I’ve been a bit quiet the past few weeks, only because I’ve been busily working on one of my favourite hybrid experiences, which brings our love for nature, poetry and film, together in one place…Let us begin… with the 3rd NATURE & CULTURE: International Poetry Film Festival of Copenhagen! Hurra!
Over 500 films participated this year. I counted with the support of the poets Pablo Saborío (Red Door’s poetry editor), and Patrick Horner, as judges of this year’s selection, which brings us to a total of 96 films screening this year, from November 25th to December 2nd at www.poeticphonotheque.com
And as you know, we also host a live program this Saturday, November 25th, at Husets Biograf in Copenhagen, with a selection of curated films, poetry readings, director introductions, and plenty of worldthreading!
Here’s the full program:
Big news regarding the coming year will be announced on stage, but for now, here’s something beautiful to look forward to in the coming Red Door / Poetic Phonotheque events:
Looking forward to meeting you at the festival or worldthreading with you soon!
In celebration of the greatly anticipated CUT-UPS @2023 conference by the European Beat Studies Network, currently taking place in Paris, I created this video cut-up performance, recorded at my bunker in Copenhagen, which wrapped up the first night of the conference.
In it, I perform from my books Would you like to come home?, released by Moloko print, one of the sponsors of the conference, the last poem is from Atemporal and the Gettin’ On With It video is one of the poems from the book The Ways of the Firefly, also released by Moloko print.
The EBSN network is very dear to me, because it has welcomed my work, my podcast, and my mind, with open arms and introduced me to a community with similar interests and great food for thought. The founder of this network, Oliver Harris, is also the author of the prologue of my book Would you like to come home? Which is why this performance is dedicated to him and to Ralf Friel, director of Moloko.
The European Beat Studies Network brings together, from across and beyond Europe, those who share an academic or creative interest in the broad field of Beat culture. The EBSN aims to be inclusive; a genuine community of scholars and students, writers and artists, which not only reaches out to all kinds of people who work on the Beats, but also actively invites their participation.
CUT-UPS@2023 is the post-Covid version of CUT-UPS@60, an EBSN Special Conference that was scheduled to happen in 2020 to mark the 60th anniversary of the first publications to use the cut-up methods initiated by William Burroughs and Brion Gysin at the Beat Hotel in Paris.
As many of you probably already know, William Burroughs’ home in New York was on 222 Bowery, in the Lower East Side… it was called “The Bunker”, (an old YMCA locker room, which you can see on this video where John Giorno gives a tour of it, including a view of his typewriter)… so it felt appropriate to send my cut-up transmission from my own bunker.
But even more appropriate is my next round of announcements, speaking of Lower East Side, my second home…
NEW YORK
upcoming events:
Oct 1: Brooklyn Book Fair – Find me repping Red Door at the CLMP table.
Oct 6-7: Red Door’s 14th anniversary. (Write me for details!!!)
Oct 11-13: The Americas Poetry Festival of New York (Program coming soon).
I’ll be in NY, from next week. I welcome museum outings, experimental music, collaboration talks, poetry and dinner dates, and I bring with me my 2 most recent books and the latest issue of Red Door… so holla if you want to catch up.
Time: 24.8.2023, 17.00 – 18.30 Address: Nordic Culture Point library, Kaisaniemenkatu 9 / online Language: English
As part of ARTIVAL RE:CONNECT, a Nordic multilingual cultural festival spearheaded by IMMART, Red Door Gallery is pleased to invite you to “Writing Process and Practice”, an ARTIVAL Talk on multilingual, multicultural, multimedia writing, by poets, storytellers and playwrights, characters intertwining their stories and writing experiences with the cultural landscape of the Nordic communities they’re a part of.
Some of the subjects discussed will include overcoming language barriers and navigating multilingualism in writing, transitioning from the paper to the stage, and working in multimedia formats to engage the audience and feed back the important conversations relevant to our time.
INVITED SPEAKERS
Yemmi Butterman is a Nigerian poet and narrative fiction author, who finds solace in all forms of creative symphonies. Yemi is the author of Two Geniuses and a Fool and Pride of the Middle One. In his recent poetry titled Symphony Village, he delves into the intrinsic motivation to confront the fears of uncertainty, drawing inspiration from the interplay between his Yoruba roots, the English Language, and the contextual Nordic region.
Vladislav Nenchev originates from Bulgaria where he worked for two decades in academia and the IT sector. Since he moved to Finland in 2017, he has shifted increasingly from abstract scientific research to the concrete study of human nature and interactions. This shift has resulted in a multitude of short literary works – play manuscripts, stories, poems, and spoken word monologues – several of which have seen the light of stage among Helsinki’s amateur theater companies. Vladislav is a member of two creative collectives: Helsinki Writers’ Group and The Finn-Brit Players. He has also contributed to select issues of “Marvin – The Lehti” a fiction newspaper published by the Helsinki University Science Fiction Club.
Elizabeth Torres is a Colombian-American poet, multimedia artist, literary translator and cultural organizer. Editor in chief of the arts & culture quarterly publication Red Door Magazine, director of Red Door Gallery, host of the Red Transmissions podcast, founder of the Poetic Phonotheque. Elizabeth creates under the moniquer Madam Neverstop, and is a frequent collaborator in festivals and cultural projects in the Nordic region, the US and Latin America.
Dear friends, it is with great enthusiasm that I share this new collaboration with UK’s Poetry School with whom I will be teaching a multimedia online course this fall, with a focus on Latin American interdisciplinary contemporary practices.
That is to say, I get to share with you the work of the people I admire, learn from and collaborate with, while simultaneously exchanging knowledge in one of my favorite subjects: multimedia poetry.
The Poetry School is doing groundbreaking work in the UK and internationally, so it is an absolute joy to join the ranks of their tutors, all poets and writers with admirable backgrounds.
I look forward to being part of your creative learning process and of sharing the tools and processes that enrich mine on a daily basis.
I am happy to announce a partnership with Stockholm’s Southnord.artspace, an artist-run platform dedicated to artistic expressions, approaches and narratives of the Afro-Nordic community.
Our collaboration is through Poetic Phonotheque, so we’re happy to share this open call with you:
OPEN CALL by Southnord x The Poetic Phonotheque Calling all visual poets of African descent in the Nordic region!
We invite you to submit your contributions of poetry in short film formats including experimental film, animation, video collage, and short film.
The jury will curate a selection that will be presented at the Southnord poetry evening to be held during the Southnord Artfest at Kulturhuset in Stockholm.
Dear worldthreaders / queridos tejedores de mundos,
I’ve just returned from Madrid, where we celebrated the arrival of my latest book, a spanish poetry compilation titled Expediciones a la región furtiva (Expeditions to the furtive region), with a prologue by the wonderful Pita Ochoa, published in Spain and distributed also in Colombia, US and Mexico by Valparaíso Ediciones.
Acabo de regresar de Madrid, donde hemos celebrado la llegada de mi último libro, una recopilación de poesía española titulada Expediciones a la región furtiva, con prólogo de la maravillosa Pita Ochoa, publicado en España y distribuido también en Colombia, Estados Unidos y México por Valparaíso Ediciones.
This trip concludes a marathon of 7 countries, and more than 15 cities, (in the past 5 months) as part of a promotional tour of my poetic work, and the organization of several cultural events that I have curated / moderated / organized to promote the poetic work of local and international artists…plus an artistic research investigation I’ve been doing simultaneously.
Este viaje concluye una maratón de 7 países, y más de 15 ciudades, (en los últimos 5 meses) como parte de un tour de promoción de mi obra poética, y de la organización de varios eventos culturales que he curado / moderado / organizado para fomentar el trabajo poético de artistas locales e internacionales… además de una investigación artística que he ido realizando simultáneamente.
Poetry is making itself present in every corner of my life, constantly. I am still radiating from the arrival of my book Lotería: Nocturnal Sweepstakes, which has been my loyal companion in this journey. Of this book, which arrived in March of 2023, the Puerto Rican / NY poet Urayoán Noel wrote for La Treintena:
This book won the Academy of American Poets’ Ambroggio Prize for a book-length poetry manuscript originally written in Spanish. The New York-based Colombian American Torres incorporates her own artwork and, most impressively, elegant self-translations that let her flowing lyric voice unfold in both languages, touching upon migration, war, memory, and landscape, from the natural world rendered in visionary lines to the physical and psychic environments of everyday New York City.
Este libro ganó el Premio Ambroggio de la Academia de Poetas Americanos para un manuscrito poético originalmente escrito en español. La colombiana-estadounidense afincada en Nueva York incorpora sus propias ilustraciones y, lo que es más impresionante, elegantes autotraducciones que permiten que su fluida voz lírica se despliegue en ambos idiomas, tocando temas como la migración, la guerra, la memoria y el paisaje, desde el mundo natural representado en líneas visionarias hasta los entornos físicos y psíquicos del día a día de la ciudad de Nueva York.
The passage below is one of my favorites / El siguiente pasaje es uno de mis favoritos:
“EL ESTADO DE LAS COSAS
He aquí la línea fronteriza:
la raya en vertical donde cruzamos hacia el fin del mundo.
De ahora en adelante una brusca neblina
carcomiendo las secuencias de cada instante nuestro
rabia en los huesos / un rogar incesante por máquinas del tiempo.
STATE OF AFFAIRS
This is the borderline:
the vertical stripe where we cross to the end of the world.
From now on an abrupt haze
gnawing at the sequences of each instant of ours
rage in the bones / an incessant begging for time machines.”
If you’d like to order the book, please click here.
Next up, the premier of TRIC (The real insight challenge) a play I wrote during the winter. Próximamente, en Dinamarca, es la premier de la obra TRIC (The real insight challange) que escribí en el invierno.
And further down the summer, more poetry, more gifts, more miracles, an incessant blooming of this reality, we’ve worked so hard to manifest.
Meanwhile? See you at Tranås at the Fringe this July.
Y más allá del verano, más poesía, más regalos, más milagros, un incesante florecer a esta realidad que tanto hemos luchado por forjar. Mientras tanto, nos vemos en Suecia, en el festival Tranås at the Fringe este Julio.
In full spring and in full swing, I am happy to share that the latest issue of Red Door Magazine, “Organisms & Structures”, is now available online at http://www.reddoormagazine.com, where you can also pre-order your limited edition copy, which will be shipped to you from Red Door Gallery once it arrives from the printers. This is my chance to also begin this message by encouraging you to check out my PATREON platform, and consider giving your support, through either a one-time donation or by choosing a tier level of support. It will be greatly appreciated: http://www.patreon.com/madamneverstop
Additionally, I am so excited to share with you the latest poetry news. My book “Expediciones al a Región Furtiva” (Expeditions to the furtive region) will be released this May with Valparaíso Ediciones, and today I get to share with you the cover reveal!
I will be celebrating the launch of this book, doing a reading and book signing as part of the Madrid bookfair this May 26th-27th, and in the meantime… the neverstop poetry takeover continues, so here’s an updated calendar!
*May 5: Wales PEN and Llenyddiaeth Cymru / Literature Wales Poetry Reading
*May 6 Wales: Creative writing masterclass: Multimedia poetry workshop at University of Wales Trinity St David.
*May 24 Copenhagen: Worldthreading: Workshop, screening and poetry performance as part of IMMART’s Artival.
May 26 Madrid: Feria del libro: Book signing of “Expediciones a la Región Furtiva” with Valparaiso Ediciones, 7.30-9pm
*May 25-28 Madrid: Book release of “Expediciones a la Región Furtiva” at the Feria del Libro de Madrid.
June 1-6: Premier of play at Momentum in Odense, DK: “TRIC – The Real Insight Challenge”. More details coming soon.
*July 1 – 8 Sweden: Tranås at the Fringe: 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARYYYYYYY!
*August Helsinki & Stockholm appearances More details coming soon.
Nov: UK Creative writing workshop for the Poetry School.
If you’re a cultural organizer and would like to book me for poetry / creative writing / multimedia workshops, masterclasses, talks and performances, please write to madamneverstop@gmail.com
If you’d like to give your support, I encourage you to join my Patreon. There you can receive exclusives of each of these activities, behind-the-scenes content, and even a subscription for the physical copies of Red Door Magazine.
Thanks to all of you for welcoming my poetry, my art and all these cultural projects into your life and your communities. I look forward to seeing you in one of these events!
Cursed with clarity is one of the songs from my album “Would you like to come home?” released with Moloko Plus (by Ralf Friel) in Germany.
The lyrics, vocals, video and animation are by me, and the music is composed by Brandon Davis and Marie Mark Andersen. This was mixed at STC studios in Copenhagen by Dr.Hansen…
In celebration of poetry month, here’s this brand new experimental videopoem:
The illustrations are a stop-motion animation I created during the long train rides and flights of this recent US tour, accompanied by footage of microscopic organisms in movement, a meditation on microcosms, structures and life’s intricate beauty. I will come back soon with an update on the tour and upcoming poetic adventures, but for now, remember, love is free!
I am delighted to share with you the current calendar of activities / performances / workshops scheduled for 2023, and will be updating this post often with the latest changes. For now, if you’re in these cities, please come say hi and be part of this neverstopping act of poetic disobedience.
p.s: I will be sharing poetry from my new book Lotería: Nocturnal Sweepstakes in the events marked with a (*) . Join me!
*JAN 19 Turku: Bar Ö – Featuring Daniel Malpica & Elizabeth Torres + Open might night. ***What a blast this was, thanks! I read in public for the first time from my upcoming book Lotería, and it was very moving to see the audiences response. Plus I truly enjoyed everyone else’s input and voices. Kiitos!
JAN 21-23 Turku: The Ecology of Artistic Research – Investigation and documentation. Follow www.worldthreading.com to learn more.
Jan 23– 27 Helsinki: OPEN ROAD – As part of an ActinArt award and with the support of Nordisk Kulturfond, we’ll be creating a guide for performers on the road in the Nordic region. Stay tuned for more.
Jan 27 – 31 Helsinki: The Ecology of Artistic Research – Investigation and documentation. Follow www.worldthreading.com to learn more.
Jan 31 – Feb 28 EVERYWHERE: VERSOPOLIS Poetry Expo 2023 – Red Press presents a bilingual compilation of women in poetry.
Plus screening of selection of poetry films from the permanent archive of the Poetic Phonotheque.
Feb 17 – 26 Stockholm: The Ecology of Artistic Research – Investigation and documentation. Follow www.worldthreading.com to learn more.
*Feb 22 – Stockholm: Worldthreading workshop, talk & screening of the Poetic Phonotheque at Hallwylska Museet as part of IMMART’s Artival.
*Feb 28 – Everywhere: BOOK RELEASE! La Lotería: Nocturnal Sweepstakes / Sorteo Nocturno, winner of the Ambroggio Prize of the Academy of American Poets, is released by the University of Arizona Press. Reserve your copy here.
*March: US TOUR. – More details coming soon. *March 9: US, Seattle – AWP Book fair & Book release with the Academy of American Poets at 11 and at the University of Arizona Press’ booth at 13. *March 14 US: Clark University: Across Languages: A Writers’ Roundtable
*March 15-22 US: NY book presentations TBA.
March 25 Copenhagen: Book release of ABSTRAKT MASKINE by Red Press at Red Door.
April 1-2 Copenhagen: Perfect Binding: Outsider Book Fair – Hosted by Red Door and Husets Biograf, thanks to the support of Nordisk Kulturfond.
April 8 – 23 Oslo, Norway: The Ecology of Artistic Research – Investigation and documentation. Follow www.worldthreading.com to learn more.
*April 13 Oslo: Worldthreading: Workshop, screening of Poetic Phonotheque and poetry reading, as part of IMMART’s Artival.
*May 5: Wales PEN and Llenyddiaeth Cymru / Literature Wales Poetry Reading
*May 6 Wales: Creative writing masterclass: Multimedia poetry workshop at University of Wales Trinity St David.
*May 24 Copenhagen: Worldthreading: Workshop, screening and poetry performance as part of IMMART’s Artival.
June: Premier of play at Momentum in Odense, DK: “TRIC – The Real Insight Challenge”. More details coming soon.
*July 1 – 8 Sweden: Tranås at the Fringe
*July / August UK / online: Poetry masterclass with UK collaboration TBA
*Sep 10 – 18 Paris: European Beat Studies Network conference
Oct 6-7 Copenhagen: Red Door 14 year anniversary
If you’re a cultural organizer and would like to book me for poetry / creative writing / multimedia workshops, masterclasses, talks and performances, please write to madamneverstop@gmail.com
If you’d like to give your support, I encourage you to join my Patreon. There you can receive exclusives of each of these activities, behind-the-scenes content, and even a subscription for the physical copies of Red Door Magazine.
Thanks to all of you for your support, and looking forward to seeing you in one of these events!
The 2nd edition of NATURE & CULTURE (International Poetry Film Festival) is right around the corner… no, wait, look, it’s here!
This festival, which is all about poetry but in reality, so much more than that, because it is about environmental awareness, diversity, cultures, film… worldthreading, and the ways we as humans express and connect, is back in its second edition this Sunday, November 20.
Here’s the beautiful poster, designed by Danish artist Hunter Berg.
…And here is the program for the physical event, which is taking place this November 20 at Husets Biograf in Copenhagen.
As you can see, it contains everything from director talks, to poetry readings, and the screenings of animations, shorts, experimentals, documentaries and… POETRY films.
It is true that this is a yearly festival, and by that it wouldn’t be a lie to say that it takes us a whole year to plan it. Us as in me and my many hats, but thankfully also a beautiful team of collaborators, from the organizers and volunteers at Husets Biograf who welcomed this project with open arms, to the collaborators of The Poetic Phonotheque in Sweden, KULTIVERA, who help with organization and promotion, but also have a segment of Swedish poetry and “Cinematic Ekphrasis” as part of this… and of course, the Red Door team, this year featuring Pablo Saborio as one of the performers, along with Colombian/Swedish poet Angela Garcia.
Are you in Copenhagen? There are still some tickets left and you can order them here:
We received over 600 films and from this made a selection of 100, which you can enjoy for free during the festival’s digital screening by visiting poeticphonotheque.com
And yes, all the poetry films become part of the permanent collection of the Poetic Phonotheque, which is often on tour in the Nordic region.
The festival this year has a focus, apart from the core ecological awareness and support to environmental messages, in the voices of indigenous communities around the planet. It is a very moving, empowering and eye-opening selection, so I truly hope you take the time to listen to the dreams, secrets, messages and stories they’ve agreed to share with us.
Here’s a few stills from what we can expect in this coming festival:
HUNI (Brazil) Directed by Danielle Mccormick: The Huni Kuin are a remote indigenous tribe living in the Amazon rainforest. The psychedelic brew Ayahuasca is a key part of their spirituality. They are so concerned about the effects climate change is having on the jungle they held a tribal gathering and Ayahuasca ceremony to pray.
SENTENCES (Germany) Directed by Cia Rinne: Sentences is based on sentences from the book with the same title by Cia Rinne. In sentences, it is the sentence as a linguistic unit itself that reflects on its purpose and position.
MOTHBOX (US) Directed by Nathan King: a short experimental animated film using paper cut outs and a multiplane camera system that involves three layers of glass.
THE FUTURE IS FABRIC (Australia) Directed by Julia Marin: The tumultous and triumphant life of Lao Master Weaver, Khaisy Sophabmixay. Born in the midst of conflict, Khaisy began a woman-led enterprise with one loom and two weavers. After decades of championing traditional, sustainable textile design, she has now been recognised as one of Asia’s greatest artisans.
And as a little extra token, I can share with you that as part of my MFA Program in Performing Arts, lately I’ve been working on a short film with a few of my classmates. It is called The Findings, which is a poem of my authorship, and it is done in collaboration with Anna Carla Maria Penati and Tjörvi Lederer, who will be present at the festival to introduce it in its premier night.
So, without further ado, I invite you to enjoy this incredible festival, starting on Sunday and continuing until November 30.
Elizabeth Torres 