Sheri-D Wilson
| Sheri-D Wilson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Occupation | Poet, Educator, Producer, Activist |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Literary movement | Dada, Surrealism, Spoken word |
| Website | |
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www | |
Sheri-D Wilson, (aka "The Mama of Dada")[1] is a Canadian poet, educator, producer and activist.[2]
In 2015 she was awarded with The City of Calgary Arts Award for her contributions as an artist and community activist.
Her most recent - 9th poetry collection, "OPEN LETTER: Woman Against Violence Against Women," tackles difficult terrain. Conceived from improvisation, this collage of poems culminates in a flood poem as the desecration of the earth is compared to the treatment of women. Throughout the work a drumbeat, a heartbeat, a healing chant pervades. "OPEN LETTER," was nominated for the Robert Kroetsch Poetry Award and the ReLit Award.
Her last collection, "Goddess Gone Fishing for a Map of the Universe," is the first poetry book to use QR codes that connect to video, audio, and interactive talk-back.[3] Her collection, "Re:Zoom" (2005, Frontenac House), won the 2006 Stephan G. Stephansson Award for Poetry, and was shortlisted for the CanLit Award.
In 2011 she edited The Spoken Word Workbook: Inspiration from Poets who Teach (CSWS/BCP), an educational tool for teaching and writing Spoken Word.
She has 2 Spoken Word CDs (arranged by Russell Broom), and 4 award-winning VideoPoems including: Airplane Paula (2001), Spinsters Hanging in Trees (2002), all produced for BravoFACT.
In 2012 she was featured in Chatelaine Magazine, in a story about the creative mind. A regular on CBC,[4] in 2013 she was interviewed by Canadian icon Sheilah Rogers. In 2011 she was honored to be presented by The National Slam of Canada in “Legends of Spoken Word.” In 2009 CBC called her one of the Top 10 Poets in Canada. In 2003 she won the USA Heavyweight title for poetry, and in 2006 The National Slam of Canada presented her with the Poet of Honour Award. Of the beat tradition, in 1989 Sheri-D studied at Naropa University’s Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics, in Boulder, Colorado.
Her influences include Guillaume Apollinaire, T.S. Eliot, and Allen Ginsberg.[3]
Community
- La Directrice Artistique - School of Thought: Languages Lost & Found (2016)
- Founded/ Artistic Director - Calgary Spoken Word Festival (2003-2014)
- Founded/ Directed - The Spoken Word Program @ The Banff Centre (2005-2012)
- Produced - The National Slam of Canada (SpoCan) 2008
- Co-founded and organized the Vancouver Small Press Festival 1988-1990
- Co-founded and organized The Commercial Street Art Festival 1988-1990
Other awards
- ffwd Readers’ Choice Award—Best Poet (2007-2012)
- CBC Arts Top 10 Poets in Canada (2009)
- Global TV's Woman of Vision Award (2006)
- SpoCan Poet of Honour Award (2005)
- Bumbershoot Heavyweight Title for Poetry USA (2003)
- Gold Award at the Houston Film Festival (2003)
- Three ACE awards (2003)
- AMPIA (2003, for best short or vignette)
- CBC Face-off (2002).
Reading highlights
- The Emerald Awards - Performer 2014 (Calgary)
- Verses Poetry Festival (Feature) 2014(Vancouver)
- WordFest 2012 (Calgary)
- V125PC 2011 (Vancouver)
- National Slam-Legends of Spoken Word 2011 (Toronto)
- Vancouver International Writers Festival '11,'02,'00,'95,'93,'90 (Vancouver)
- Maple Stirrup en El Arco de la virgin 2010 (Barcelona)
- Art 4 Change 2010 (Harlem)
- Festival maelstrÖm reEvolution 2010 (Brussels)
- Blue Met 2009 (Montreal)
- Voix d'Amériques 2008,2005 (Montreal)
- Bumbershoot 2003, 1999, 1992, 1991, 1989 (Seattle)
- The World Poetry Bout 2002 (Taos, New Mexico)
- Poetry Africa 2001 (South Africa)
- WordFest 2008, 2000, ’95 (Calgary; Banff)
- Harbourfront Reading Series 1993 (Toronto)
- Small Press Festival 1990 (New York City)
Other highlights
- Women and Words, 2003-2012 (instructor)
- First Time Eyes: Unearthing Spoken Word, 2007 essay (Canadian Theatre Review)
- Heart of a Poet, 2006, featured poet documentary series
- Bowery Project, 2005 (Instructor), Alberta Scene, 2005 (a commemoration of Alberta's centennial)
- Human Rights Symposium 2005: Victoria
- Sounds Like Canada, 2002 CBC Poet in Residence
- Addicted: Notes From The Belly Of The Beast, 2001 essay entitled Blackout
- Confessions a Jazz Play, 1991 text of play (Theatrum)
Bibliography
Poetry
- OPEN LETTER: Woman Against Violence Against Women (2014, Frontenac House Press)
- Goddess Gone Fishing for a Map of the Universe (2012, Frontenac House Press)
- Autopsy of a Turvy World (2008, Frontenac House Press)
- Re:Zoom (2005, Frontenac House Press)
- Between Lovers (2002, Arsenal Pulp Press)
- The Sweet Taste of Lightning (1999, Arsenal Pulp Press)
- Girl’s Guide to Giving Head (1996, Arsenal Pulp Press)
- Swerve (1993, Arsenal Pulp Press)
- Bull Whips and Lambs Wool (1989, Petarade Press)
Editor
- Spoken Word Workbook:Inspiration from Poets who Teach
CDs
- Sweet Taste of Lightning
- Re:Cord
Plays
- Confessions: A Jazz Play
- Boy Wonder (with Ballet BC)
References
- ↑ Steward, Gillian (29 August 2011). "Steward: Ranching, oil and . . . poetry". Toronto Star. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
- ↑ 100 Sheri-D Wilson profile
- 1 2 Hagen, Tanya (1 March 2012). "FFWD - Calgary Arts - Books - No return to the urn". Fast Forward Weekly. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
- ↑ Dirks, Doug (10 September 2014). "Orunamamu". The Homestretch. CBC. Retrieved 10 September 2014. In this interview with Doug Dirks, Sheri-D talked about storyteller Orunamamu.