‘Turu Manu’ fetches $230 for Caselberg Trust

Riemke Ensing’s poem ‘Turu Manu’, a handset and printed broadsheet designed by Tara McLeod of the Pear Tree Press, fetched $230 at the 15 February 2015 Caselberg Trust Fundraising event held in the Glenfalloch
 Woodland Gardens, Macandrew Bay, Dunedin  Unable to be present to read poems with Emma Neale, Alan Roddick, Pat White and Sue Wootton, Riemke instead donated  the limited edition broadsheet for auction. 
The poem, celebrating a friend’s departure for England, is 30 x 50 cm. It is printed, in three colours, on Lana Royal, a French mould-made paper, The text is set in 18 point Lydian italic, an American typeface. 
The title is set in 36 point Klang, an English type. The 2 images were hand-drawn and printed by Tara McLeod from photopolymer plates.   

An edition of 30 was printed, and the broadsheet is signed by both the poet and the printer. A few copies are still available for sale from the poet < r.ensing@ensing.co.nz>

 


Premiere of Storm Warning
The Premiere of Riemke Ensing’s poems Storm Warning, set to music by Alex van den Broek will take place at Christchurch WORD (Writers & Readers) Festival on Friday 29 August at 7.30pm in the Linwood Community Arts Centre.
  
This is an exciting new work for vocalist and a chamber ensemble consisting of oboe, clarinet, trombone and percussion. 
‘The work explores the boundaries between the genres of classical and jazz to realise the colour and depth of the poems.

Van den Broek and Ensing have a strong artistic rapport  and shared experiences of immigration and dual identity. 

Much of the imagery in the text centres around coastal images, bush, rocks, hills and spiritual resting places. 

Vocalist Naomi Ferguson is a dramatic and expressive singer who forms a centre point for the work, delivering and interpreting the text, around which the ensemble thread a distinct and evocative musical world.’

Reading for the Auckland launch of Essential New Zealand Poems

An exciting and impressive line-up of poets will read at the Auckland launch of Essential New Zealand Poems in the Central City Library  on 25 July, 2014 at 6pm.

After readings by  12 poets – all reading two poems – there will be refreshments, and assured conviviality. 
We hope you’ll come along and support this beautifully produced and distinctive collection by Godwit / Random House






‘Storm Warning’ at Christchurch’s Writers & Readers WORD Festival 2014

On Friday, 29 August at 7.30pm in the Linwood Community Arts Centre, WORD Christchurch is proud to host the world premiere of an exciting new work for vocalist and chamber ensemble that brings together the talents of admired composer Alex van den Broek and renowned New Zealand poet Riemke Ensing. The two have a strong artistic rapport based on mutual admiration and on shared experiences of immigration and dual identity. Storm Warning explores the boundaries between classical and jazz to realise the colour and depth of poems rich in the imagery of Aotearoa. 


‘The poems are set around the West coast of Auckland which has alway has a special significance for me – not least because that intrepid seafarer Abel Tasman (The Tasman Sea) came to New
 Zealand  from the same province (Groningen) as I did – although there as a considerable difference in the time-span. [1642 / 1951]
The poems for Storm Warning- after McCahon  came about when I was asked to curate an exhibition of ‘west coast’ art at the Corbans Estate Arts Center in Henderson in 2003.
We were even lucky enough to secure a McCahon for the occasion, which was especially marvellous. A friend and colleague was quite happy to lend it.  
The artists whose works were shown in the exhibition were: Rex Armstrong, Alice Blackley, Len Castle, James Ensing -Trussell, John Madden, Colin McCahon, Stanley Palmer, Felicity West.
Beth Sergeant searched out the French out-of-production Cromatico Carmine endpapers for the book, immediately picking up on the red in the McCahon painting, but rejecting the more
 terrifying connotations for the ‘seductively enticing translucence’ of the paper 
Dame Cheryll Sotheran, then at Te Papa, was there to launch the book and open the exhibition. A momentous occasion and a huge crowd.’
For his composition of these poems, Alex van den Broek has chosen a somewhat unusual combination of instruments as well as voice that will be fascinating and intriguing to hear. 

Storm Warning – World Premiere

Music – Alex van den Broek                        Text – Riemke Ensing

Voice – Naomi Ferguson

Oboe – Jennifer Johnson

Clarinet – Gretchen La Roche

Trombone – Scott Taitoko

Percussion – Mark La Roche

 

Tuesday poem ‘Another exile paints a Spring portrait of Katherine Mansfield’ + review and links, 15 July 2014

10 Answers, a photo and a poem in ‘Eastlife’ July 2014

Five Poets and a Prize

Relinquishing the Lauris Edmond Memorial Award to another after a little less than two years was sad, as I’ve thought of this particular award as rather personal and special, but despite that slight feeling of loss, it was a good event. Held in the Hannah Theatre, Wellington during the New Zealand Festival on 12 March 2014, there were four readers other than myself. It was great to share the stage with Jenny Bornholdt, Geoff Cochrane, Vivienne Plumb and Michael Harlow, who at the end of the readings, was presented with the ‘prize’ for the next two years, by Laurice Gilbert, President of the New Zealand Poetry Society. Also at the presentation were Frances Edmond (member of the ‘Friends of the Lauris Edmond Memorial Prize’ ) who hosted the event and introduced the poets, and Dame Fiona Kidman, both as Patron of the Poetry Society and Friend of Lauris Edmond. There was a good turn out and many familiar faces, and I was delighted afterwards to meet poet Annie Newcomer all the way from Kansas, USA, by chance in Wellington on her last day in this country, with whom I’ve since become an e-mail correspondent.



A special event in honour of poet Lauris Edmond

When I  accepted the Lauris Edmond Memorial Award ‘for an outstanding contribution to New Zealand Poetry’ at the Readers & Writers Festival in Christchurch in September 2012, I thought then it would be fitting to honour this fine poet with a reading in

 Auckland. Together with Frances Edmond (Lauris’ daughter), an evening of Poetry & Music  entitled ‘The Wisdom of Seasons’  was organized and held in the Music Theatre at the University of Auckland  on 12 February 2014 ( also Frances’ birthday).
It was a splendid and very special event. Both Frances and myself read selections from Lauris’ poems, while Uwe Grodd (flute) and Andreas Simon (piano) both from the University of Auckland, offered a variety of musical delights which included works by
 Weber, Richard Strauss and Satie, to fit he mood and atmosphere created by the poetry, which, in Ken Arvidson’s words, is ‘elegiac yet celebratory, conversational and sociable yet never far from meditative solitude… The air of spontaneity which is such an
 attractive feature of her poetry makes it seem like a clear window opening on her world and her life.’ 
A large and enthusiastic (almost capacity) audience later enjoyed good wine, food  and numerous reminiscences. It was indeed a memorable celebration ‘in honour’ .

spit.it.out

Six writers took to the floor at the Remuera Library on Friday 21 March, 2014.

Included in the line-up were poets Riemke Ensing, Peter Bland & Alistair Paterson.
A lively and enthusiastic audience turned up and there was much socializing and catching up.
Anita Arlov  compered with panache and delectable refreshments were on hand to ensure a very special evening.

 

Poetry at the Port

It was a splendid evening at Port Chalmers Library on Thursday 27 February, 2014.

A wonderful audience gathered for the reading and it was marvellous to see so many people turn up from far and wide.
It was a particular delight to catch up with so many fellow writers and supporters whom I hadn’t seen for a long time.
A really affirming and positive evening made the more welcoming and hospitable by the generosity of the librarians who went out of their way to make the evening a most convivial event.

 

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