EVENTS
Readings, performances, workshops and collaborations.
2023
The Bar Without a Neon Sign: An Operetta of Boom written and directed by C.R. Avery
C.R. Avery is returning to NZ with his band The Storm Collective and the tour kicks off with a screening of his film, an operetta of boom, The Bar Without a Neon Sign. I'll be opening the screening with a poem and hosting a Q&A with the artist at the end.
7pm, Tuesday 21 November
Capitol Cinema
Dominion Rd, Balmoral
Rapture: An Anthology of Performance Poetry in Aotearoa (AUP, 2023) is set for launch with poets performing the poems from the book, a Q&A with the anthology's editors Carrie Rudzinski and Grace Iwashita-Taylor, and cake. Featuring moi alongside Ngaio Simmons, Eric Soakai and others. Books on sale on the night. Order online from the publisher or at Time Out Books. https://aucklanduniversitypress.co.nz/rapture/
7pm Friday 10 November
Cityside Mt Eden
8 Mt Eden Road
A Visual Verse: Visual Poetry Workshop
Rachael Naomi and I are returning to Corban Estate Art Centre with our full-day visual poetry workshop. Bookings are essential for this one. All levels of experience welcome and all materials provided. Just bring yourself and the spirit of experimentation.
10am-4pm Saturday 26 August
Studio 6, Corban Estate Art Centre
2 Mt Lebanon Lane, Henderson
Tickets $95.
Bookings and more info: https://ceac.org.nz/workshops/art-workshop/a-visual-verse
C.R. Avery Tour - Hamilton Show
C.R. Avery is heading back to tour New Zealand in August and I'll be joining Shane Hollands and Ronna Funtelar to open his Hamilton show. Times and ticketing info to come.
Saturday 5 August
Last Place, Hamilton
C.R. Avery Live at the Thirsty Dog
I'm joining Elizabeth Morton, Peter Rimmer, Ronna Funtelar, Star Control and Freaky Meat to open for Canadian poet C.R. Avery's first show in New Zealand. Tickets $15-$20 from Under the Radar.
8:00 pm Saturday 6 May
The Thirsty Dog
469 K Road, Auckland
I'll be presenting a series of found language poems and constructing a visual installation made from a series of found images and objects during the performance. Guest musician Jimi Kara aka Kara Gordon.
7:30 pm Tues 4 April
Poetry Live! at Anthology Lounge
K Rd, Auckland
2022
Bodies of Woven Code exhibition
Bodies of Woven Code presents an intricate dialogue between a diverse group of multi-disciplinary artists, who blur the lines between mediums and dwell amid many forms of language and storytelling. Featuring work by Miriam Barr, Matariki, Mahina, and Tihema Bennett, Janina Nana Yaa, Rachael Naomi, Trixi Rosa, Eliza Vawdy-Roy, Irihepeti Waretini, Bella Waru, and Jahra Wasala. Curated by Trixi Rosa and Ed Waaka.
Take a virtual tour of the show here: https://ceac.org.nz/exhibitions/bodies-of-woven-code
Fri 29 July - Sunday 11 September
The Homestead Galleries
Corban Estate Arts Centre
2 Mt Lebanon Lane
Henderson
Bodies of Woven Code opening event
Bodies of Woven Code opens with a special welcome and karakia from local Pita Turei followed by performances in the space with Matariki Bennett, Rachael Naomi, myself, and Eliza Vawdrey-Roy.
6pm Fri 29 July
The Homestead Galleries
Corban Estate Arts Centre
2 Mt Lebanon Lane
Henderson
2021
Double Knotted Shoelace launch
I'll be performing a short set alongside Janina Nana Yaa, Laniyuk, Kiri Piahana-Wong and Pritha Marks to help celebrate the opening of Trixie Rosa's visual poetry exhibition and the launch of her first book Double-Knotted Shoelace.
6:30pm, 30 January 2021
Depot Artspace, Devonport
facebook.com/events/707477333212896/
Doc Edge Festival performance
I'm looking forward to sharing a special poetry performance on stage at The Civic to open the film 100Up at the Doc Edge Festival.
10:30am, Sun 13 June 2021
The Civic Theatre, Queen St
https://docedge.nz/de/films/100up/
Guest poet at Poetry Live Zoom Party
I'll be performing a feature set at Poetry Live including a live collaboration with musician John McNab. Due to the level 4 lockdown this event has now been moved online.
7pm, Tues 31 August 2021
An online event, more info here:
facebook.com/events/1140679439793110
International Page and Stage 2
The first International Page and Stage event brought together poets from New Zealand and Northern Ireland. The second event "From Opposite Ends of the Earth 2" will see poets from Northern Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland and Singapore of different styles and genres reading and performing live on Zoom. I'll be joining David Braziel - Northern Ireland, Texture - Scotland, Shane Hollands - New Zealand, Shu Hoong Yong - Singapore, and Damien B Donnelly - Ireland
9:30pm, Sun 12 September (NZT)
Online event more info here:
facebook.com/events/109441791357229
A Poetry Path - National Poetry Day event
CANCELLED DUE TO LEVEL 4 LOCKDOWN
Take a tour around some of the iconic spaces at Corban Estate Arts Centre for a series of site-specific poetry performances with 12 West Auckland poets. featuring Serie Barford, Miriam Barr with musician John Mcnab, Christian Jensen, Kate Kelly, Daniel Larsen, Rachael Naomi with musician Matt Reece, Doug Poole, Ila Selwyn, Michael Steven, Sally Strangelove with musician RSD, Emma Walter, and Kirsten Warner. Meet 2pm at the chapel and follow the poets. Due to Level 4 Lockdown this event has been moved from 21 August to the 17th of October.
2-4pm, Sunday 17 October
Corban Estate Arts Centre
facebook.com/events/222953573017345
2019
Open Studios Waitakere @ Te Henga Studios
I'll be exhibiting a small collection of Book Boxes called All in Boxes at Te Henga Studio as part of the 2019 Open Studios Waitakere event.Free.
10am - 4pm, Sat 9 - Sun 10 November 2019
Te Henga Studios, 130 Bethells Road
Poetry Live collab with Adam Colegrove
Tues 29 October 2019
Poetry Live
Thirsty Dog, 469 Karangahape Rd
A group show featuring visual poetry from Greg O’Brien, Kelly Malone, Ya-Wen Ho, Lisa Samuels, Cilla McQueen, John Pule, Rachael Naomi, Makyla Curtis, Donelle Shilling, Miriam Barr, Sophie Procter, Stephanie Christie, and Maddy O’Dwyer.
30 March 2019 - 13 April 2019
Studio One / Toi Tu
1 Ponsonby Rd, Auckland
The 12th annual Kerouac Effect once again brings poets and musicians together to collaborate for a one night celebration of all things beat poetry. This year's pairs are David Eggleton and Otis Mace, Miriam Barr and Bronson Price, Sophie Proctor and Joel Vinsen, Christian Jensen and Caitlin Smith, Peter Rimmer and Paul Williams, Kate Kelly and Adam Colegrove, and other guests to be announced.
Koha collected
7pm Wednesday 13 March 2019
Toi Ora Live Arts Trust
6 Putiki St, Auckland City
Suffrage 125:
The Women on Wikipedia Challenge
Celebrate 125 years of women's suffrage by helping to increase the visibility of New Zealand women who have made a contribution to the arts and community life in Aotearoa. Your mission if you choose to accept it: think of a female NZ writer, artist or community figure, check whether they are represented on Wikipedia, and if not, create an article about them and their work. If an article already exists, check there's nothing important missing and fill the gap if you can. When you're done, post the links to the Women on Wikipedia Challenge Facebook page so other people can read, share, and add to them.
We all know who Kate Sheppard is and can easily find out if we don't, but what about the women who preceded her and the women that have come since? We're onto our fourth wave of feminism now, yet women's contributions to the arts and community life are still under-represented in our recorded histories. For example, the List of New Zealand Poets on Wikipedia includes 29 women against 59 men; the List of New Zealand Writers includes 63 women against 93 men; the List of New Zealand Scientists includes 17 women against 32 men. Maori women are represented even less. History is made by the people who write it - in this day and age we can all take part in writing it. Anyone can edit an existing article on Wikipedia or sign up to create a new one - the tricky part is finding notable sources of information to reference (books, newspapers, journals etc). The hunt is half the fun. Contact me if you need a hand navigating Wikipedia's 'sand tray' (the place you create your draft page).
Cost: Your time and brain power
Deadline: Aim to add at least one article by 19 Sep 2018, 125 years after women officially gained the right to vote in NZ. But there is no deadline on an activity like this.
Location: Wikipedia
Poets paired with musicians in a creative blind-date for the 11th annual celebration of Jack Kerouac's influence on beat poetry.
Koha entry. Limited free refreshments.
7:30 pm, 14 March 2018
Toi Ora Live Art Trust, 6 Putiki Street, Auckland
I'm heading across the ditch for a feature set at Melbourne's open mic night Girls on Key. Girls on Key features female-identifying, non-gender binary and LGBTQIA+ poets, with all genders welcome on the open section and in the audience. Doors open 7.30pm.
$10 / $8 on the door
8 pm Weds 28 February 2018
Open Studio, 204 High Street, Northcote, Melbourne
Thirty minutes on stage all to myself (with some special appearances from musicians Matt Reece and Rod Redgrave). MC Rachael Naomi. Guest musician Freaky Meat.
Koha collected
8pm Tues 5 Dec 2017
Thirsty Dog, 469 Karangahape Rd, Auckland
A visual poetry exhibition featuring a small selection of my book-boxes, alongside Maddy O'Dwyer, Makyla Curtis, Rachael Naomi, Sophie Procter, and Tony Green. Part of the 2017 NZ Poetry Festival.
Free
12pm Fri 10 Nov - 1pm Sun 12 Nov 2017
Ellen Melville Centre, Freyberg Place, Auckland
A Dose of Poetry Live:
36 Years of Best Medicine
Ila Selwyn hosts a collection of poets from the Poetry Live community as part of the 2017 NZ Poetry Conference.
12pm Sun 12 Nov 2017
Ellen Melville Centre, Freyberg Place, Auckland
Capping off the 2017 NZ Poetry Festival, One Night in Shanghai, is an immersive journey amongst the opulent surroundings of Shanghai Lil's. Featuring pioneering theatre/poetry/music troupe The Literatti, reforming for this one-off extraordinary show, with Miriam Barr, Daniel Larsen, Christian Jensen, Andra Jenkin, Sally Legg & Murray Haddow. Also appearing is "Him" by Australian artist Jasmine Rose, who draws upon elements of the visionary to create stunning experimental work. The evening will be woven together by NZ's premier word-core band Freaky Meat ( Shane Hollands, John McNab, Rod Redgrave, Julian Pettitt) combining elements of jazz/funk & rock with vocal styles inspired by Jack Kerouac, Tom Waits and Capt Beefheart.
Tickets $10 presale or $15 on the door
8-11pm Sun 12 Nov 2017
Shanghai Lil's Jazz & Cocktail Lounge
335 K' Rd, Auckland
Jarad UPs is guest musician at Poetry Live on June 13th and I am joining him to re-stage our Kerouac Effect collaboration for anyone who missed the performance in March.
8pm Tuesday 13 June 2017
Thirsty Dog, 469 Karangahape Rd, Auckland
The tenth annual celebration of beat poetry that sees poets and musicians perform the product of their five-week creative blind-dates. Miriam Barr with Jarad UPS; Shane Hollands with Dave Miller; Daniel Larsen with Otis Mace; Andra Jenkin with Kara Gordon; Peter Rimmer with MW Sellwood; Sally Louise with James Rimmer; Peter Larsen with Caitlin Smith; Simone Kaho with Joel Vinsen; Maddy Kate O'Dwyer with Adam Colegrove; and Rachael Naomi with Paul Williams.
8pm, Wednesday 15 March 2017
Toi Ora Live Arts Trust, 6 Putiki St, Grey Lynn
Joining poet and playwright Renee Liang, poet Leilani Tamu and novelist Paula Morris to introduce women immigrants to NZ to writing, poetry, prose, and editing over the four weeks of March, and see your work published in the New Kiwi Women Write anthology, New Beginnings. Choose a Saturday or Sunday class both at The New Lynn Community Centre. The book launch will be held 3pm, Saturday 13 May, 2017 at The New Lynn Community Centre.
My annual opportunity to spit words for 30 minutes without restraint at Poetry Live, where I first shared my poems with an audience fifteen years ago. Feature musician Emma Walter will get us in the mood. Share your own poems on the open mic.
8pm, Tuesday 8 November, 2016
Thirsty Dog, 469 Karangahape Rd, Auckland
Atawhai Festival 2016: Our Truth
Following on from Te Pūrerehua 2015, OUR TRUTH is an evening of spoken word poetry and conversation at Te Pou theatre in celebration of Mental-Health Awareness Week. Poets include Miriam Barr, Michael Moore, Racheal Naomi, Caitlin Smith, Colleen Henry, Maddy O'Dwyer, Shane Hollands, Cole Meyers, and Ila Selwyn. Tickets $10 on the door. No eftpos.
6:30pm, Friday 14 October 2016
Te Pou Theatre, 44A Portage Rd, New Lynn
FLOCK is the final show in Auckland for National Poetry Day on August the 26th! Seven Spoken Word Artists from all over Auckland in a very special National Poetry Day Event
that brings elements of Butoh and Theatre together with powerful Spoken Word. Directed by Genevieve McClean. Tickets from Under the Radar.
8:30pm, 26 August 2016
Auckland Old Folks Association Hall, Auckland
nzbookawards.nz/national-poetry-day/calendar-of-events
New Kiwi Women Write Their Stories
An introduction to writing poetry as part of the New Kiwi Women Write Their Stories programme. Facilitated by poets Miriam Barr and Ya-Wen Ho.
1:00-4:30pm, 14 May 2016
Pah Homestead, Three Kings, Auckland
9:00am-12:30pm, 15 May 2016
Wesley Community Centre, Sandringham, Auckland
The Kerouac Effect, 2016
The Kerouac Effect is an annual celebration of poetry and music and of the birthday of Jack Kerouac. Poets are paired with musicians in a collaborative blind date. The pairs for 2016 are: Murray Haddow and Erwin van Asbeck, Miriam Barr and Caitlin Smith, Peter Larsen and Sam Logan, Daniel Larsen and Bryony Jagger, Michelle Durey and Jarad Bryant (aka JaradUPS), Christian Jensen and Joel Vinsen, Simone Kaho and Paul Williams, Ria Masae and Kara James Gordon. Supported by Byrne Wine and Toi Ora Live Art Trust.
7:30pm, 16 March 2016
6 Putiki Street, Grey Lynn, Auckland.
A semi-improvised poetry-music mash up with electronic musician Dubtext. Koha entry. Open mic.
8:00 pm, 10 November 2015
Thirsty Dog
469 K' Road, Auckland
Pūrerehua or 'butterfly' is an evening of spoken word poetry and conversation in celebration of Mental-Health Awareness Week. Featuring musician Caitlin Smith, and poets Miriam Barr, Romy Hooper, Cole Myers, Michelle Durey, Ila Selwyn, Chris McMurray, Hannah Rohe, Paige Elgar and Semira Davis.
7:00 pm, 7 October 2015
Te Pou Theatre
44A Portage Road, New Lynn, Auckland
Divine Muses XII: National Poetry Day 2015
Join MC Rosetta Allan, and poets Siobhan Harvey, Miriam Barr, Tusiata Avia, Jack Ross, Maris O'Rourke, Harry Ricketts and the winners of the Emerging Poets Competition for a night of poetry in celebration of National Poetry Day 2015.
6:30 pm, 28 August 2015
Gus Fisher Art Gallery
74 Shortland Street, Auckland
Theoradical Hobohemians: Oblivion
Miriam Barr pairs up with musician Adam Colegrave to join the Theoradical Hobohemians on stage at the iconic Mercury Theatre to riff on the theme of love in all its variations. Featuring special guests concert violinist Murray van Horn and actor Mick Innes. Tickets $25/Students $15.
8pm 16 May 2015
The Mercury Theatre
Mercury Lane, Auckland
Watch the performance on Youtube here.
Poetry Live's 35th Birthday Celebration
Poetry Live is celebrating 35 years of weekly open mic nights with a month of reunion readings from past Poetry Live MCs. May 5th features Miriam Barr, Christian Jensen and Piet Nieuwland and musician Otis Mace. Koha entry.
8 pm, 5 May 2015
Thirsty Dog
469 K' Rd, Auckland
Seven poets and musicians were paired in creative blind dates and given five weeks to create a ten minute music-poetry mash-up for a live show.
8 pm 13 March 2015
The Winchester
St Benedicts St, Auckland
Master Class for Creative Writers
Two days exploring poetry with Miriam Barr, fiction with Siobhan Harvey or script-writing with Renee Liang.
10 and 17 January 2015
Cotter House
Remuera, Auckland
Cellar door performance of poetry from the book and a free wine tasting followed by open mic at the Fat Pig Vineyard, home to Byrne Wines.
5pm 20 December 2014
The Fat Pig Vineyard
Puketotara Rd, Kerikeri
Poetry at The Earth House
The Far North launch of Bullet Hole Riddle.
1pm 13 December 2014
The Earth House
Peria Valley
Now presents works that are the result of collaborative investigations by photographer Faye Norman and poet Miriam Barr into the integration of Mindfulness and creative process.
5pm 26 Nov - 18 Dec 2014
Studio One, Galleries One and Two
1 Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby, Auckland
Celebrating women, music and slam poetry - a charity gig for the Auckland Women's Centre. Featuring: The L&P Project Kate Martin Tania Brady Hellen Robinson from Soul Samba Circus Whaitiri Mikaere aka Diesel Dyke Poetand Miriam Barr
5pm 23 November 2014
Portland Public House
Kingsland, Auckland
A 30 minute performance as guest poet at Auckland's weekly open mic Poetry Live, with musician Volita Bioletti from The Neo-Kalashnikovs kicking off the night.
8pm, 11 November 2014
Thirsty Dog, Karangahape Rd, Auckland
Bullet Hole Riddle Book Launch
Steele Roberts Aotearoa launches Bullet Hole Riddle with MC Siobhan Harvey, Byrne Wines and collaborative spoken-word performance from Miriam Barr and Genevieve McClean.
5pm, 1 November 2014
Gus Fisher Gallery, Shortland St, Auckland