Bath Japanese Festival Renga at the Library

festival logo by Rory Walker http://www.roryroryrory.com

Bath Central Library Renga

This event was part of the Bath Japanese Festival: http://www.bathjapanesefestival.com 

and Adult Learners Week at Bath Central Library.

Saturday 22nd May 2010   3 – 5 p.m.
Japanese Renga Group Poem Workshop
Bath Central Library, Library entrance at The Podium Shopping Centre, Level One, Bath
ffi BathRenga@withwords.org.uk

Another successful Shisan Renga session, or as Boris calls them "a renga jam session!"

Comments from previous renga workshops:

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

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

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

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

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

" More! More! " Libby, Bristol

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

Boris from Slovenia keeps a watchful eye over the next verse.
photo by Alan Summers

The small but pefectly formed Bath Central Library renga crew.
photo by 
Rachel Carvosso

RENGA: splicing spontaneity into your writing at the Bath Japanese Festival

Part of the 2010 Bath Japanese Festival

With thirteen people involved, fourteen if we count Mr B's Emporium of Reading Delight's masterly presence:

A WRITING EVENTS BATH WORKSHOP WITH ALAN SUMMERS.

THURSDAY MAY 20th 6.30pm-8.30pm at Mr. B’s Emporium of Reading Delights 14-15 John Street Bath BA1 2JL

Renga is a type of joint group activity where we all get involved in writing a poem with haikulike verses called ‘links’. Each verse is not so much poetry in the usual sense, but a way to capture snippets of everyday ’ordinary’ plain speech, and language. 

It’s really easy, and gaining huge popularity all the time: for instance Alan’s Bath 1000 Verse Renga Project with Bath Libraries (book coming out soon) was so popular with both the public and writers that they actually received more than 1000 verse.

We didn't really need to hold a gun to this poet, as she provided the first line!

 










We squeezed in at least a couple of titles from Mr B's Emporium of Reading Delights, and probably inspired by at least another, I'm sure.

Done!

2010 Bath Japanese Festival

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

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

Watch this space!

Comments from a previous renga workshop:

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

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

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

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

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

" More! More! " Libby, Bristol

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

WRITING POETRY the haiku way

This was an amazing event that was sold out! So many things have happened since, including the development of a book in progress with the title of this course: Writing Poetry the haiku way.

Now Karen and myself are known as Call of the Page:
https://www.callofthepage.org/about-1/

UNIQUE RESIDENTIAL COURSE
Fully Booked Up!
WRITING POETRY the haiku way.
Monday - Friday 12th - 16th April 2010

Enter the world of Japanese poetry:
immerse yourself into the ‘quietness’ of haiku while weaving the haiku technique into your writing.

Here is a little taster of what writing we'll be enjoying during the residential course:

• The Haiku Game: great ice-breaker and relaxed way to start the course.
  
• Haiku: its history, techniques, how to keep a haiku journal (complimentary Haiku Journal).
• Ginko: a writing walk, weather permitting, with complimentary Haiku Journal

The course also includes an insight into other 'forms' associated with haiku:

• Tanka: the short love poem
  
• Haibun ( prose with haiku ): great for journals or diary entries, and with travel writing
• Renga: Our last full day will have a 12 verse renga, just for fun!

We will also include how to read or perform haiku; haibun; and how to get published.

Alan Summers is a Japanese poetry expert and tutor/director of With Words; a Japan Times award-winning writer for haiku and renga; and published on the BBC Poetry Season website.

He is Joint-Co-ordinator of the 1000 Verse Renga Project (supported by BBC Poetry Season; Bath Chronicle; and Roger McGough thinks it's a lovely idea too!).

He has an M.A. in Creative Writing from Bath Spa University, and is a widely published and translated haiku poet, and experienced workshop leader. 

Alan founded With Words, an organisation that exists to promote the love and enjoyment of words through literacy work, and literature events.

Alan is also co-organiser, and Literature Director of the 2010 Bath Japanese Festival; haiku editor for Haijinx magazine; and renga editor for Notes from the Gean magazine.

Karen Hoy is a published haiku writer and has assisted Alan with both Poetry School and other workshops. 

She is published in “My Mother Threw Knives” Second Light Publications (2006) and was Highly Commended in the BBC Wildlife Magazine’s Nature Writer of the Year Awards, 2009. 

CONTACT DETAILS

Claridge House
Tel. No. 01342 832150 or 0845 345 7281

Website: www.claridgehouse.quaker.eu.org
email: welcome@claridgehouse.quaker.eu.org

Claridge House, Dormans Road, Dormansland Lingfield, Surrey, RH7 6QH

This is our 2nd residential course at Claridge House by the way.
After such a successful week last year both Claridge House and the students immediately re-booked us over breakfast on the final day.

The vegetarian food is incredible by the way, and all diets are covered too!

"Just to say that I have heard from the magazine you suggested and they have accepted my story and will publish and want more. Thank you."
(National magazine)

“You are a great teacher, and I know what I'm saying. Thank you for everything you gave us.”

“…still on a high…you helped me move past a real boulder I had been lugging around…I am very grateful and enjoying my writing much more.”

“Anyone lucky enough to write a renga with Alan will certainly learn what words can do."

"Thank you for remembering me. I benefited a lot when I was feeling very unwell...and would like to do more. Two were included in the Writer's Selection we published last winter."

There will be plenty of opportunity to have one-one and/or group feedback on haiku and other forms that you wish to either get to publishable quality, or wish to develop further in your writing as a novelist; travel writer (and other non-fiction); a journal/diarist; or poet.

Ffi and the renga we did for Red Nose Day: Residential Course

Fully Booked

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

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

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

Ffi: Forthcoming Events

Creative Community Festival, Radstock

photo by June Wentland, BathNES Reader Development Reader

Creative Community Festival: art|works in Radstock
Alan Summers of With Words: Renga at Radstock Library!
September 26th 2009
2.15p.m. - 6p.m.

Alan Summers holding the second shisan renga (12 verse group poem of shared writing) that we did with people before the library closed!

June Wentland, BathNES Reader Development Officer and myself travelled to Radstock in order to get a renga poem happening as part of the festival. Little did we know that people would love the idea of renga so much that we would complete two renga group poems!

This was also due to the wonderful, friendly, helpful Radstock Library staff, and nesa people.

Renga is a group poem of shared writing, and great fun!
We were all so pleased with Radstock Library users being so keen to get involved.


photo by Mel Day (wire sculpture artist: http://www.melday.co.uk/)

L-R: Judy Terry, Radstock Library Manager; June Wentland, BathNES Reader Development Officer; and myself at the end of a long but delightful day!

We just loved all the verses from the public!

This was the second of two With Words haiku related events on Saturday in the South West of England.

Check out the raku firing; haiku, haibun, small love poems residential course, watch the film to get an idea!

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Click here to see how much you get for your
WRITING POETRY the haiku way:
http://area17.blogspot.com/2008/11/new-residential-haiku-course.html


A raku firing event is included.

What a great souvenir to take away with you after the course, along with your writing! Watch the film and get an idea of the experience!

Raku YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9G_gB9_-TZU&feature=related


original photo taken by Tracy Wall
July 4th 2009
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renga party at the small smaller smallest exhibition

FREE EVENT

Please click the image to see a larger image, and print it for your convenience.

FREE Exhibition & renga party event
(click to go to Library page)

Click here for images of the day: http://www.flickr.com/photos/andreweason/tags/alansummers/

Renga is a relaxing way to pass the time, and a great icebreaker.
Learn a bit about haiku, and poetry in general, while having a good time!
The renga party event happens on Thursday 2nd April 2009 5 p.m. - 7.30 p.m.

When:
Thursday evening
April 2nd
5 p.m. - 7.30 p.m.

Where:
Bristol Central Library (Reference Library)
College Green
Bristol BS1 5TL
Tel. 0117 903 7202

web link: Streetmap: Bristol Central Library


Dusk at the Bristol Central Library©Firefox (http://www.flickr.com/photos/crayzy_ray/)
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The event is free to everyone.
For further information please don't hesitate to email me at: alan@withwords.org.uk

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Exhibition: Small, Smaller, Smallest
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The exhibition itself runs from:
Sunday 5th April 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Thursday 2nd–Saturday 4th 9:30 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.



Artists' Books, Multiples, Private Press Books & Livres D'Artiste evade easy classification and make life interesting for librarians. Small, Smaller, Smallest therefore presents an exhibition of books & multiples from the collections of Bristol Libraries and the University of the West of England, in order of size.


images©Andrew Eason

Timed to coincide with the Bristol Artists' Book Event at Arnolfini (4th-5th April), Small, Smaller Smallest will see books scandalously cheek by jowl with one another which really don't belong together in a library.