A day of two halves. The first, a bite talk, 15 minutes on Thomas Bernhard. It was a failed experiment. I overwrote the content, wanting it to be so good because of the passion I have for Bernhard, and was far too loyal to the text. I was boring. The art of lecturing is a practice I am engaged in learning. You learn more from a 'loss' I suppose. Still annoying to speak so poorly about an author I love so much, and if anyone stayed awake through my monotone the actual content had some moments of insight I hope. / I then went on to chair a panel on the Black Mountain college with Alyce Mahon from Cambridge Uni, and my old friends Tim Atkins and Peter Jaeger. It was a brilliant hour, fluid, insightful and balanced. Each speaker brought information from differing perspectives, and were all very generous with their thoughts. Peter offered real insight into John Cage and Zen, Alyce opened up the history of the school with its creative spark offset by administrative suicide, and Tim told everyone that poets killed the college. The list of alumni or teaching staff is unbelievable - Duncan, Olsen, Williams, Cage, Cunningham, Albers, Twombly, Creeley, de Kooning, Rauschenberg, Dorn. The questions were also very positive, and we ended up talking about the modern state of the education system and how restricted it is, against such a hotbed of radical innovation and collaboration as the BMC. / The rest is noise is an awesome opportunity to open up so many discussions that rarely get such a platform. Next up, Walter Abish and Jack Spicer in November

the Cinepoem project

Thursday November 22nd 2012 from 7.30

the Richmix arts centre, the main space

http://www.richmix.org.uk/venues/spaces/main-space/35-47

Bethnal Green road, E1 6LA 020 7613 7498Free entrance for all

Tom Raworth & Avi Dabach

Emanuella Amichai & SJ Fowler

Tim Atkins & Ran Slavin

A ground breaking collaborative exchange between three Israeli film-makers / video artists and three British poets, translating the medium of poetry into the practise of film to produce three original, poetic films, or cinepoems. http://www.richmix.org.uk/whats-on/event/cinepoem/

The aim of the project is to transform the auspices of a selected, single poem into short, conceptual films, that will be screened on November 22nd in London, at the Richmix Arts centre. The event will also feature poetry readings from Tom Raworth, Tim Atkins and SJ Fowler, and a panel discussion exploring the unique nature of poetic / filmic collaboration and the potentiality of poetry as a medium adaptable to film.

The project is designed to show that the potential for poetry to be realised in the narrative of film and film-making may lay the path for a wide future between these mediums, enriching them both in the process. This is the first instalment of the Enemies project, a year long exploration of poetry and collaboration, curated by SJ Fowler, supported by the Jerwood Charitable Foundation.

Programme of events:

A poetry reading by the poets: SJ Fowler, Tom Raworth, Tim Atkins.
- Ran Slavin will introduce a film based on Tim Atkins' poem: ODES I / 32+ODES II /3
- Avi Dabach will introduce a short film based on Tom Raworth’s poem "TAXOMONY"
- Emanuella Amichai will introduce a short film based on SJ Fowler's poem :"38 meditations on strong tea"
A panel discussion exploring the unique nature of poetic / filmic collaboration