Symbiosis @ Bangkok Poetry / 29 October

Please join us for a special Bangkok Poetry guest hosted by Iris and Kenneth!

 The theme is "Symbiosis," and will feature pairings of musicians and writers.

 Space is stil available if you'd like to perform! Contact: bangkokpoetry@gmail.com .

 If you'd like to perform with a musician, the instruments available to you to choose from our drums, guitar, and saxophone. If you would like to perform (poem, song, story, or graphic novelette), but not in this uber-experimental way and would prefer to go solo (again, stick to the theme as much as possible please) then please get back to us too as we'd love to hear from you as well.

 For performers working in the musico-poetic pairs, you will have more time on stage (15 mins) as a couple, while for people performing individually (in whatever medium), please note that you will have the usual 5-7 minutes.

 Admission is free, but a donation will be taken at the door for ONE SKY FOUNDATION, a registered Thai Foundation working to meet the needs of vulnerable children in the Thai-Burma border district of Sangkhlaburi.

 Arrive early, as inside seating is limited. Beer will be sold on the street where speakers will be set up as well so you can drink and smoke outside if you like.

Remember to RSVP at our FB Event page.

"Broken, Broken, Broken Heart" with Jeffrey Lewis / Sept 2

Please join us for our next Bangkok Poetry event featuring visiting American musician & comic book writer/artist Jeffrey Lewis!

WHEN: Wednesday, September 2 @ 8:00PM (Note: this event is not on our normal Thursday night!) WHERE: WTF Bar and Gallery
THEME: "Broken, Broken, Broken Heart"

 For this event, we've ripped off our theme -- "Broken, Broken, Broken Heart" -- from a song by our very special guest...Jeffrey Lewis!

Be sure to RSVP and check out more links to Jeffrey's work at our Facebook event page.

 If you're interested in performing a poem/song/fiction/graphic-novelette on (or off!) the theme, send an email ASAP to bangkokpoetry@gmail.com. Seven (7) minutes per performer! There are only eight (8) spaces available--so contact us soon if you want to perform.

 Jeffrey Lewis will be performing a solo set at the end of the evening. He will have artwork for sale as well! If you dig him, be sure to check out his full band performance at Play Yard by Studio Bar on Thursday. 

 We look forward to seeing you at WTF for this great event! And spread the word, if you would!

"In Memory" / 22 May

Thanks to all who performed and came out for the last Bangkok Poetry happening a few weeks back -- and/or the special Bombyx Stories event at Opposite last week.

We wanted to give you a heads-up about our next event in a few weeks!

Please join us on Thursday, May 22 at 8:00PM at WTF Cafe & Gallery for "In Memory."

For this event, we're looking for performers who can find some compelling way to explore the theme's many possible meanings. Perhaps you'd like to tackle something about the nature of memory (what we remember, what we forget). Or tell a story that has remained with you for some curious reason. Or maybe you'd like to explore the idea of "memorial" and give an elegy for someone you've known or admired who has passed recently.

If you'd like to perform a poem, rap, short film, graphic novelette, or story (under seven minutes) email us your idea, and we'll get you on the list: bangkokpoetry@gmail.com .

And if you know of other artistic events going on in the city, please send us the details and we'll spread the word here and on our Facebook page (facebook.com/bangkokpoetry).

"Cover Songs" / 3 April

Thanks to all who performed and came out for the last "Sounds so soulful, don't you agree?" happening.

Please join us on Thursday, April 3 at 8:00PM at WTF Cafe & Gallery for "Cover Songs."

For this event, we're looking for performers who can bring us surprising, creative new versions of their favorite (or least favorite...) poems, stories, songs. Think: "Wrecking Ball" as a spoken word piece. Star Wars as a folk song. Breaking Bad as a haiku.

If you'd like to perform, send us an email at bangkokpoetry@gmail.com. Email soon, as spots will go quickly.

Hope to see you there!

Jillian Mukavetz Cinepoems

If you've come out to Bangkok Poetry events, you've been lucky enough to get a glimpse of Jillian Mukavetz's cinepoems.

We wanted to share two more of her works with you here. Enjoy!

alice sleeps nude in the back of her office from jillian mukavetz on Vimeo.

I miss dogs from jillian mukavetz on Vimeo.

"Violence Against Women" @ Bangkok Poetry / 27 November

Please join us on Wednesday, November 27 @ 8:00PM for Bangkok Poetry at WTF Cafe and Gallery. The theme is "Violence Against Women," and is inspired by the International Day Against Violence
Against Women. You can read more about this global effort at the website for UN Women.

ALL PERFORMANCE SPOTS FOR THE EVENT ARE BOOKED -- IF YOU'D LIKE TO BE PUT ON THE WAITLIST, PLEASE CONTACT US.

There will be twelve (12) performance spots available, 5-7 minutes each. For this event we are giving priority to performers/artists who engage the theme. So if you're interested in performing a poem, song, film, graphic novelette, musical amalgamation, or story that in some way addresses "Violence Against Women," then email ASAP: bangkokpoetry@gmail.com . We are open to submissions in both English and Thai.

If you've attended events at WTF before, you'll remember that the performance space is quite small, seating very limited. This will be an intimate evening, so be sure to arrive early to reserve your place.

"Transformations" @ Bangkok Poetry / 26 September

We're back! 

Please join us on Thursday, September 26 at 8:00PM at WTF Cafe & Gallery (we have moved back to our previous venue) for our next Bangkok Poetry event on the theme of "Transformations." 

Performers include: 

Jillian Mukavetz

Leroy Jenkins

KJ Miner

Tipsuda Chaichana

Brian Blanchfield

Dhamiboo

Iris Abras and Kenneth Nielsen

Mrigaa Sethi

John Gartland

Arrive early to get a seat -- but we'll also be setting up speakers in the alley so folks who arrive late can still listen in. 

"Emergency!" @ Bangkok Poetry / March 28

As you know, Opposite (our fantastic host venue) is currently being gutted, carpentered, and plastered into its new incarnation: the restaurant and bar Opposite Mess Hall. It's going to be awesome! And we're excited to be part of their series of re-opening events in early May -- more on that soon!

But, my friends, the muse cannot wait! So it's time for some emergency poetry (and fiction and spoken word and film and music and...).

Please join us on Thursday, March 28th @ 8:00PM for a special Bangkok Poetry at our old venue, WTF Cafe and Gallery (back across the alley from Opposite).The theme is, yes, "Emergency!"

Think O'Hara's "Meditations in an Emergency," or the "Emergency Sex and Other Desperate Measures" that UN relief workers get up to, or the sci-fi-but-sadly-not vision of "The Long Emergency" of climate change, or even Don Henley's "New York Minute" (..."somebody's going to emergency, somebody's going to jail.") Or think whatever ya damnwell please. But be creative, surprise yourself, and see what inspires you to create something new!

There will be only eight (8) performance spots available, 5-7 minutes each. So if you're interested in performing a poem, song, film, graphic novelette, musical amalgamation, or story, then email ASAP: bangkokpoetry@gmail.com .

If you've attended events at WTF before, you'll remember that the performance space is quite small, seating very limited. So it'll be an intimate, old-school, speakeasy, sidle-up-to-your neighbor kinda happening.

We're excited to be back at WTF for this special event, and hope to see you there!

"Obscenity Prayer" @ Bangkok Poetry / February 1

The theme for the Friday, February 1st, Bangkok Poetry happening at Opposite is "Obscenity Prayer."

For this event, we're taking a nod from the Mary Karr poem, which is in turn inspired by the Rodney Crowell tune. 

Performers will include:


James Yu
Danny Woody
Daniel Seward
Donald Quist
KJ Miner
Katie MacNicholas
Terrence Ho
Edwin Dillon
James Coon
Tipsuda Chaichana
Ian Burden
Iris Abras and Kenneth Nielsen


Arrive early to get a seat! 

"After the floods" @ Bangkok Poetry / December 7

The theme for the Friday, December 7th Bangkok Poetry happening at Opposite is "After the floods."

(Please note that this event is held on Friday, not our regular Thursday.)

Featured performers, in alphabetical order:


Iris Abras + Kenneth Nielson
Dominic Benson
Ian Burden
Tipsuda Chaichana
Edwin Dillon
Andrew Kingham
Kathy MacLeod
Katie MacNicolas
Donald Quist
Daniel Seward
Ekta Sharma
Kristin Sharp


See you there!

Ed Jr. and Miss Rouge at "Dream Pop"

Check out a recent performance of spoken word and free improvisation by Iris and Kenneth ("Ed Jr. and Miss Rouge") at our recent Bangkok Poetry happening, "Dream Pop. "

"Dream Pop" @ Bangkok Poetry / October 18

Hello Bangkok poets, fictioneers, hip-hop kids, and graphic novelettists!

The theme for the next Bangkok Poetry at Opposite on Thursday, October 18 is "Dream Pop."

Our scheduled performers include:

Iris Abras and Kenneth Nielsen
Wesley Hsu
Rupert James
Kathy MacLeod
Mickey Mouse
Ekta Sharma
Danny Wood
James Yu
Boaz Zippor

We'll have two true, proper "open-mic" spots available on the night of. If you're interested in performing, get there early and track down the host and we'll get you on the list.

About the theme


What's dream pop?

Are your teenage romances not soundtracked by Cocteau Twins? Not a Lowlife fan? A Dif Juz aficionado? Maybe you're more of a shoegaze cat, hauling your Catherine Wheel and My Bloody Valentine records with you from Portlandia to Krung Thep? 

Beach House? Lykke Li? Amusement Parks on Fire?

For this theme, performers may take a stab at entering some a poem, a fiction, a film, or a graphic novelette into this Morpheus-inhabited corner of rock n' roll, or take the image or phrase in some other direction entirely ("what's a dream pop?"). Or, as always, they are permitted to creatively ignore the theme, and read to us from The Great Thai Novel they've been penning these last twelve years...

Spread the word! Especially to that friend you know who does a mean cover of "Sunday Morning."

"My Tropical Malady" @ Bangkok Poetry: August 30

The next multimedia Bangkok Poetry happening (fiction, film, music, rap, and, indeed, poems) at Opposite will be held Thursday, August 30 @ 8:00 PM.

The theme is "My Tropical Malady."

For this happening, we are taking inspiration from the 2004 film by Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Tropical Malady. If you haven't seen it -- well, see it. But, until then: it's a romance set in rural Thailand that evolves into a haunting journey into the jungle, myth, and the self.

We're encouraging artists to engage in some creative, surprising way with Apichatpong's film: his story,  his images, his characters, his landscape, his ideas.

To spur possible inspiration, here are a few clips from the film:

Clip #1

Clip #2

and here's the trailer:

(Of course, the film's Thai name, สัตว์ประหลาด, is actually a bit different, so feel free to take on that as well....)

But if you've got a poem, film, or piece of fiction about some other sort of "tropical malady," either literal or metaphorical, of the mind or of the body, of course we'd welcome that as well.

If you're interested in performing, email us right away at bangkokpoetry@gmail.com -- spaces are going swiftly.

“Bombyx Stories” @ Bangkok Poetry / 21 July

For the next Bangkok Poetry @ Opposite, we are hosting our first evening devoted to storytelling: “Bombyx Stories.” This is a special, one-time Saturday evening event on July 21st @ 8:00PM, at Opposite event space.


In the tradition of The Moth, the famous New York City storytelling project, Bangkok Poetry is hosting what we're calling “Bombyx Stories," a showcase of unusual, true life stories.

Featuring:

Philip Cornwel-Smith
Teddy Spha Palisthira
Jonathan Englander
Farnoosh Fathi
Kai Roald Carlson-Wee
James Coon
Mithran Somasundrum
Dhamiboo
Paulo Vitaletti
Joe Cummings
Anasaya Sanyal
Tom Vater

Arrive early for a seat. We hope to see you there.

Remember Ah Kong Performance @ WTF / 22 June 2012

Next Friday, WTF Cafe and Gallery is hosting a special poetry event to honor the memory of Ah Kong, also known as Uncle SMS. If you'd like to participate in the reading, please contact Somrak Sila at somrark@wtfbangkok.com

=====

Remember Ah Kong Performance
Friday 22 June 2012, 8pm sharp
@ WTF Alley

We invite you to participate in a collective recitation of the poem written by Ah Kong’s wife Khun Rosmalin, to be read 112 times during the evening, in Thai or English.

~ The poem will be read 112 times by the collective performers. Come as an individual or you can form a group with each member of the group reading it. You can read it once or 10 times.~ The performance will end after the 112th recitation.

Confined within four walls and riddled by ill health, a man sees little justice. He breathes his last. Some days before that his love sends him a poem – celebrating the years they spent – with a wish to grow even older together. How many times did her words echo over and over again in his mind as he waited for an outcome? We too were waiting for an outcome, but death was far from our minds.

Adding your voice is to build up to a crescendo of remembrance – a crescendo to succour souls, and one that may add to our yearning of and call for change.

The imprisonment of Ah Kong for violating law 112 — 4 sms messages from his phone, resulting in a 20 year prison sentence — shocked and disturbed many. His death while in custody and care of the Thai Criminal and Judicial system, rejecting bail 8 times, has brought a new wave of outrage, sadness and confusion. Unbeknowst to the fact of what really happened, he appeared to our eyes as a simple man who barely knew how to operate his phone, and he has become a symbol for grand ideas and outlandish grievances. Throughout much of his ordeal, he was alone with minimal charity or attention from the system that imprisoned him nor the public at large.

A copy of the poem in Thai and English translation here:
http://wtfbangkok.com/index.php/2012/06/08/remembering-ah-kong-performance/
=====

ถูกคุมขังในห้องสี่เหลี่ยมกับร่างกายที่ป่วยและอ่อนล้า เขาไม่มีโอกาสได้เห็นความยุติธรรมก่อนลมหายใจสุดท้ายของเขาจะหมดไป ไม่กี่วันก่อนหน้านั้น ผู้หญิงที่เขารักส่งกลอนมาให้เขาบทหนึ่ง กลอนที่พรรณาถึงความรักอันยาวนานของทั้งคู่ และความหวังที่จะแก่ตัวไปด้วยกัน คำพูดเหล่านี้ของเธอก้องอยู่ในหัวเขาครั้งแล้วครั้งเล่าสักกี่ครั้งระหว่างที่เขารอผลการตัดสิน พวกเราก็รอฟังผลการตัดสินเช่นกัน แต่ความตายแทบไม่ได้อยู่ในความคิดพวกเราเลย

เสียงของพวกเราทุกคนเมื่อมารวมตัวกัน ย่อมทำให้เสียงที่ประสานกันนั้นดังขึ้นเรื่อยๆ ดังขึ้นเพื่อจดจำ เพื่อปลอมประโลมจิตวิญญาณ และเพื่อต่อสู้ให้เกิดการเปลี่ยนแปลง

การคุมขังอากงด้วยข้อหาละเมิดมาตรา 112 ด้วยหลักฐาน SMS 4 ข้อความจากโทรศัพท์มือถือที่ทำให้อากงถูกตัดสินจำคุก 20 ปีนั้นช็อคคนทั่วโลกและทำให้หลายคนรู้สึกเศร้าใจกับกระบวนการยุติธรรมของไทย การตายของอากงในระหว่างที่ถูกคุมขังและอยู่ในการดูแลของระบบศาลอาญาของไทยที่ปฏิเสธการขอประกันตัวของอากงถึง 8 ครั้งด้วยกันนั้นยิ่งทำให้คนจำนวนมากรู้สึกโกรธ เศร้า และสับสน เราอาจไม่สามารถรู้ได้ว่าความจริงที่เกิดขึ้นคืออะไร แต่อากงดูเหมือนเป็นคนแก่ธรรมดาๆที่แทบจะใช้โทรศัพท์มือถือไม่เป็นด้วยซ้ำ และอากงก็ได้หลายเป็นสัญลักษณ์ของความอยุติธรรมอันน่าสลด ตลอดระยะเวลาที่อากงถูกจับกุม เขาต่อสู้เพียงลำพัง แทบไม่ได้รับความช่วยเหลือจากใคร และแทบไม่ได้รับความสนใจจากระบอบยุติธรรมที่จับเขาเข้าคุกหรือจากสังคมทั่วไปเลย

งานที่เราจัดในครั้งนี้ไม่เกี่ยวข้องกับความเห็นทางการเมือง เราจัดงานรำลึกถึงอากงขึ้นเพื่อไม่ให้ความตายของอากงและเหตุการณ์ทั้งหมดที่เกิดขึ้นที่ส่งผลให้อากงต้องเสียชีวิตลงนั้นหายไปจากความทรงจำของเรา
 เราขอเชิญชวนทุกท่านมาร่วมกันอ่านบทกวีที่เขียนขึ้นโดยคุณโรสมาลิน ภรรยาขององกง โดยเราตั้งใจที่จะอ่านบทกวีบทนี้ทั้งหมด 112 ครั้งในค่ำคืนนั้น
บทกวีของคุณโรสมาลิน (บทกวีเป็นภาษาไทย มีคำแปลเป็นภาษาอังกฤษ) อยู่ในเว็บไซต์ของเรา (ในวันงาน เราจะพิมพ์แจกทุกคนที่มาร่วมงาน)
 - คุณสามารถอ่านบทกวีคนเดียว 112 ครั้ง หรือจะจับกลุ่มกับเพื่อนแล้วผลัดกันอ่านก็ได้ เช่น อ่านกันคนละ 10 ครั้งแล้วส่งต่อไปให้เพื่อนอีกคนอ่านอีก 10 ครั้ง จนกระทั่งครบ 112 ครั้ง
- คุณต้องเป็นคนนับจำนวนครั้งที่อ่านบทกวีด้วยตัวเอง เราจะเตรียมกระดาษ ดินสอ และชอล์กไว้ให้

การแสดงในครั้งนี้เป็นการร่วมมือกันของทุกคนที่มาร่วมงานที่จะอ่านบทกวีไปอย่างพร้อมเพรียงกัน กรุณามาตรงเวลาเพื่อเริ่มอ่านบทกวีพร้อมกัน

บทกลอนภาษาไทย เเละภาษาอังกฤษสามารถอ่านได้ที่
http://wtfbangkok.com/index.php/2012/06/08/remembering-ah-kong-performance/

 เวลาเริ่ม: 8 pm (ใช้เวลาทั้งหมดประมาณ 2.5 ชั่วโมง)

วันที่: June 22, 2012

สถานที่: WTF Gallery

"MACDUFF: That way the noise is..." @ Bangkok Poetry / June 7

The theme for the next Bangkok Poetry happening on Thursday, June 7th is "MACDUFF: That way the noise is...."

This line is taken from the Scottish Play. "The Scottish Play," you ask? That's an old euphemism for a certain play by Mr. William Shakespeare -- it's believed that to speak the play's name (or, indeed, even to quote the play) in a theater is to call down disaster. (Um..., but this is Bangkok; we're not in a theater.) (Aren't we?)

Okay, this theme is a bit cryptic (MacDuff? Noise? Which way?). But it's also topical. Take it where you will. See what happens.

Priority will be given to artists choosing to take up the theme. If you'd like to perform an original work, contact us ASAP -- spots will go swiftly. Email: bangkokpoetry@gmail.com

See you on stage.

"We two form a multitude" @ Bangkok Poetry / April 26

The theme for the April 26 Bangkok Poetry happening at Opposite is "We two form a multitude." The event is the first night of the three day What the Festival: the 2nd Anniversary celebration of WTF Bar & Gallery.

For this event, performers are asked to perform with a collaborator. Filmmaker & poet. Storyteller & musician. Poet & poet. Graphic novelist & musician. Etc.



Scheduled performers include:


Ali Wiener and Tanny Chiengtong
Dhami Boo
Scooter Mastain
Boaz Zippor
Tipsuda Chaichana and Peera Panarut
KJ Miner


Intermission


Ian Burden, Kenneth Duell and DJ Never Ready
Emma Rosenberg and Kim Philley
Richard Hermes
Maung Day
Kelsy Carol Seetso and Tumi
Colin Cheney and Kathy MacLeod


* Please join us afterwards for the unveiling of Kathy MacLeod's new WTF mural in the alley.


Arrive to Opposite early (7:15-7:30) to get a seat.

Poetry Mahanakorn @ WordPlay : A Bangkok Poetry Happening

Please join us for a special Bangkok Poetry happening: Poetry Mahanakorn @ WordPlay.

The culminating event of the second annual Bangkok Literary Festival at the Nielson Hayes Library, Poetry Mahanakorn will feature performances by poets, writers, and graphic novelists from the popular Bangkok Poetry series at Opposite/WTF Cafe and Gallery.

WordPlay is a day-long festival of workshops and readings by writers like David Young, Kriengsak Charoenwongsak, Joe Cummings, Philip Cornwel-Smith, and others. See here for complete event details.

Eight poets, writers, and graphic novelists will perform in English, Thai, and Burmese on the theme, "Poetry Mahanakorn." There will also be a few open-mic slots for festival attendees: sign-up available onsite on the day of the festival.

Performers include:

Zakariya Amataya, Thai poet
Tipsuda Chaichana, Thai poet
Colin Cheney, American poet
Maung Day, Burmese poet
Nicholas Gulig, Thai-American poet
Anothai Kaewkaen, Thai-American translator and poet
Kathy MacLeod, Thai-American graphic novelist and cartoonist
Jarrett Wrisley, American writer/chef

RSVP on Facebook.

Refreshments will be available on-site. Arrive early to get a seat.

“Not my thing” @ Bangkok Poetry / March 8

Please join us for the next Bangkok Poetry happening at Opposite, Thursday, March 8th, 8:00 P.M.

The theme is “Not my thing.” For this evening, contributors are encouraged to perform in a medium other than their own.

Anke Jansen
Alan Marshall
Fleassy Malay
Tipsuda Chaichana
Kim Philley
Anothai Kaewkaen
Breslyn McCrory
KJ Miner

Intermission

Note Dudesweet
Kathleen Naughton
Nick Gulig
Kathy MacLeod
Jerry Fagersburg
James Coon

Please arrive early for the event -- seats will go quickly.

Upcoming events

Mark your calendars for the next two Bangkok Poetry happenings:

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Thursday, April 26, 2012

At Opposite. Happenings begin at 8:00 PM. Themes to be announced.