Multiple Authors (ed. Casey Wei) – Friend Poems
by Colin Osler, Kay Higgins, Tiziana La Melia, Steffanie Ling, and Casey Wei
paperback, 90 pgs – $15
ISBN: 978-1-927385-60-9
Realized throughout the pandemic, Friend Poems addresses long-running thoughts, recurring dreams, and secret epiphanies. Co-published by PSVancouver and AK, AK’s 27th release is its first collection of poetry with contributions by five Vancouver-based artist-writers responding to the prompt: “a poem written to a friend, with friends in mind, as an act of trust.” Each contribution works through its own methodology and desire while rippling kismet throughout one another.
Friend Poems launches with a reading and discussion via Zoom on Friday, January 26th at 5pm PST. To attend this online event, register here.
Bios:
CASEY WEI is an interdisciplinary artist, musician, and writer based in Vancouver. Her practice has evolved from filmmaking (Murky Colors [2012], Vater und Sohn / Father and Son / 父与子 [2013]), into works that cross over between art, music, and the community at large (Kingsgate Mall Happenings [2014], Chinatown Happenings [2015], the Karaoke Music Video Free Store [2017], the art rock? concert series [2015-2018], which resulted in the film, art rock? The Popular Esoteric [2018]). In 2016, she began Agony Klub. She plays in the music project Kamikaze Nurse and sometimes produces music videos and texts under the alias Karen Zolo. She is also co-founder and editor at ReIssue.pub, and founder and ED of Artworld Software.
COLIN OSLER is an interdisciplinary artist and musician based in Vancouver, BC. His work is informed by themes of cultural phenomena, memory recall and nostalgia. He will be graduating from Emily Carr University with a BFA in Critical + Cultural Practices this Spring.
KAY HIGGINS is an artist and cultural worker based in Vancouver. She was a co-founder of Artspeak Gallery and the Pacific Association of Artist Run Centres, is co-proprietor (with Kathy Slade) of the artist press Publication Studio Vancouver and was Executive Director of the artist-run space UNIT/PITT Projects from 2010-2019. She is currently Head of Publishing at the Libby Leshgold Gallery, Emily Carr University of Art + Design and Editor of ECU Press. Her work has included manufactured publications, handmade artist books, public inscription, photography, and internet-based projects. She has been a curator, editor, factory and warehouse labourer, technology consultant, and candidate for municipal office.
STEFFANIE LING is a cultural worker and guest living on the unceded territories of the xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) First Nations. She is currently organizing Marx study groups on Discord and researching New Work Poetry, Situationist comic strips, and Soviet era animation. Her books are NASCAR (Blank Cheque, 2016) and CUTS OF THIN MEAT (Spare Room, 2015). A forthcoming chapbook with House House Press (Montreal, 2021) is called MIXED MARTIAL ARTS.
TIZIANA LA MELIA was born in Palermo (IT) and raised on an orchard-garden situated on unceded Syilx (Okanangan) territory. Her artistic practice aims for holistic and non-binary considerations of matter, environment, ecology, memory, storytelling, place and language transformed into poetry, painting, collaborations, video, drawing, and installation. She is working on a new project titled The Simple Life: Country Mouse, City Mouse, Hamster – mixing personal chronicles, Aesop fable and reality television. Upcoming exhibitions and projects include Fly Robin Fly, Mecenes du Sud, Montpellier-Sete, Montpellier (FR), Comics Trip, Collection Lambert, Avignion (FR), Global Cows 2020, Images Festival, Toronto, and a book of her poetry translated into Italian, edited by Sonia D’Alto and Archive Books (Berlin/Milan).