Featured Artist - Kat Mortensen

Kat Mortensen is an English Literature graduate from the University of Toronto. After years of working in teaching and clerical jobs that never quite fit, she is at last unleashing the many voices in her head.

Her work to date has appeared in "Cahoots Magazine", "The Daily Gleaner", and "The National Post". Her blog, Poetikat's Invisible Keepsakes, is a favourite with many who appreciate good poetry that appeals on different levels. Even those who "don't like" poetry, keep coming back to read hers.

She lives in Kitchener, Ontario in a cozy pre-war home with her husband Kevin, their cats and an assembly of well-fed, backyard creatures.

Kat's poetry is an eclectic mix that utilizes both classical forms and a kind of "stream-of-consciousness" approach. She touches on her own humanity and that of the world, through narrative and observational pieces. She frequently writes in a serious vein, but tinges of humour are ever-present.

She has recently published her first collection, "shadowstalking" with Pandora Press.

For more of Kat's work, see her website hyggedigter.blogspot.com

Featured Artist - Diane Attwell Palfrey

Diane Attwell Palfrey was born in Toronto and has lived in Cambridge for the past twenty years. She is a poet and prose writer.

Diane is a member of the Cambridge Writers Collective and has poetry published by the Waterloo-Wellington CAA, Serengeti Press, Craigleigh Press, Hammered Out, The Ontario Poetry Society, Cruickston Charitable Research Reserve/RARE, & Ascent Aspirations Magazine.

Diane was also the 1st place winner in the adult category for both the 2009 and 2010 Cambridge Arts Festival Poetry Contests. Here is her winning poem:

In the Throes of Perdition
(one earthquake survivor’s story)
by Diane Attwell Palfrey

A hungry earth engluts —her mouth a cobra lily bearing down. Ten days after the sate he rises from rubble hymned out, his native skin floured white. Crowds hail Emmanuel and swarm to touch his body searching for wounds. Delivering the gospel he recalls the tang of uric water turned to wine, the sounds crashing in and out like dream fits, sirens muffled, talk of pyres and Hebrew voices whisper chaos to a mind delirious from lacking. Haunts by an apostle’s song; a prayer that Father would send an eagle with sustenance further torments the wanting. Believing life succumbed on a goodly Friday he concedes to the probability that he is now a ghost confused until his mother’s voice is heard outside the tomb. And for a few seconds of aftermath there are no miracles, tragedies or kleptocrats, just transcendence and the barren snub of a harpy’s wing.

Featured Artist - April Bulmer

April Bulmer has published six books and four chapbooks. She is an award-winning poet who has won the Cambridge Arts Festival Poetry Contest. Her most recent collection is called THE GODDESS PSALMS (Serengeti Press). She has published widely internationally and nationally in such prestigious journals as THE MALAHAT REVIEW, ARC, PRISM international, EVENT AND Harvard's JOURNAL OF FEMINIST STUDIES IN RELIGION. She has three Master's Degrees in creative writing and religious studies and writes often of issues pertaining to women and spirituality. She is originally from Toronto, but has lived in Cambridge for 14 years where she is a member of the Cambridge Writers Collective.

April Bulmer's poetry is often spiritually-driven. She is interested in the goddesses, the prophets, the martyrs, the nuns, the native maidens, the messiahs, the spirits, the ghosts. She studied women and religion and creative writing at the graduate level and often combines these interests to create haunting poems that resonate in the psyche and soul: archetypes that constellate like dreams or visions.

The Cambridge Arts Festival would like to thank April for serving as judge in the adult category of this year's Word Up! Poetry Contest.

Featured Artist - David Menary

Novelist and 2010 Bernice Adams Award finalist David Menary has just released his latest book. The River and the Railroad, is set in 'New Thunder', Menary's fictional alias for Cambridge, ON. A free preview of the text is available on Google Books.

Click here to read the article in The Record by Kevin Swayze

Click here to read the article in The Times by Greg MacDonald.

Click Here to watch an interview with David on Rogers Daytime TV.

Autographed copies of The River and the Railroad are available at Book Express. David will also be on hand near our Literary Stage to sell and sign copies for Festival patrons.

Featured Artist - Barb Day

A member of the Cambridge Writer's Collective, Barb Day is generally a writer of prose, but has gained a new passion for Slam Poetry, and loves to write and perform Slam whenever the opportunity arises.

Barb's favourite Slam Piece, Complicated Coffee, describes the hassle and expense people will go to just for a coffee! Wouldn't it be much simpler just to make a pot for a fraction of the cost - at home?

Barb's Thoughts on Slam
A poetry slam is a competition during which poets recite their work. The performances are then judged on the content, the manner of delivery and the passion behind the words. Slam poetry is definitely not "a game played for the sheer fun of it.” After attending the Toronto Poetry Slam Semi Finals, the Finals, the Burlington Slam Project, and the London Spoken Word Event, I can attest to the fact that the very talented poets that participate in any or all of these events take their poetry very seriously. As for Slam being referred to as a "young persons game" one cannot deny the appeal or the beauty of this form that has helped to rejuvenate an interest in poetry for a younger generation, amongst many others. This was apparent at the event held at the Euphoria Bistro in Cambridge on April 9, 2010. Spoken Word is not only geared to the younger crowd. Anyone can be involved, at any age. Check out Jack McCarthy, featured at the Vancouver Poetry Slam, online.

Spoken Word is not always a Rant. Shane Koyczan, the poet who performed "We Are More" at the 2010 Winter Olympics presented an inspiring poem defining Canada that would by no means be categorized as a Rant. Check it out on YouTube.

It is a good idea to attend more than one event, as each offers something very different. Many would be pleasantly surprised at the optimism of the participants and the amazing prose/poetry all are writing and performing. There is certainly no age limit, no restrictions, and anyone who is interested is entirely encouraged to try this unique style out for themselves.

—Barb Day