Canadian poet, playwright, novelist and sound poet, Penn Kemp shares the richness of her experience through her unique use of word, sound, imagery and symbolism. Born in Strathroy, Ontario, and raised in London, Penn has spent much of her life in Ontario, including 9 years on Toronto Island. However, an intrigue with ancient mythology has taken her on extensive journeys to Europe, North Africa, Mexico and South America, and India, where she has been writer-in-residence in Mumbai. Penn very much enjoys teaching writing and creating a magazine with students, Twelfth Key. She also gives retreats on creativity across the country, based on her forthcoming book WHAT SPRINGS TO MIND.
Penn is a celebrated sound poet who tours from coast to coast almost annually. She has 17 books out and 4 plays produced. Her creative vision expands the traditional experience of reading into an inter-active, virtual & live presentation that delights & amazes in its variety of sound & visual patterns. Playwright, poet & performer, Penn Kemp is once again in the forefront using new technology to engage her audience. She has just released Canada's first poetry CD-ROM, ON OUR OWN SPOKE, "a delight for the ear and to the eye". Her CD, WHEN THE HEART PARTS is a Sound Opera, "movingly rendered with a haunting musicality". Her hand-made chapbook, SUITE ANCIENT EGYPT, was produced by (m)Other Tongue Press in 2000.
Thanks to a Canada Council grant, Penn performed VOCAL BRAIDING
with Patricia Keeney at U. of Rajisthan, U. of Mumbai and other
colleges in India. Penn's collaborations with designer Gavin Stairs,
producer John Magyar and musician Bill Gilliam are ongoing. Please
see her new web site at http://www.library.utoronto.ca/canpoetry/kemp.
New chapbooks as well as her six CD's are available from Pendas
Productions, http://www.pennkemp.ca
Penn's plays are available from Playwrights Union. Her "Re
Solution" is the theme poem of "http://www.youngpoets.ca/theme/theme1.htm"
Kiss of Toad, Pendas Productions, hand made book, ISBN 0-920820-26-3, May 2001
Suite Ancient Egypt, (m)Other Tongue Press, hand made book, ISBN1-896949-18-5, April 2001
Incrementally, Pendas Productions, hard bound trade edition, ISBN 0-920820-29-8, March 2001
Incrementally, Pendas Productions, paper bound book, ISBN 0-920820-30-1, March 2001
Time Less Time / Quand cesse le temps, Penn Kemp and Gavin Stairs with French translation by Claude Gillard. A CD of performances of the poems in English and French by the authors and translator, with electroacoustic composition by Darren Copeland. $20 + $3 GST/PST
Vocal Braiding, Penn Kemp and Patricia Keeney, designed by Gavin Stairs. Chapbook/CD.
Sarasvati-Scapes, Angela Hryniuk and Penn Kemp (Gavin Stairs Fine Editions, Fiddlehead Press, 2001). $20.00+ GST.
Two Lips, Penn, Anne Anglin and Susan McMaster, CD produced by PsychoSpace Sound, , 2001. Design, Richard Payne. $20 + $3 GST/PST
INCREMENTALLY; Sound and concrete poetry from Penn Kemp's participatory performances. Photos by Rachel Thompson. $20+ GST. CD
George The Purple Spotted Horse, Illustrator and author, James Kemp. introduction and story editing by his daughter, Penn Kemp. Fine art chapbook edition. $20+ GST
All of the above available through Pendas Productions.
On Our Own Spoke, Pendas Productions, CD/CD-ROM, ISBN 0-920820-17-4, April 2000
When The Heart Parts, Pendas Productions, CD, ISBN 0-920820-16-6, November 1999
Binding Twine, Ragweed (Pendas Productions owns remainder stock), paperbound, 1984
Selected Anthologies
Four Women
SOUWESTO WORDS, CD
Carnivocal, CD
http://www.pennkemp.caIncrementally
(Poetry) (Pendas Productions, 2000, Ergo Productions, 1999, Playwrights
Canada Press ISBN 0-920820-21-2, ISBN 1-55155-977-3) $10.00
Animus
(Poetry) $30.00
Changing Place (Poetry) $10.00
Penn Kemp, Pendas Productions
525 Canterbury Road, London ON N6G2N5,
phone: 519 434-8555
Penn@pennkemp.ca
http://www.pennkemp.ca
http://www.library.utoronto.ca/canpoetry/kemp
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/71/penn_kemp.html
http://breakfastmusic.tripod.com
phone: 519 434-8555
email: Penn@pennkemp.ca
As performer and workshop leader, Penn Kemp has performed in many arts festivals, including the International Sound Poetry Festival in New York. In 1992, The League of Canadian Poets Feminist Caucus honoured her as a Foremother of Canadian Poetry. She is editor of Twelfth Key which is devoted to student writing. Her sound poetry play, What The Ear Hears Last, was produced at Theatre Passe Muraille in 1994.
Grade Levels: K - 13
Fees: $150 full day/ no half days
Classroom Approach:
Students need not be familiar
with her work prior to the visit. Kemp's approach is flexible
and has been adapted to particular age groups. Her presentations
include creative approaches for students at all levels of writing
and performing, illustrated with readings from her own work. Her
workshops include participatory sound poet and developing creative
potential so that students might perform their own poetry and
produce their own magazine. Students working with her learn techniques
for getting ideas and developing their writing which they can
then teach others. Students: "Her style and keen interest
are infectious".