By Pauline Brightling
Love words and ideas? Spend an afternoon immersed in fabulous poetry. Be part of the Liquid Amber Poetry Community at their first in-person Poetry Festival.
Some good things did emerge from Melbourne’s pandemic experiences; think WFH, Zoom, new hobbies, and poetry!
Liquid Amber is a small press and poetry hub based in Seddon. Since 2020 it’s provided opportunities for established and emerging poets to read their work, listen to others and be published. It’s also been helping readers become confident and excited about poetry as an important way to better understand themselves and the world.
Most Liquid Amber events to date have been online, but on Saturday 26th October at the Bluestone Church Arts Space in Footscray there will be an in-person afternoon of glorious poetry from Liquid Amber poets and friends.
“If you enjoy listening to art and experiencing the charge that comes with great poetry, join us for this ‘best in the west’ afternoon of literature,” says Rose Lucas, founding editor of Liquid Amber Press.
The Festival will be opened by poet and novelist Francesca de Tores, while Angela Costi, Nathan Curnow and Anne Gleeson will explore the theme ‘Territories of the Heart’.
Dominique Hecq, Ross Gillett and Diane Fahey will discuss ‘Conversations: Poetry in dialogue with other texts’.
Anne Elvey, Anne M. Carson, Angela Costi and Rose Lucas will talk about and read their collaborative work responding in poetry to the sketchbooks of JMW Turner.
There will be readings by Melbourne poets Alison J Barton, Gayelene Carbis, Emilie Collyer, Es Foong, Lesh Karan, Alana Kelsall and Isabella Mead.
And there will be the launch of Stephanie Powell’s powerful new collection Invisible Wasp.
“Reading Invisible Wasp is like spending time with your cool friend who helps you navigate life’s strangeness. I keep returning to this shimmering collection and every time I find something new,” says Emilie Collyer, who will launch this book at the Festival.
When: Saturday 26th October, 1.30–5.00pm
Where: The Bluestone Church Arts Space, 8A Hyde St, Footscray
Tickets: $15 ($12 concession), which include afternoon tea from the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, available at www.liquidamberpress.com.au/events
