson will serve as hosts for the events.

Of course, there’ll also be books, booze and the long-awaited launch of filling Station #39!

All events are absolutely FREE and open to the public. Join us in celebration of Calgary’s booming literary talent!

CONTACT:

Natalie Zina Walschots

Managing Editor, filling Station

403.283.7212

nzwalschots@gmail.com

calgaryblowout.blogspot.com

EVENT HISTORY

The Calgary Blow-Out! was founded in 2005 as a celebration of Calgary’s vibrant literary community. The former Managing Editor of filling Station, derek beaulieu, founded the event out of good-natured frustration when he realized there was simply too much happening in the Calgary literary scene to see it all, and so he created the Blow-Out! as a fête for the community at large. This is filling Station’s third annual Calgary Blow-Out!

ABOUT filling Station

filling Station is a literary magazine based in Calgary, Alberta, that is dedicated to showcasing innovative poetry, fiction, drama, film and visual art, and to promotion local and international arts communities. This year’s Calgary Blow-Out! will see the launch of filling Station’s 39^th issue.

Calgary Blow-Out!

2007-08-21T07:58:00.000-07:00

filling Station is thrilled to announce the return of the Calgary Blow-Out!

This year's Blow-Out! will be taking place on September 14^th and 15^th at the Carpenter's Union Hall in Kensington (310 10^th St. NW). The event encompasses 3 performances taking place over 2 days: A Friday night reading at 7pm, a Saturday afternoon reading at 1pm, and a Saturday evening reading at 7pm.

All of the artists who will be performing at the Calgary Blow Out! have ties to the Calgary literary community. The event features many local artists currently based in Calgary as well as some currently out-of-town writers who are still connected to the Calgary community. The event will also feature two local bands and a series of short films.

Admission is absolutely free and open to the public. There will be a cash bar.

Authors will have their books for sale, and limited edition ephemera will be produced for the event.

Stay Tuned: a list of readers/performers is coming shortly!

dANDelion presents… RADICAL TRANSLATIONS

2007-08-09T13:14:00.000-07:00

dANDelion magazine is seeking submissions for a special issue on Radical Translation. The issue will feature the proceedings of the “Translating Translating Montreal” conference at the University of Calgary, including poetry and essays by Oana Avasilichioaei, Angela Carr, Robert Majzels, and Erin Mouré.

dANDelion is seeking accompanying works (poetry, fiction, non-fiction, interviews, and visual art) that engage with this theme of Radical Translation. Submissions may include, but are not limited to:

- existing works translated through employing radical poetics
- existing works appropriated or adapted in some radical fashion
- original works engaging in some way with the notion of translation
- original works exploring the spaces between languages or on the cusp of language

The deadline for this special issue is October 1, 2007.

Please e-mail submissions to editors@dandelionmagazine.ca with “TRANSLATION” in the subject field. dANDelion pays an honorarium of $50 on publication. Simultaneous submissions are acceptable, but please notify us promptly if you place your work elsewhere.

Eleventh Transmission #13: Summer issue

2007-08-07T12:01:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone,

The new issue of Eleventh Tranmission is now online. http://www.eleventhtransmission.org/.

Featured are five great poems about Alberta by Wallace Gagne and a profile on Victoria-based spoken word trio Odditory Presence.

The stars also collided to provide two remarkably different and yet very honest travel writings by Megan Lam and Sara Ness. Megan describes her visit to Turkey and Sara details her experience walking the Camino de Santiago in Spain. Moe Clark also has a feast at the Folk Festival, and Kirk Ramdath describes his spiritual experience at the South Country Fair.

Dean Hetherington provides his second exclusive comic for Eleventh Transmission, and it's a great one. Calgary's Anne Sorbie writes an engaging story entitled, "Poor, Sad Pears", and you will never guess what the pears are. Or maybe you might. There are also more fabulous poems by Nova Scotia's Sean Howard and also from Kenneth Pobo and David LaBounty.

Mary Ellen Derwis showcases a five-piece photo set titled "Rendezvous" and Jeff Cruz shows us some photos with "Hidden Meanings."

Hamish Crawford decries the current state of television icon, The Simpsons, and Kirk Ramdath provides the first of what will be a new monthly series called, "Songs I Like." Kirk describes why he likes Radiohead's "A Punch Up at a Wedding."

Those of your paying attention will notice that I said monthly. Yes, the magazing is returning to a monthly format with this issue. So look for the next issue September 3. That means you have less time to read all of this one... go now!

http://www.eleventhtransmission.org/.

much love and peace,

Kirk

Dates for the Next Blow-Out: Sept 14-17

2007-07-24T13:09:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

Just a little heads up that the dates of this year's spectacular filling Station Blow Out will be September 14-17 at Carpenter's Union Hall in Kensington. Save the date!

Stay tuned to this blog for more details as they are confirmed.

Laurie

Fest Thought Express

2007-07-16T09:50:00.000-07:00

Stampede is over and you are wondering what to do this weekend. Why not experience something different? Come see the wide variety of culture that Calgary has to offer. Calgary isn't just "cowtown" anymore.

Thought Express is an artist run company focused on bringing like-minded artists of different mediums together through collaboration and community. An artist run, performance company, that has been hosting monthly events since its inception in the spring of 2006. Thought Express showcases a variety of crafts and each of our shows is influenced by the cabaret style of performance. Within any given event, the audience would be prevy to a varied program of performances and in some cases a collaboration of mixed mediums. Having poets, dancers and the visual arts collaborate on a single piece is a common feature at a Thought Express event.

This summer we are proud to be hosting the first four-day festival in the downtown core. Highlights include Ken Swift (Dance) from New York and Members from the Canadian National Slam Poetry Champions. Below is a breakdown our events. Please take the time to come and support your local artists. Come to the Auburn on Friday Night to witness a true Thought Express event. The purpose of Thought Express is to encourage multi-disciplinary collaboration between artists. This sense of community enables our performance company to flourish and sustain itself within a growing market like that of our city. Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver are the three major cities in Canada. This is usually the common census of all Canadians. The argument begins when Canadians are asked which city is fourth on the list of major Canadian cities.Ottawa, Quebec City, Calgary, Winnipeg, St.Johns, Victoria or...Edmonton? I am excited to be in Calgary and know that in the coming years, this city will be recognized as a world class city. I see this festival as an integral part of Calgary's progression and predict in the years to come that music, culture and art will help define this.

July 19th Event #1 Thursday night at the Well

Music by Roofeo and Mama Miche

Introduction to the festival. Volunteer party and Media Releases.

DKenvy and SHE lingerie

Art by Sonia Rakchaev and Photo by Heather Saitz

free event

July 20th Event#2

Fri july 20th at the auburn $10

Music by Roofeo and Rocky the Vinyl Idol

Lady Mot, Brian Batista, Shone Abot, sabo, Swallow a Bicycle Performance Co-Op, Oroonamamu, Jocelyn Grosse, Micah Stone,

Dance by Jaimie Marr, Ed Mitchell, Latin Corner, One Circle, Ken Swift, Cuban Casino,

Literature provided by Oxfam

July 21st/22nd Event #3

Saturday/Sunday afternoon at Eau claire market

Get Down 2007 Dance Workshops and Capoiera Gingativa

Indoor and outdoor showcases

Ken Swift and the Seven Gems

July 21st Event #4 at the Broken City

Spoken Word in conjunction with afternoon jazz jam 3-7

readings by Vancouver Poetry Slam, Sean McGarragle, Magpie Ulysses,Fernando Raguero, Chris Gilpin , Christain Bok, Jesse Switzer, Emily Elder

free event

July 21st Event #5 at the Broken City

Saturday night at 8pm. $5

Readings by James Dangerous, Melanie Haywood, Moe Clark, Sean McGarragle, Magpie Ulysses, Fernando Raguero, Chris Gilpin

Dance by Wilson Dance Projects, Ken Swift, Full Flava ,Triple7movement, Capoeira Gingativa

July 22nd Event #6 Sun and Salsa Kensington and the Latino Festival Olympic Plaza

Sunday afternoon

free

Come visit the Thought Express

Dance includes Latin Corner, One Circle,Cuban Casino

July 22nd Event #7 at the Tequila NiteClub

Sunday Evening $22

Music by Del tha Funky Homosapien, Grand Analog, Roofeo

Dance by Ken Swift, Latin Corner, Original Rudes,Aviva Fleising, Caroline Fraser, Wilsondanceprojects.

Readings by Wakefield Brewster and Sabo

July 19 The Martian Press Closes Its Books

2007-07-10T18:01:00.000-07:00

On Thursday, July 19, 6pm, McNally Robinson Calgary The Martian Press, Jonathan Ball's own little micropress project, will be shut down after two years and 15 (or so) books. Readings from MP authors derek beaulieu and ryan fitzpatrick will take place, and Jonathan Ball will read selected work from other authors who are not in Calgary. Books which are quickly going out-of-print will be available for a measly $5 each. The event is free and will be fun. The next day, don't forget to catch the Holy Beep event. Go to both events! Both will be historic and awesomeness will abound.

For you visual artists:

2007-07-10T08:06:00.000-07:00

Hello!!

The July 27 deadline is fast approaching for the EXHIBITS Call to Enter at The Works Festival 2008.

You can download an application form at
www.theworks.ab.ca

OR at

http://www.theworks.ab.ca/societyfolder/calls/pdfs/Call%20To%20Enter%202008.pdf

Please post and/or pass on this information! We look forward to hearing from you!
Thanks!!

This is for the exhibit portion of the festival NOT the Art Market.

the birds and stone series - Call for Artists!

2007-06-28T10:49:00.001-07:00

Only two days left to submit your proposals! Please share this notice with anyone who may be interested.

The Downstage Performance Society presents

the birds and stone series

Call for Creators/Artists

Since 2004, the Downstage Performance Society has brought high-quality, socially-charged Canadian theatre and performance to Calgary audiences. Now entering its fourth season, Downstage is extending its focus on community and collaboration to a new level.

the birds and stone series invites Calgary artists to experiment, innovate and push the boundaries of performance in a safe environment. Between September 2007 and August 2008, the series will present six curated productions, one every two months at the birds and stone venue. The series is open to all forms of performative expression including:

Performance Creation – Theatre – Spoken Word – Dance – Music – Movement Installation – Clown – Film – Comedy – Activism – Literature

...or whatever else you can come up with!

Downstage will provide support to each production in the form of one week of free rehearsal & performance space (Sunday–Wednesday rehearsals, Thursday–Saturday performances), publicity support, front-of-house staff, and whatever production/technical support is possible. Artists will receive a split of the box office and an opportunity to present and try out new work. This series gives artists the chance to focus their energy on creation and performance without having to worry about costly performance space or advertising!

Anyone is welcome to submit. Priority will be given to work that is socially-engaged, experimental, collaborative and unique. Shorter works are also encouraged to submit and may be considered as part of a larger evening of work.

SUBMISSION PROCESS: Please submit a 1-page project proposal to birds and stone series Curator Mark Hopkins by e-mail at mark@downstage.ca.

Your proposal should include:
- a concise and specific description of the project
- contact information (phone, e-mail)
- preferred month / time of year

Please feel free to also include supplementary materials (script, photos, video, CV, etc).

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: June 30, 2007

All submissions will be considered by a jury. The full 2007/08 line-up will be announced in mid-July 2007. For more information on Downstage, please visit www.downstage.ca.

birds and stone is an intimate performance venue in the basement of the Unitarian Church of Calgary on 16^th Avenue NW ( 204 16^th Avenue NW).

CONTACT: Mark Hopkins – 403.710.0093 – mark@downstage.ca

FINAL Martian Press Chapbook!!!

2007-06-23T16:12:00.001-07:00

Yes, it's worth all three exclamation marks. I'm closing the book on The Martian Press, as I simply don't have the proper amount of time to devote to making chapbooks anymore. Mark the date July 19 on your calender: there will be a going-out-gala at McNally Robinson in Calgary on that date. More info closer to the date.

The final MP book is Ken Kowal's Ripley Retreats. The book is a odd collection of poems --- imagine Tom Ripley (from Patricia Highsmith's Ripley books) visiting a writer's colony and leaving a manuscript behind. It's presented very simply, as if I had found Ripley's manuscript cleanly laid out on a bare desk. A clever little set of poems.

Like all MP books, Ripley Retreats is a mere $5 + $2 shipping = $7. E-mail jonathan[at]jonathanball[dot]com to order your copy.

Or, you can get the 5 books for $20 deal I always offer (shipping waived in this case). The following books are still available (the rest are out of print):

* Call & Response by derek beaulieu & Jonathan Ball
Generations by rob mclennan
Aberrant Lounges by Kimmy Beach
On Stealing Lips by Lars Palm
Full On Jabber by Chris Rizzo & Jess Mynes
Of Quixote's Lap by ryan fitzpatrick

* indicates almost-out-of-print titles you should order immediately

Submit to Holy Beep!

2007-06-19T07:23:00.000-07:00

Submit to Holy Beep!

On Friday July 20 at Broken City, Holy Beep!, we're having a big beeping benefit for jwcurry's bp Nichol Beepliography. Starring poets Christian Bok, Sheri-D Wilson, Derek Beaulieu, and last-not-leastly Natalie Zina Walschots along with filling Station readers TBA; PLUS music by Chris Ewart & Travis Murphy, Jagatha Christies, Lonely Hunters, Axis of Conversation and Lotus Child.

The filling Station's Poetry Collective is also putting together a limited edition mini issue for Holy Beep! If you have work that is about, after, toward, around or through bpoNichol's work, please send your material to nzwalschots@gmail.com. Comtributors to the event are guaranteed a copy, and all other proceeds will go directly to the Beepliography. Leave your message after the beep; deadline is July 15.

June 14 -- dANDelion launches 33.1

2007-06-10T07:43:00.000-07:00

The dANDelion launch is coming right up! Don't miss it!!! FREE admission and FREE food and FOUR great performers!!! Here's the info:

Thursday, June 14
33.1 Launch with Patrick Friesen, Marilyn Lerner, Andrew Wedderburn, and Jay Coda Walker

When: June 14th, 2007

Where: Cantos Music Foundation, 134 – 11th Avenue S.E.

Who: All those interested in supporting and participating in the literary community

Why: Raise awareness, support dANDelion and expose Canadian talent

Time: Doors open at 5:30 p.m. to the public.

Calgary’s oldest literary journal, dANDelion, is celebrating the release of their latest issue (33.1) with poet Patrick Friesen accompanied by pianist Marilyn Lerner, author Andrew Wedderburn, and musical guest Jay Coda Walker.

Patrick Friesen’s latest work, Earth's Crude Gravities, is both a meditation and an argument, a compelling series of poems on the world of matter and the world of spirit. Acclaimed poet Patrick Friesen muses on the religion that has been such a key part of his own background—but he also raises uncertainties. Whether he is discussing his love of the material world or the fictional creation of a narrative in religion, Friesen’s poetry is elegant, eloquent and imagistic. Patrick Friesen, a resident of Winnipeg for thirty years, now lives in Vancouver, teaching at Kwantlen University College. He has written numerous books of poetry and has also worked on translations of Danish poets, including A Sudden Sky (2001), a collaborative translation with Per Brask of selected poems by Ulrikka S. Gernes. Friesen has also written several stage and radio plays, and has collaborated with choreographers, dancers, musicians and composers. His books have been shortlisted for the BC Book Prize and the Governor General's Award.

Exhilarating jazz pianist/improviser Marilyn Lerner performs to acclaim internationally, from her native Montreal to Havana, from Jerusalem to Amsterdam and the Ukraine. Her groundbreaking recordings have garnered recognition, including “Best Western Jazz Recording 2004” for her “Special Angel” duo with legendary guitarist Sonny Greenwich. Lerner conducts workshops on improvisation and on Jewish music throughout North America, Europe and the former Soviet Union. Current projects include both a recording and performances of "Shake My Heart Like a Copper Bell, Lerner's contemporary Yiddish song cycle on the poetry of Anna Margolin, scored for piano, cello, clarinet and singer Adrienne Cooper, for which she received a Hadassah-Brandeis research award, ongoing collaborations with poet Patrick Friesen, a new trio project with cellist Matt Brubeck and drummer Nick Fraser and numerous solo concerts.

Andrew Wedderburn has worked in community radio and co-operative bookstores, slung martinis and was briefly a moderately successful Name That Tune host. Now he explains stock photography for a living. His rock’n’roll outfit, Hot Little Rocket, has played across Canada more times than he can keep track of and performed for two weeks in Beijing in 2005. The Milk Chicken Bomb is his first novel. He lives in Calgary.

Jay Coda Walker has been performing for audiences for over 15 years. He is the National Project Discovery Winner of 2001, Budweiser Talent Contest Winner of 1999 and the Shaw Television Video/Showcase Recipient of 1998.

Eleventh Transmission June/July issue online now!

2007-06-05T09:41:00.000-07:00

Check out issue 12 of Eleventh Transmission, Calgary's arts, culture, media, and activism magazine. www.eleventhtransmission.org.

Enjoy!

-Kirk

Natalie Simpson reading from accrete or crumble

2007-05-30T13:20:00.000-07:00

In case you missed the last time I read in Calgary (in January), or if you were there but it left you wanting more, I’ll be reading from my book accrete or crumble at McNally Robinson on Tuesday, June 12 at 6:00 pm.

Contact: Natalie Simpson

McNally Robinson Booksellers
120 – 8^th Avenue SW
Tuesday, June 12 at 6:00 pm

** please note the early start time of this event **

Call for...Readers?

2007-05-25T12:18:00.000-07:00

It's time for another experiment. This time, Flywheel is looking for writers, but not necessarily readers, for the July 5^th installment of the reading series.

We're looking for texts of any genre (poetry, fiction, non-fiction, drama) to pass along to other artists who will interpret and perform the piece at Flywheel. Your piece may be given to an actor, dancer, musician, or other performance artist.

Are you willing to give your work over to the experiment? If so, contact me at nzwalschots@gmail.com

The July Flywheel is going to be a doozy. In addition to the experiment, we'll be auctioning off a Flywheel poster that has been signed by every single Flywheel participant since January. Start saving your pennies! We'll see you at McNally Robinson at 7:30pm.

AMPed UP

2007-04-18T11:52:00.000-07:00

Alberta Magazines Get AMPed Up

The Alberta Magazine Publishers Association (AMPA) announces a stellar line-up for its AMPed Up reading taking place on Tuesday, April 24, at 7:30pm at Pages in Kensington.

As part of a new campaign to highlight the quality and diversity of the creative milieu in which Alberta Magazines thrive, AMPA’s new AMPed Up series will kick off with readings from Alberta-based writers Christopher Wiseman, Robert Majzels and Emily Carr.

The eclectic mix of literary styles and artists will showcase the energy and diversity of the arts and lit scene present in Alberta magazines.

Described as a “playful poet…brutally honest about the world and about himself,” Christopher Wiseman is the author of In John Updike’s Room, recent winner of the W.O. Mitchell City of Calgary Book Award and founder of the University of Calgary’s Creative Writing Department. He was the judge of Freefall magazine’s 2006 writing contest.

Robert Majzels, a current professor of creative writing at the University of Calgary and Governor General's Award winner for Translation, recently moved from Montreal to Calgary. He is the author of Apikoros Sleuth, a poetic exploration of the limits of language, and a philosophical inquiry into the terrain of ethics, issues of life, death, guilt and community which employs the form of the Jewish Talmud. He is the interim faculty advisor for dANDdelion magazine.

Of no relation to her famous namesake, Emily Carr is a PhD student at the U of C and a member of the editorial collectives of both dANDdelion and filling station magazines. Recently relocated to Calgary from North Carolina, Emily has been published internationally across the US and UK in magazines such as Third Coast, the Exquisite Corpse, and Fire. Her writing explores subjectivity, lyric and erasure poetics and she will be reading from her recent collection Sprawl.

Join AMPA for an incredible and diverse literary evening and experience. Entry is free, with a complimentary wine and cheese to follow. As well, representatives from Alberta’s arts and lit magazines will be present.

The action starts at 7:30pm sharp, April 24.

Pages on Kensington, 1135 Kensington Road N.W.

For more information, contact:

Josh Smith
Communications and Program Assistant
403-262-0081; ampa@albertamagazines.com

May flywheel - Serial Poetics

2007-04-10T17:00:00.000-07:00

filling Station magazine presents:

May flywheel – Serial Poetics!

Performances by:

Lisa Rose Berreth-Feragen (Red Mile Revenge)
Kirk Miles (Single Onion)
Leif Baradoy & Rhett Soveran (Soundlines)
Sabo (Thought Express)

... and hosted by Mark Hopkins!

Thursday, May 3 – 7:30 pm
McNally Robinson – 120 8^th Ave SW

You didn’t think flywheel was the only reading series in town, did you? In a celebration of community, flywheel has invited four other local reading series – Red Mile Revenge, Single Onion, Soundlines and Thought Express – to put together an all-star lineup of literary maestros. Join us for a taste of Calgary’s diverse poetic offerings!

PLUS: Don’t forget the flywheel prize draw! Not only will attendees get to hear top-notch literature, but they’ll also have the chance to win swag from filling Station magazine and McNally Robinson Booksellers.

EXTRA BONUS: Sandy Lam’s limited edition flywheel poster, up for grabs in July 2007, continues to accumulate writers’ signatures in special silver ink!

Every month since November 2003, filling Station magazine's flywheel reading series has brought poetry, prose, music, lectures and performance to the heart of downtown Calgary. It’s a place for first-time readers to share the stage with professional authors, for Calgary audiences to see their favourite writers alongside the next generation of literary superstars.

CONTACT: Mark Hopkins
403.710.0093 – mark.c.hopkins@gmail.com

Next flywheel: June 7, 2007
McNally Robinson – 120 8^th Ave SW

Eleventh Transmission Birthday Issue: Spoken Word Spectacular

2007-04-02T17:13:00.000-07:00

www.eleventhtransmission.org

Eleventh Transmission is one year old!

So it is fitting that in this new issue we present to you what is by leaps and bounds the most jam-packed issue we have ever put out. Scattered throughout the pages of this issue, you'll find:

the work of 21 poets from all over the world, including Lynn Strongin
the names of the winners of our fiction and haiku contests, including the winning story and the three winning haiku
lots of video of hot poetry action
a listing of the most popular content from the past year (as chosen by you),
articles on hemp, weather, democratic action,
an announcement for our new fiction contest,
photos from San Francisco,
the launch of our new store,
and even more!

This issue is so huge, it will take you the full two months to get through it all. Get started! www.eleventhtransmission.org.

OUTrageously Real

2007-03-26T01:37:00.000-07:00

CALGARY INTERNATIONAL SPOKEN WORD FESTIVAL
www.calgaryspokenwordfestival.com

SPECIAL EVENT #1: OUTrageously Real
Thursday, April 5, 2007 – 8:00 – $15 / $10 students
Jack Singer Concert Hall Lobby – EPCOR Centre for the Performing Arts

Presented With:
OutFest
Calgary OutLink – Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity

ARTISTS:
John Barton (Victoria)
David Bateman (Toronto)
Ivan E. Coyote ( Vancouver)
Billeh Nickerson (Vancouver)
evalyn parry (Toronto)
Bill Richardson (Vancouver)
Michael V. Smith (Vancouver)

MC: Sheri-D Wilson/ Vong Sundara

Featuring
the Imperial Sovereign Court of the Chinook Arch
Her most Imperial and Sovereign Majesty Empress 30
of Calgary and all of Southern Alberta – Mz. Dyna Myte

The CISWF presents the official launch of Seminal: The Anthology of Canada's Gay Male Poets (Arsenal Pulp Press). The first of its kind, this groundbreaking anthology ranges from the 1890s to the present and explores every region of Canada, including poems from Quebec translated into English for the first time!

This event includes a special fundraiser auction, featuring the winners of OutFest's Body & Soul: a photographic interpretation in black & white. This photography competition invites artists to interpret "Body & Soul" in a dizzying array of shapes and sizes. Don't miss your chance to bid on an original piece of artwork! For more information, visit www.calgary2007.com/photo.asp.

This is not just a literary event. This is a celebration of the word, the body and the community.

Calgary OutLink: Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity – The Gay and Lesbian Community Services Association has been in our community for over 20 years and is preparing for the next phase with a new name and a renewed commitment to the community. Our mission is to create networking and community building among all people by providing GLBTQ (Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transsexual/Two Spirited/Questioning) support, education, referrals and resources.

Tickets at Pages in Kensington, Megatunes, McNally Robinson Bookstellers

Tickets for this event also available at:
Calgary OutLink
#4 1230A 17^th Ave SW
403.234.8973

MEDIA CONTACT: Tracy Stewart
403.472.3390 - tracy.stewart@shaw.ca

Martian Press Chapbooks

2007-03-20T14:10:00.000-07:00

The Martian Press is putting out a new chapbook: Full On Jabber by Jess Mynes & Christopher Rizzo.

Still have diminishing quantities of a few chapbooks available as well. The * symbol denotes books that are almost sold out, and which you may want to buy while you still can. So here's the current catalogue:

Full On Jabber by Jess Mynes and Christopher Rizzo
On Stealing Lips by Lars Palm
Abberant Lounges by Kimmy Beach
* Document 1 by kevin mcpherson eckhoff
Of Quixote's Lap by ryan fitzpatrick
generations by rob mclennan
* Call & Response by Jonathan Ball & derek beaulieu
* oppidum by Norah Bowman

Single books: $5 plus shipping ($1 in Canada, $2 in the US)
Five books: $20 and free shipping
All eight books: $30 and free shipping

If you want anything, email me at jonathan [at] jonathanball [dot] com. I'm going to be travelling through late March and the first half of April, so any orders will be delivered late April.

April flywheel!

2007-03-18T16:05:00.000-07:00

filling Station magazine presents:

April flywheel – National Poetry Month!

Performances by:

Laurie Fuhr
Jill Hartman
Josh Smith
Caleb Zimmerman

... and hosted by Natalie Zina Walschots!

Thursday, April 12 – 7:30 pm
McNally Robinson – 120 8^th Ave SW

Celebrating National Poetry Month, flywheel explodes with poetic intensity! Four writers share their literary prowess - don't miss this scorchin' hot event!

PLUS: Don’t forget the flywheel prize draw! Not only will attendees hear top-notch literature, but they’ll also have the chance to win swag from filling Station magazine and McNally Robinson Booksellers.

EXTRA BONUS: Sandy Lam’s limited edition flywheel poster, up for grabs in July 2007, continues to accumulate writers’ signatures in special silver ink!

Every month since November 2003, filling Station magazine’s flywheel reading series has brought poetry, prose, music, lectures and performances to the heart of downtown Calgary. It’s a place for first-time readers to share the stage with professional authors, for Calgary audiences to see their favourite writers alongside the next generation of literary superstars!

Next flywheel: May 3, 2007
McNally Robinson – 120 8^th Ave SW

CONTACT: Mark Hopkins
403.710.0093 – mark.c.hopkins@gmail.com

Koyczan @ Koi

2007-03-16T00:18:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, March 20, 9:00 pm
Café Koi, #100 1011 1^st St SW
$7-$10

Shane Koyczan is in Calgary for one night only! Don’t miss this intimate evening with one of Canada’s top poetry performers!

Shane is the first international performer to win the highly coveted Individual Championship title at the National Poetry Slam 2000. He has also been a national finalists 4 times placing in the top 6 of north america every year he has competed. He is the winner of CBC's National Poetry Face Off and recently recieved the nod for best poetry reading from the Edinburgh Book Festival.

Shane bested over 250 competing poets from all over North America at the world's largest performance poetry competition. In addition, Shane is the only non American Slam Champion in the history of the competition.

Born in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada , Shane attended the Creative Writing program at Okanagan University College. He is the winner of the Leonard Cohen Award for Best Song, the James Elroy Award for Best Voice and the W.B. Yeats Award for Best Poem, all while working in a video store to support his writing habit. Shane has performed with such notables as Maya Angelou, Quincy Troupe, Utah Phillips, sage francis... he has opened for Ani Difranco, Spearhead and Saul Williams.

"Read Shane Koyczan... the future of poetry is in good hands" -- Maya Angelou

"The best spoken word performer I've ever seen." -- Utah Phillips

MORE INFO: 403-477-2664

-30-

Spoken Word Spectacular! Call for Submissions

2007-03-07T14:49:00.000-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Eleventh Transmission, in collaboration with the Calgary International Spoken Word Festival, is seeking submissions from local, national, and international spoken word artists for our Spoken Word Spectacular.

We would like to showcase as many spoken word artists as possible. The deadline is March 21, so get your submission in as soon as possible.

One Poem! (What We Need)
Please send us ONE poem (.txt, .rtf, .doc, or pasted in the email) along with your name (or stage name), a short biography (50-100 words) and any contact information you want to appear, such as website, myspace, email address, phone number, etc. We are sure you look fabulous so feel free to include a photo. Normally we publish only previously unpublished poetry, but in this case we are happy to make an exception so that you can promote anything you have that is already published and ready for sale. If people like what they see they can contact you with the information you provide! If you are an emerging poet, this is a great way to get published for the first time.

Audio
The above is a minimum requirement, and we would be quite thrilled to be able to publish your poem. Even more delightful would be if you send us an audio .mp3 of you performing the poem you have sent me. We can handle attachments of up to 10 MB, so it should be no problem to email the files. This is an excellent option for anyone who has CDs that they want to promote.

Video
Another option that is available to you is to send a video of you performing your poem. We cannot handle attachments that large, but there is this great new site that's all the rage called YouTube. Make a video recording of you peforming your poem, upload it to YouTube, and then send us the link. Other video hosting sites also work, as long as they provide the code to embed the video.

*Please note.* Even if you send an .mp3 or a YouTube link, we still want the poem in text form. Poems live quite differently depending on the medium and this is one excellent way to demonstrate this.

Dates and Such
If you are interested in contributing, please send the required files, information, and/or links by March 21. Then go out and enjoy the spring! The next issue of Eleventh Transmission goes online April 2, and everything will be viewable online then. Files should be emailed to submissions@eleventhtransmission.org. Please contact us if you have any questions.

The response to this so far has been great, and your participation would make it even better! Please forward this message to anyone who might be interested.

Deadline: March 21
Submit to: submissions@eleventhtransmission.org

Thanks!

-Kirk

Getting Closer!

2007-03-01T21:53:00.000-08:00

Translating Translating Montréal
or: What are those Montrealers Up To, and What’s It To Us in Calgary?
Conference and Readings on Innovative Translational Poetics

CALGARY, March 8 & 9 2007

Join us on March 8 & 9 as the University of Calgary, CJSW 90.9 FM and The New Gallery host Translating Translating Montréal, featuring discussion and performance by four writers from Montréal: Oana Avasilichioaei, Angela Carr, Robert Majzels, and Erín Moure.

Thursday, March 8
University of Calgary – Learning Commons Room, Biology 540A – 2:30pm-5pm - Free

1)Translating Translating Montréal: A Colloquium on the Theory and Practice of Poetic Translation, moderated by Calgary poet Jill Hartman

• Erín Moure – “Co-Translating ‘Nicole Brossard’: Three-Way Spectacle or Spectre de Trois?”
• Oana Avasilichioaei – “Towards a multiplied authorship and against a transparent I: in translational collaboration with the work of Paul Celan and Nichita Stanescu”
• Angela Carr: “Undercover/undiscover: Love and Eros between Languages”
• Robert Majzels: “Whittling: Translating Tang Dynasty Poets into 85 Letters”

University of Calgary – ST 147 – 7pm-8:30pm (by donation)

2)Mountroyal!: Poetry/Translation Performances by the four writers, hosted by dANDelion's kevin mcpherson eckhoff

Friday, March 9
The New Gallery – 516D - 9th Avenue SW – 7:00pm (by donation, door prizes)

3)Vacheville!: Performances by Oana Avasilichioaei, Angela Carr, Robert Majzels, and Erín Moure, hosted by filling Station's Natalie Walschots

The events are sponsored by the Faculty of Humanities, the English Department and the French, Italian and Spanish Department, The New Gallery, CJSW 90.9 FM, along with dANDelion and filling Station magazines.

Prizes and ephemera, poetry and peeps!

Oana Avasilichioaei is an emerging Montréal writer who works and teaches at Dawson College in Montréal, and runs the Atwater Poetry Project. She is currently collaborating with Erín Moure on a dialogic work involving translation from and to Romanian texts by Paul Celan and Nichita Stanescu. She has published two translations of Stanescu’s poetry (including Occupational Sickness, BuschekBooks, 2006) and a book of her own poems (Abandon, Wolsak & Wynn, 2005). She has published excerpts from a work in process, feria: a poempark, in a number of journals, and has given readings in Canada, USA and Slovenia.

Angela Carr is a writer and editor based in Montréal. Her translations of the concordance to the Roman de la Rose (Matrix, 2007) are excellent examples of the sort of innovative poetic translations the conference will examine. Her first book of poetry Ropewalk (Snare Books, Montréal) was published in 2006, and she is now working on a new text drawing from medieval and other sources, and from texts in multiple languages. Carr is one of the emerging writers immersed in Montréal’s multilingual and many-cultured scene who reads fluently in more than two languages, and whose work in English is influenced by linguistic and translational concerns.

Robert Majzels, currently on a limited term appointment as an associate professor in the University of Calgary’s English Department, is a novelist, poet, dramatist and past winner of the Governor General’s Award for Translation (for France Daigle’s Just Fine, 2000). His own work has been impacted by French, Hebrew (Apikoros Sleuth, Mercury, 2004) and more recently Chinese (“Books from the Burning Building,” NO Magazine, N.Y, 2006).

Erín Moure, a Governor General’s Award winning poet and author of 13 books, has been involved for several years now on developing innovative translation practices, with books like her acclaimed trans(e)lation of Fernando Pessoa in Sheep’s Vigil by a Fervent Person. She is responsible for making available in English complex works by writers such as the Chilean poet Andrés Ajens, and the Galician poet Chus Pato (M-Tala, Nomados, Vancouver, 2003, and Charenton, Shearsman Books, UK, forthcoming 2007). Erín Moure and Robert Majzels have together translated three books by the renowned innovative Québec poet Nicole Brossard.

Stupid Blogger

2007-03-01T14:52:00.000-08:00

Hi all,

Blogger forced me to switch to the "new" blogger, so you will have to to post here. It's pretty easy if you already have a gmail, and probably more of a pain if you don't. I tried to hold off, but, you know, progress.

ryan

TorkStar - issue two

2007-02-28T22:01:00.000-08:00

The second issue of TorkStar has arrived! http://torkstar.com

This month, we've got the blues.

D.B. Cox kicks off the issue with "A Few Good Things", read by Jeffrey Kafer. As if this story isn't good enough, Colin Martin also interviewed Cox, in TorkStar's first author Q & A. It's a fantastic first interview. Don't miss it!

Our cover artist, Al Satoor, follows up with some art work inspired by the early days of jazz.

Then, Joel Van Noord gets all trippy on us with "Game Theory", read by Tom Dheere. Clay McCann shows us the gripping irony of childhood innocence with "A Dirge For Boys", read by Donovan Corneetz. After checking out Travis Lawrence's art this month, you'll want some of what he's taking when he conjures up his sketches. Don't miss his art feature. And we wrap up issue two with Corey Mesler's "What Lemmy Found In The Woods", read with style by Rob Ellis.

So read, listen, view, and enjoy issue two of TorkStar. And don't forget to visit the TorkStar forum (http://torkstar.com/forum) to comment on this month's issue, and send your love to your favorite contributors.

Roxfam!

2007-02-28T15:37:00.000-08:00

Roxfam at the Marquee room upstairs at the Uptown
612 8th Ave SW
Thursday, March 8, 2007
7-11 pm

The recently revived Calgary chapter of Oxfam Canada is pleased to announce their first awareness raising event Roxfam: Artists in support of women in poverty coinciding with International Women's Day Thursday, March 8.

Women produce 60 percent of all food, run 70 percent of small-scale businesses and make up one third of the official labour force according to Oxfam.ca, yet they own a mere one percent of the world's resources and earn only 1/10th of the world's income. The event hopes to draw awareness to current women's issues while also celebrating some of Calgary's incredible female artists.

The eclectic evening will feature performers and speakers who will be touching on the myriad ways women in poverty are coping under extreme conditions both here and abroad.

Featuring performances by Urban Curvz Theatre, Sheri-D Wilson, Shone Abet and enlightening talks from Louise Gallagher of the Calgary Drop in Centre Society along with Doreen Spence of the Canadian Indigenous Women's Resource Institute..

The night will wrap up with the ambient, piano infused music of Consonant C and the high energy antics of Seven Story Redhead.

This is a non gender specific event and is open to anyone over 18-years-old.

The Marquee Room is located on the second floor of the Uptown Stage and Screen at
612 8th Ave. SW.

Media Contacts:

David Wilson
Community Development Facilitator
Momentum
Phone: 272-9310 ext. 256
E-mail: davidw@momentum.org

Charles Netto
Oxfam Emcee
Phone: 403.397.8559
E-mail: swallowabicycle@gmail.com

Hayley Redpath
Oxfam Emcee
Phone: 403.831.4187
E-mail: hredpath@gmail.com

Free Haiku Contest!

2007-02-20T15:00:00.000-08:00

Free Haiku Contest!

Magpie Haiku Poets and Eleventh Transmission are currently having a free haiku contest. Publication and some excellent haiku books are the prizes.

The deadline to enter is March 3. Full contest details are available at www.eleventhtransmission.org.

Tell your friends about this great FREE contest!

Thanks!
-Kirk

Single Onion #50

2007-02-20T00:31:00.000-08:00

WHO: The Single Onion Poetry Night #50
WHAT: A night of poetry, prose, music and mayhem. With poets: Weyman Chan, Leif Baradoy and Jocelyn Grosse. Hosted by Panty Melter, Laurie Fuhr With music by Juanita Brandt.

WHEN: Wednesday, February 21st, 2007, at 7 PM

WHERE: The Triangle Gallery of Visual Arts 104, 800 Macleod Trail SE

COST: Free due to our sponsors Brew Brothers,Fitter.First, Dean Stanton, The League of Canadian Poets, The Triangle Gallery, Canada Council for the Arts and Slivers.net

THE READERS:

CANADIAN POET: Weyman Chan he has published 1 book of poetry, Before A Blue Sky Moon (2002), which won the Alberta Poetry Award that year. Weyman’s other book of poetry, A Leaf That Darkens will be published by Talonbooks in Vancouver in spring, 2008. He's currently revising the first draft of a third book of poetry, entitled Rain & Doubt.

SINGLE ONION READER: Leif Baradoy is our newest Onion. Leif performs regularly in Alberta, including at the 2006 Amnesty International Arts Jam and the 2006 South Country Fair. His recent chapbook, The Late Teacher and Other Poems. His work is influenced by the likes of H. D., Eliot, Ginsberg, and Thom Yorke. Leif works as an editor at a small publishing house.

LOCAL POET: Jocelyn Grosse. Her poems have appeared in (orange), filling Station and various chapbooks, and have been performed for Calgary‘s Take Back the Night, International Women‘s Day (with the Raging Grannies), The Comfort Zone (with musician Megan Emmett), The Ross Shameless Promotion of Family and Friends House Concert Series (with Dynarouge‘s Erin Ross and James Dangerous)

MUSICIAN: Juanita Brandt. She's a great singer-songwriter-guitarist. When she sings the songs she's written about those times horse back riding, big skies and a peace that¹s unlike any you find in the city. Were sure you'll get a kick out of her!

THE ART: The Triangle Gallery of Visual Arts will be presenting a very important retrospective exhibition: Beyond Symbolism: Ceramic Sculpture by Jean LaPointe Mihalcheon one of Alberta’s most acclaimed ceramic artists based in Calgary. The exhibition will be featured from February 16 to March 9, 2007.

Single Onion happens (usually) the third Thursday of the month, ten times a year. Our event schedule can always be found at: http://www.singleonion.com/calendar.html

CBC Poetry Face-Off

2007-02-20T00:27:00.000-08:00

CBC Poetry Face-Off

Thursday, February 22, 2007 - 7:30 pm
Auburn Saloon - #163 115 9th Ave SE
Host: Katherine Duncan

Featuring:
Wakefield Brewster
Möe Clark
Jordan Dack
Rosemary Griebel
Kirk Ramdath

CBC Radio continues its tradition of battling bards with the sixth annual Poetry Face-Off! The popular Canada-wide competition brings together 70 poets in peak form to sound off in 14 cities stretching from Victoria to Yellowknife to St. John's.

From January to March, five poets in each locale, commissioned by CBC regional producers to reflect local voices and traditions, will face-off before a live audience and deliver their words on this year's theme - 'Made In Canada'. At each event, the spectators vote for their favourite poem, and the winner goes on to be celebrated with the other regional winners in five special Poetry Face-Off programs, hosted by Bill Richardson. Those shows will air in April 2007 during National Poetry Month.

From its inception six years ago, the Poetry Face-Off has been a cross-country event. This year, face-offs are being held in Yellowknife, Victoria, Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Regina, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal, Charlottetown, Moncton, Halifax and St. John's.

Translating Translating Montréal!

2007-02-16T12:09:00.000-08:00

Mark your calendars! "Translating Translating Montréal" is a colloquium featuring discussion and performance of innovative poetic translation by Montrealers Oana Avasilichioaei and Angela Carr, and ex-pat-Montrealers-and/or-sometime Calgarians Robert Majzels and Erín Moure.

Thursday, March 8
University of Calgary – Learning Commons Room, Biology 540A – 2:30pm-5pm - Free

1)Translating Translating Montréal: A Colloquium on the Theory and Practice of Poetic Translation, moderated by Calgary poet Jill Hartman

• Erín Moure – “Co-Translating ‘Nicole Brossard’: Three-Way Spectacle or Spectre de Trois?”
• Oana Avasilichioaei – “Towards a multiplied authorship and against a transparent I: in translational collaboration with the work of Paul Celan and Nichita Stanescu”
• Angela Carr: “Undercover/undiscover: Love and Eros between Languages”
• Robert Majzels: “Whittling: Translating Tang Dynasty Poets into 85 Letters”

University of Calgary – ST 147 – 7pm-8:30pm (by donation)

2)Mountroyal!: Poetry/Translation Performances by the four writers

Friday, March 9
The New Gallery – 516D - 9th Avenue SW – 7:00pm (by donation, door prizes)

3)Vacheville!: Performances by Oana Avasilichioaei, Angela Carr, Robert Majzels, and Erín Moure

Readings hosted by lovely filling Station and dANDelion personalities (TBA-- ooh mystery hosts!), book table stocked with oodles of participants' books as well as limited edition broadsheets provided by the wonderful U of C Bookstore, venues of majesty provided by the always generous New Gallery and the scholarly University of Calgary. Listen for ads on Calgary's best radio station, CJSW 90.9 FM, and see you there!

March flywheel - NōD Invasion!

2007-02-12T22:31:00.000-08:00

filling Station magazine presents:

March flywheel – NōD Invasion!

Performances by:

Douglas Briggs
Sarah Gibbs
Diana Lyuber
Paul William Zits

... hosted by Mark Hopkins!

Thursday, March 1 – 7:30 pm
McNally Robinson – 120 8th Ave SW

It’s March Madness – flywheel style! The University of Calgary’s NōD Magazine rolls into flywheel with four fabulous readers and all the literary excitement you could desire. Join us for a jam-packed evening of wordplay, then stick around to meet the writers and explore Calgary’s cultural landscape (over a pint or three)!

PLUS: Don’t forget the flywheel prize draw! Not only will attendees get to hear top-notch literature, but they’ll also have the chance to win swag from filling Station magazine and McNally Robinson Booksellers.

EXTRA BONUS: Sandy Lam’s limited edition flywheel poster, up for grabs in July 2007, continues to accumulate writers’ signatures in special silver ink!

Every month since November 2003, filling Station magazine's flywheel reading series has brought poetry, prose, music, lectures and performance to the heart of downtown Calgary. It’s a place for first-time readers to share the stage with professional authors, for Calgary audiences to see their favourite writers alongside the next generation of literary superstars.

Next flywheel: April 12, 2007
McNally Robinson – 120 8th Ave SW

CONTACT: Mark Hopkins
403.710.0093 – mark.c.hopkins@gmail.com

Eleventh Transmission Issue #10 online!

2007-02-06T13:33:00.000-08:00

Hello all,

The new issue of Eleventh Transmission is now online!

www.eleventhtransmission.org.

Lots of amazing content! 3 poets, fiction, articles, an amazing house mix by DJ Koolaid, visual art, reviews, and for the first time, VIDEO!!

Video poems and an interview with Andre Rodrigues, as well as a film from the Youth Animation Project.

Also, in collaboration with Magpie Haiku Poets, a FREE Haiku Contest!

Check the website for complete details. www.eleventhtransmission.org.
(if you know anyone who might be interested in reading Eleventh Transmission, please tell them about it!)

Enjoy!

-Kirk

TorkStar - an online fiction and art magazine

2007-01-29T11:02:00.000-08:00

Hello. I'm Derek Gour. I'd like to announce the launch of the first issue of TorkStar (http://torkstar.com), a monthly online journal of short fiction and art. Though it's on the internet, the magazine is based in Calgary, and I'd like to see more Calgarian (and just plain old Canadian) content in its virtual pages. Submission guidelines are at torkstar.com/submit. A rarity amongst literary journals, TorkStar not only publishes the text version of stories, but one of a plethora of talented voice-over artists narrates each story, so you can listen to them on your iPod while you're sitting on the bus. The site also boasts a writing workshop where writers can critique and be critiqued in order to improve their writing. workshop.torkstar.com. Workshop registration is free and easy.

Four short stories grace the first issue. Karl Koweski's "The Great Ice Cream Robbery" shows us how the Little Rascals might have looked if they were Polish and lived in Chicago. Ben Tanzer explores some seriously anti-social behaviour with "In My Room". Gavin Lambert brings us more personal issues, this time in the bedroom, with "Settling Down". And Deborah Wang rounds out the stories with her strange tale of being left behind, "Shard".

The art department is equally impressive, with Irene Donnelly's "Hybrid Plant Creatures", one of which is the cover image for February. I can't stop thinking of Little Shop of Horrors. Mandy Maxwell continues to spook us out with her haunting images of birds - mostly dead birds. Enjoy!

This is a great first issue. Read it, listen to it, look at it. Send your love to the contributors.

P.S. Sorry, there's no fancy launch party. Still working on that. ;-)

- Derek

Eleventh Transmission Fiction Contest: 1 Week to Enter!!

2007-01-24T16:57:00.000-08:00

Hello georgous Calgarians,

The Eleventh Transmission Fiction contest closes in 1 week time! (Jan 31)
Get your story in a.s.a.p.!

3000 words or less! Previously unpublished! $10 to enter!

Full contest details available at www.eleventhtransmission.org.

Come on local writers. *Trust me*, your odds are very good of winning one of the excellent prizes. Let's keep the winnings in Calgary!

-Kirk

February flywheel - Calgary Ink Invasion!

2007-01-19T11:49:00.000-08:00

filling Station magazine presents:

February flywheel – Calgary Ink Invasion!

Performances by:

Christopher Blais
Alyson Fortowsky
Rebekah Jarvis
Paul Kennett
Crystal Mimura

... hosted by Chris Ewart and Mark Hopkins!

Thursday, February 1 – 7:30 pm
McNally Robinson – 120 8th Ave SW

What happens when flywheel teams up with Calgary Ink? An evening of prose prowess! Five fiction writers unite to share their freshest creations. Join us downtown on this First Thursday to catch the next generation of Canadian superstar authors!

PLUS: Don’t forget the flywheel prize draw! Not only will attendees get to hear top-notch literature, but they’ll also have the chance to win swag from filling Station magazine and McNally Robinson Booksellers.

EXTRA BONUS: Sandy Lam’s limited edition flywheel poster, up for grabs in July 2007, continues to accumulate writers’ signatures in special silver ink!

Every month since November 2003, filling Station magazine's flywheel reading series has brought poetry, prose, music, lectures and performance to the heart of downtown Calgary. It’s a place for first-time readers to share the stage with professional authors, for Calgary audiences to see their favourite writers alongside the next generation of literary superstars.

Next flywheel: March 1, 2007
McNally Robinson – 120 8th Ave SW

CONTACT: Mark Hopkins
403.710.0093 – mark.c.hopkins@gmail.com

Call for CISWF Volunteers

2007-01-19T11:48:00.000-08:00

Calgary International Spoken Word Festival

Call for Volunteers!

The 4th annual Calgary International Spoken Word Festival is almost upon us, running April 5-22, 2007. You can check out the high-octane assortment of events and artists at www.calgaryspokenwordfestival.com

We need YOUR help to make this the biggest and best festival yet!

Available volunteer roles include:

- Billets: invite an artist into your home!
- Publicity: distribute programs and posters throughout the city!
- Transport: help our out-of-town artists navigate Calgaria!
- Ushers/Booksellers: be on the scene at brilliant poetry events!

Volunteers will receive thank-you gifts, invitations to special after-parties, the chance to meet festival artists and more!

There are volunteer opportunities from March 15 to April 23, so you have plenty of time to lend a hand! If you’re interested in volunteering, please contact:

Mark Hopkins
markhopkins@ciswf.com
403.710.0093

Information we will need:

Name:
Phone:
E-mail:
Languages spoken:
Access to a vehicle?
Availability (dates; daytime, evenings, weekends):

Thanks; we look forward to working with you!
For more information about the festival, please contact:

Sheri-D Wilson – Artistic Director
Calgary International Spoken Word Festival
www.calgaryspokenwordfestival.com
403.686.4292 – sheridwilson@shaw.ca

Calgary Poetry Slam - January 25, 2007

2007-01-15T11:25:00.000-08:00

The Calgary International Spoken Word Festival presents:

Calgary Poetry Slam!

Thursday, January 25, 2007 – 8:00 pm
Beat Niq Jazz & Social Club – 811 1st St SW
Hosts: Sheri-D Wilson & Mark Hopkins
$5

Last month, Zack Davis walked away from the Calgary Poetry Slam with prize money and a shot at joining the 2007/08 Calgary Slam Team, to represent Calgary in national international Slam competitions. This month, it could be you!

Every month, 10 poets storm the stage to share their words and beats with packed-out, cheering crowds. Judges from the audience score their performances in two intense rounds of poetic excellence, until a winner is crowned! With different local performers every time, Slam nights are impossible to predict and not to be missed!

If you want to Slam, bring a $5 registration fee and 3 poems (three-minute MAX, each) and sign up with Mark Hopkins. Sign-up will be first come, first served, so be sure to arrive early!

For Slam procedures and rules, please visit www.calgaryspokenwordfestival.com

NEXT SLAM:

The CBC Poetry Face-Off!
Thursday, February 22, 2007 – 8:00 pm
Auburn Saloon, #163 115 9th Ave SE

CONTACT:
Sheri-D Wilson – 403.686.4292
sheridwilson@shaw.ca
www.calgaryspokenwordfestival.com

-30-

More Free Exchanging 2007

2007-01-14T17:54:00.000-08:00

Below is the Call for Papers for MY panel.... SUBMIT! Essays on poetics in relation to the artifact are welcome, to this or to the general call, located HERE. Spread the word! And yeah, that’s right… I pretty much just stole these introductory lines right from Jonathan’s post. Whatchya gonna do about it?

Fucking Artifacts: Re-examining the Roles of Expletives in Culture and Academia

Much Wine had past with grave discourse, Of who Fucks who, and who does worse. ~ Lord Rochester, Poems on Several Occasions

How in the fuck should I know? ~ William Burroughs, Naked Lunch

Academic writing often excludes profanities, and often ignores them as the subject of literary scrutiny, even though they are abundant within literature and constitute a significant and legitimate portion of vernacular language. Recently, the Wikipedia entry for “fuck” has provided a surprising history for the contentious cultural artifact. It appears to have started out as any other word might, appearing in 16th and 17th century poetry and drama, early 20th century Louis Armstrong songs, and the WWII military acronyms, “SNAFU” and “FUBAR.” Despite its protracted and prolific history, “fuck” was officially included in the Oxford English Dictionary just over thirty years ago.

Typically, explicit expressions are taken for granted as gratuitous and inarticulate, yet they usually evoke (or provoke) very specific references and strong emotions. As the basis of various expressions, such as “a good fuck,” “fuck off,” and “fuck up,” the term “fuck,” for example, is a site of intersecting and conflicting meanings, including sexual gratification, contempt, and failure. My hope for this panel is to question common characterizations and presumptions of these colloquial artifacts.

A diverse range of approaches to the topic is encouraged: new historicist, feminist, medievalist, film studies, etc. Papers may address, but are not limited to:

* “fuck” as a term of both desire and spite (in relation to history, literature or neither)
* swearing in academia, or simply “swearing in”
* the roles of profanity in culture or in so-called subcultures (such as gaming)
* situating artful/factual uses of, or attitudes towards, foul language (i.e. as fetish?)
* censorship and/or desensitization
* “curse” words in religious/spiritual contexts
* obscenity as “expletive” or “explicit” artifact
* writing the “bawdy”

Deadline for submissions: 2 February 2007

Please submit 250 word proposals (for papers approx. 15 minutes in length) to panel chair kevin mcpherson eckhoff at metrophobic@gmail.com. Attachments should be in Rich Text or Word format only, and please include your name, professional affiliation, and contact information in the body of your email.

Free Exchange 2007

2007-01-12T19:44:00.000-08:00

The University of Calgary is hosting the Free Exchange graduate conference yet again, in March. The theme this year is "Spring Cleaning: Rediscovering and Revitalizing the Artifact." Calls for papers are located HERE.

Below is the Call for Papers for MY panel.... SUBMIT!!!! Essays on poetics in relation to the artifact welcome, to this or to the general call, or other panels. Spread the word!

The Creation and Collection of Artifacts

In “Unpacking My Library,” Walter Benjamin discusses the act of collecting, and then states that “[o]f all the ways of acquiring books, writing them oneself is regarded as the most praiseworthy method. Writers are really people who write books not because they are poor, but because they are dissatisfied with the books which they could buy but do not like.”

There is a sense, then, in which the act of collecting and the act of creation are interconnected. Creators are figured, in the above quote, as collectors who desire nonexistent artifacts, who call these artifacts into existence in order to collect them, and who produce artifacts which are then collected by others. Collectors are also, in some respects, creators—categorizing and structuring raw materials in such a way to achieve a desired aesthetic effect. The creator and the collector also seem connected in their attempts to impose order and arrangement on ephemeral, imaginative chaos. But what is the attraction of specific artifacts—both those collected and those produced for collection—and how does the fact of their being “collected” alter the aura of these artifacts? How and why does the compulsion to collect, or to produce artifacts worthy of collection, attach itself to specific, fetishized objects? In what ways might impurities in the artifact challenge this taxonomic impulse—and why are these “exceptions” (which might be expected to cause anxiety) considered to be “rare” and thus more desirable?

Papers discussing the artifact in terms of its collection and/or its creation will be considered. Presenters are also encouraged to think beyond the borders of literature, and consider the artifact in film, art, history, mythology, folklore, and popular culture.

Deadline for submissions: 2 February 2007

Please submit 250 word proposals (for papers approx. 15 minutes in length) to panel chair Jonathan Ball at jgball@ucalgary.ca (subject heading: “artifacts conference”). Attachments should be in Rich Text or Word format only, and please include your name, professional affiliation, and contact information in the body of your email.

January flywheel - The Collaboration Experiment!

2006-12-30T05:09:00.000-08:00

filling Station magazine presents:

January flywheel – The Collaboration Experiment!

Performances by:

Jason Christie – Weyman Chan
Bronwyn Haslam – Samuel Garrigo Meza
Natalie Walschots – ryan fitzpatrick

... and hosted by Mark Hopkins!

Thursday, January 4 – 7:30 pm
McNally Robinson – 120 8th Ave SW

Three pairs of poets were given a task: collaborate! Over the past month, they’ve been working together to create a collaborative performance – whatever that means to them. Will they co-write brand new poetry? Will they read each others’ work? Will they create a harmony of dual voices? Find out what these creative powerhouses have cooked up at the first-ever Collaboration Experiment!

PLUS: The return of the flywheel prize draw! Not only will attendees get to hear top-notch literature, but they’ll also have the chance to win swag from filling Station magazine and McNally Robinson Booksellers. Don’t miss out!

EXTRA BONUS: Come out for your first glimpse of Sandy Lam’s limited edition flywheel poster, up for auction in June 2007!

Every month since November 2003, filling Station magazine's flywheel reading series has brought poetry, prose, music, lectures and performance to the heart of downtown Calgary. It’s a place for first-time readers to share the stage with professional authors, for Calgary audiences to see their favourite writers alongside the next generation of literary superstars.

Next flywheel: February 1, 2007
McNally Robinson – 120 8th Ave SW

CONTACT: Mark Hopkins
403.710.0093 – mark.c.hopkins@gmail.com

filling Station / NoD launch January 5th!

2006-12-22T15:40:00.000-08:00

update on news on the filling Station / NoD launch coming January 5th!

January 5th, 2007 7:30pm
Carpenters' Union Hall
310 10th st nw
cover $5 (or $10 for admission & 1 mag, $15 for admission and both mags!)

featuring readings by
JACQUELINE TURNER (launching her new book Seven into Even),
NATALIE SIMPSON (launching her new book Accrete or Crumble),
FRANCES KRUK (reading from her new work),
GARRY MORSE (launching his new book Transversals for Orpheus & the untitled 1-13),
REG JOHANSON (launching his new book Courage, my Love),
ROGER FARR (launching his new book Surplus),
and musical sensations HOTLITTLEROCKET!

((please note, that due to another commitment, Jordan Scott will be unable to read))

this promises to be the reading of the year -- yes, only 5 days into 2007, and it will be the reading of the year...

mark your calendars, and bring your dancing shoes!

The Calgary Blow-Out

fS Subscription Sale

filling Station Volunteer Call Spring 2011

filling Station's New Website Up & Running!

Re: “Afterword: Michael Lista, On Poetry: Why Literary Magazines Should Fold”, by Michael Lista, Special to the National Post, March 26, 2011

NO PRESS event - Nov 13 7:30 pm at Pages Books (Calgary)

REMINDER: October Flywheel at Pages this Thursday Oct 7th, 7:30 pm!

Inner Poet – filling Station's Alberta Arts Days Writing Contest!

So now it's begun.. the inevitable gathering - of courage, of fear, of missing archival copies.

filling Station seeks Blow-Out Venue in exchange for Ad Package!

filling Station’s Flywheel, Dandelion Magazine, and Single Onion Present POETRY OCEAN at Sled Island! July 1, Arrata Opera Centre

filling Station seeks reviewers

Free Exchange Fundraiser!

Letter to the Editor FFWD Aug 6 2009 - "Mass Artistic Exodus?"

Overview of the Scene for Ricardo from the Tubby Dog Line-Up

Exploding Contest! Tune in to CJSW 90.9 on Thurs June 25 from 6-7 pm to win!

Announcing The 5th Annual Calgary Blow-Out! July 2-4 2009

Two June Events Presented by Filling Station!

Filling Station Blow-Out Seeks Volunteers! July 2-4 2009

2 Calls to Artists: Filling Station Blow Out fest 09

Pookapalooza! Pooka Press celebrates 15 years!

rob mclennan's blog, Fast Forward Magazine, Geist appreciation, & other news!

Filling Station Seeks New Webmaster

STEPHEN HARPER: a journal of the literary arts

MISC @ Palomino

NōD 9 Launch

Passion: An Epic Poetry Dance Party, Feb. 26, Marque Room

Choose Yer Own Festival!

Blow Out! 2008

The Flywheel Blow-Out Throwdown!

June Flywheel: Cross-Pollination

Claudia Dey Launches Stunt at pages

Old School: Back it up at the Truck

9 Freight Pulls In to Calgary

flying Onion – Writing Also Lives Here!

Concordia Grad Colloquium and Readings

A Celebration of Creative Writing Success!

Eleventh Transmission March 2008 issue online

March Flywheel

call for submissions

Passion Pitch Poetry, Alberta-only Fiction Contest, Haiku Contest

Submit to filling Station

Lisa Robertson and Christine Stewart at Pages

Reading at PAGES Bookstore in Kensington January 22, 7:30 PM

Round-table Discussion at the University of Calgary, SS1339 January 23, 3 PM

Eleventh Transmission v 2, #1 online now!

The Calgary Extravanganza

Natalie Simpson & Suzanne Zelazo at Pages

Cara Hedley Jessica Westhead Launch

Eleventh Transmission Issue 16! + Launching New Open Mic

A Call for Papers

At last! FAKE LAUNCH! November 30!

Thumbscrews Book Launch!

November Flywheel: Day of the Dead

Mature Writers Call for Poetry Submissions

You Are Invited! Yes, YOU!

Eleventh Transmission Issue #15 now online!

Nicole Brossard joined in Calgary by Erín Moure, Robert Majzels, and Robert Kroetsch

October Flywheel

Blow-Out! 3 schedule of events

September Flywheel!

The Third Annual Calgary Blow-Out!

Calgary Blow-Out!

dANDelion presents… RADICAL TRANSLATIONS

Eleventh Transmission #13: Summer issue

Dates for the Next Blow-Out: Sept 14-17

Fest Thought Express

July 19 The Martian Press Closes Its Books

For you visual artists:

the birds and stone series - Call for Artists!

FINAL Martian Press Chapbook!!!

Submit to Holy Beep!

June 14 -- dANDelion launches 33.1

Eleventh Transmission June/July issue online now!

Natalie Simpson reading from accrete or crumble

Call for...Readers?

AMPed UP

May flywheel - Serial Poetics

Eleventh Transmission Birthday Issue: Spoken Word Spectacular

OUTrageously Real

Reading at PAGES Bookstore in Kensington
January 22, 7:30 PM

Round-table Discussion at the University of Calgary, SS1339
January 23, 3 PM