2008-2011

From 2008 to 2011, the project was presented in collaboration with Ballarat Writers Incorporated, a not-for-profit organisation supporting writers in regional Victoria. During this period, Bronwyn conceptualised a longer project aimed at encouraging and developing regional writers, composers and performance through workshops and mentoring.

2008

Pure Poetry 2008 involved eight local emerging poets taking part in a series of poetry workshops with award-winning poet, Ross Donlon. Their poetry was presented in a program of Australian violin, cello and piano repertoire, which included new works by Ballarat composer Suzie May Camm and Melbourne’s Anthony Lyons. Both Suzie May and Anthony performed in the recital, making it a personal experience of contemporary music. The recital was presented to a full house at the Art Gallery of Ballarat. The poets, who came from in and around Ballarat, were: Jan Price, Myra King, Annie Gleeson, Stephen Pigott, Ursula Calderone, Richard Sullivan, Roger Clark and Sharon Howard.

2010

Pure Poetry 2010, the first regional tour, fostered 19 emerging poets based in and around Shepparton, Ballarat and Castlemaine. Through a mentorship with Ross Donlon, poets developed their writing and presentation skills, and then read their work in one of three Pure Poetry Recitals held between March and May. The tour through regional Victoria had an enthusiastic following, with most recitals attracting capacity audiences.

The first recital in the tour took place in the SheppARTon Festival with poets: Pat Patt, Robyn Black, Barry Mitchell, Karen Parker, Vikki Bye and Gayle Cykner. The second recital was held in the Art Gallery of Ballarat and featured poets: Marian Chivers, Janette Dalgliesh, Eve Lamb, Rachel Flynn, Bronwyn Blaiklock and Penny Gibson. The final recital in the 2010 Pure Poetry Tour was in the Castlemaine Art Gallery. Poets included Peter Fernon, Tru Dowling, Damien Hendrickson, Ellen O’Gallagher, Julie Gittus, Gail Oliver and Arn Thoring.

2011

Pure Poetry 2011 was a departure from the early format, which centred around the performance of thematically sympathetic, contemporary Australian poetry and music. For the first time in the project’s history, Bronwyn sought creative integration of the two art forms through direct collaboration by selected poets and composers. New ekphrastic works were also commissioned, whereby poets wrote new works in response to compositions, and vice versa. The 2011 program included seven new works written either collaboratively or as ekphrasis by featured artists, composer Anthony Lyons and poet Nathan Curnow. Other guest poets were Lorraine McGuigan and Ross Gillett. Gillet’s poem ‘Trajectory’ was a reflection on Anthony’s piano solo ‘In a Close Orbit’.

Go to the Gallery page for sound and visuals from the 2011 recital. The poetry included works by Marian Chivers, Bronwyn Blaiklock, Damien Hendrickson, Pat Patt, Ellen O’Gallagher and Karen Parker, all of whom had participated in previous projects.

2013

The Pure Poetry project marked its tenth birthday in 2013. To celebrate, project founder, artistic director, poet and concert pianist, Bronwyn Blaiklock, commissioned the creative development of cross-discipline works by Terence Jaensch (poet, Castlemaine), Amadis Lacheta (composer, Metcalf), Scott Sanders (composer, Castlemaine), herself and special guest Ann Carr-Boyd (composer, Sydney). Supported by funding from Arts Victoria and the Ballarat City Council, the 2013 Pure Poetry project produced and presented four new performance works that both draw on and extend the Australian literature and classical music repertoire.

The premiere performance was given to a full house at the Art Gallery of Ballarat in November 2013. Also in the program were works by contemporary Australian composers and poetry from previous projects, including the New South Wales Riverina and regional Victoria.

The return of Ann Carr-Boyd to the anniversary project was a highlight. Ann worked with Bronwyn to write a piece for soprano, cello and piano specially for the project. Based on life in the Victorian gold rush, Song of the Goldfields was premiered alongside other collaborative pieces, Mine by poet Terry Jaensch and composer Scott Sanders, and Absence by Bronwyn and composer Amadis Lacheta. Amadis also penned a second piece, Lullaby for Grace, a stirring vocalise quartet. 

A stellar line-up of exciting musicians made the recital a memorable one, with performances by soprano Judith Dodsworth, clarinettist Samantha Kelson Gray, pianist Leigh Harrold and cellist Lachlan Dent.

 

Pure Poetry Anthology

To commemorate the project’s tenth anniversary, a limited edition anthology was created to capture all poetry performed in the recital. Beautifully designed by Celtink Creative, the booklet also includes biographies of all artists involved in the 2013 program, and insight into their work.

Contact us to Buy the Anthology