Calgary’s Wordfest set to kick off this Tuesday
By Allie McHugh, citizen reporter
Calgary will be covered in ink this week, as dozens of well-known and soon-to-be-known authors converge on the city to help celebrate the 16th annual Wordfest.
Calgary’s own literary festival will host over 70 authors from October 11 – 16, in various panel discussions and readings at different locations throughout the city.
Wordfest’s artistic associate Anne Logan, who is participating in her third festival, says this year’s celebration of Calgary’s literary community is about readers and authors connecting. Logan is responsible for reading submissions and making recommendations as to which authors should be included in the schedule.
“Wordfest is a great opportunity for book lovers to get together and celebrate writers,” she said.
Since the first Wordfest in 1996, the event has attracted big names. In its inaugural year, the festival’s participants included Margaret Atwood, Roch Carrier, Wayson Choy, Tomson Highway, Paul Quarrington, and Sheri-D Wilson.
The list has since expanded to include Douglas Coupland, Diana Gabaldon, David Suzuki, and many other prominent Canadian literary names.
This year, four of the six authors shortlisted for the 2011 Giller Prize made the cut. David Bezmogis, Lynn Coady, Patrick deWitt, who announced he cannot attend Wordfest, and Zsuzsi Gartner will be involved in the festival.
Organizers say this year’s event offers something different in the form of new director Jo Steffens’ vision. Steffens recently moved back to Calgary from New York City and has already made some changes to this year’s schedule.
Wordfest is incorporating new showcases like “Word Projects”, three additions that explore new media.
One of those new ventures this year is “Word Powered Art”, a project consisting of text-based art installations designed by artist Angela Silver, displayed on digital billboards around Calgary.
There will also be an electronic light sculpture on the facade of the Calgary Tower of Derek Beaulieu’s concrete poetry. Beaulieu is a Canadian poet whose work uses graphic design and experimental techniques to challenge conventional ways of interpreting poetry.
The third project is an adaptation of Toronto author Jessica Westhead’s short story “Community”, for radio play. All three “Word Projects” were ushered in by Steffens this year.
Steffens says working on Wordfest has been a good experience, adding she’s happy to be heading up the 2011 festival back in her hometown.
“I don’t think there are many opportunities like this,” she said.
Steffens is no stranger to the literary world, having reviewed books for the Calgary Herald and working as an editor of a literary magazine, in addition to her work as an author on her series Unpacking My Library, Architects and Their Books.
“The literary festival is one big piece of the publishing and book world,” Steffens said. “We really do help writers, and employ writers, and get their name out there.”
Simone Lee, owner of Pages on Kensington bookstore, agrees that Wordfest has become a great celebration of the city’s literary scene.
“I know how important it is for authors to have a place to present their stuff … it allows local authors to have a venue,” she said.
Lee, who has worked in book sales for four years and as a publicist in the past, says the festival also helps turn local book lovers on to new authors they may not have known before.
“Every year it’s a major part of our fall season,” she said.
Those book lovers include attendees, volunteers, and the authors themselves, says a long time festival attendee and current volunteer Debbie Bateman.
“I have noticed authors seem to appreciate the opportunity to get to know each other,” she said.
What Bateman and others involved in Wordfest value most is the sense of community it brings to Calgary.
“When I’m volunteering at Wordfest I feel like I’m with my people,” said Bateman, who’s been attending the festival since the first year. She added attending that first showcase hooked her on Wordfest.
“I was moved by how many people enjoy reading,” she said. “It’s something you enjoy in the privacy of your own home, and sometimes you feel like you’re the only one. You attend a Wordfest event and know that’s not true”.
Wordfest kicks off Tuesday, October 11th, with “Lunch with Will Ferguson” at the Auburn Saloon. A number of events will also be held in Banff during the week. For more information and to purchase tickets visit www.wordfest.com.
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