Looking forward to presenting a reading and poetry film Paper River, Knotted River at MIX 2019 next Tuesday and hearing the great speakers – especially keynote Thomas Zandegiacomo del Bel. This event is close to my heart and always will be. The film will also be screened in the selected British films throughout the event.
 
Tree– Discovering Identity Through the Geopoetics of AncestralPlace 

I have been researching my family history for the last twenty-five years, whilst developing its current digital form since 2014. Paper River, Knotted River is a chapter including research, field notes, poetry and poetry film from Tree (see main projects), a geopoetic and mythopoetic haibun ‘novel’ centred on different aspects of my family’s connection to the land and place through time. It is divided into time periods and different countries. Each film has a commissioned composer chosen especially for that subject. In this case, the evocative soundscape is by Jeffrey Boehm. 

In terms of experiential storytelling, researching family history is not only about discovering unknown facts but place itself; to actually visit sites, and touch and experience them; in my case writing, photographing, sketching and filming. When I trained as a (paid!) arts journalist I would select, photograph and write about artists in their own environment. Also, in this particular chapter I have the chance to bring the personal side of ‘public’ history to the fore; showing how human characteristics and circumstance, (often unknown to historians) lie behind historical facts. 

A big thank you to Norrie for the stimulating and deeply meaningful discussions on the environment through poetry, geology, art and much more, at the dramatic Victorian retreat of Wiston Lodge. 

Really looking forward to The Scottish Centre for Geopoetics Conference June 14-16th at Wiston Lodge in Biggar, Scotland. Beautiful wooded location, much music, poetry (come and see Helen Moore), and deep connection with the landscape.
 
I will be premiering an excerpt ‘Paper River’ from my ancestral poetry film novel project Tree, created from 25 years of research. Tree focuses on the land and uncovering my family’s occupations across time. Paper River centres on events at my great grandfather’s paper mill on the River Culm in Devon during the First World War, alongside the site in the present day. It includes a poetry film; a read extract of documented facts and prose poetry.
 
This year’s event is titled: Expressing the Earth in the Year of Indigenous Languages and the
the inspiring programme is here: http://www.geopoetics.org.uk/geopoetics-conference-2019/  https://www.facebook.com/ScottishGeopoetics/ 
​and see posts by Norrie at https://www.facebook.com/norman.bissell.writer.

See the latest edition of Lapidus Journal for some valuable insights, including Janet Lees' informative article on poetry film and wellbeing. Thanks also Janet for selecting Butterflies Haven workshop with Helen Moore and Howard Vause. A great team to inspire anyone. 
 
issuu.com/lapidusinternational/docs/lapidus_journal_final_amends_203b1d25356154

 
 

UPROOTED
 
LYRA, Bristol Poetry Festival
The Main Auditorium, Arnolfini Art Gallery, Bristol
Saturday 13 April 7 p.m. 
 
Spoken word poet and LYRA Poetry Festival co-director Lucy English, and poetry filmmaker Sarah Tremlett, co-directors of Liberated Words CIC Poetry Film festival and workshops will be presenting Uprooted – a touring screening of short films by international poetry filmmakers on the refugee crisis and migration. Our aim is to show how artists can provide a different, more empathetic view than is portrayed in the media. We have films from artists such as: Ghayath Almadhoun and Marie Silkeberg, Jan Baeke, Alfred Marseille, Maciej Piatek and poet Hollie McNish, as well as our own work, so please drop by, all welcome. 
 
Previous screenings: North Cornwall Book Festival; Bath Spa Empathy Conference, 2018.: ‘Wonderful’ Patrick Gale, North Cornwall Book Festival. ‘Thought provoking and so many different types of film’; ‘Really revealing’; ‘We really support what you are doing’; ‘Powerful – and giving artists a voice’ ‘How do you make poetry films?’  The films generate a big response; the audience all cheered at Holly McNish’s film: Mathematics. www.liberatedwords.com