Between Word and Image: New Perspectives on Concrete Poetry and Women's Visual Poetics

Between Word and Image explores new directions in the study of concrete and visual poetics in Britain and abroad, focusing particularly on the contributions of women artists and poets. It also coincides with the 60th anniversary of the first international exhibition of concrete, kinetic, and phonic poetry, which was held in Cambridge, in the Rushmore rooms of St Catharine’s College, in late November 1964. Organised by Stephen Bann, Reg Gadney, Philip Steadman, and Mike Weaver, this exhibition was the first of its kind to be staged in Britain. Reflecting on its significance, sixty years on, this event (which consists of two parts - a symposium followed by a collaborative poetry performance with British PoetArtist Paula Claire) investigates the ongoing legacy of avant-garde poetic practices in Cambridge. Moreover, Between Word and Image picks up on a recent surge in critical interest surrounding the work of female artists and poets associated with the concrete poetry movement, and will consider in more depth the way they contributed to the development of concrete and visual poetics in the post-war period.

Speakers

Prof Stephen Bann (Emeritus Professor of History of Art, University of Bristol)

Dr Greg Thomas (Writer and Editor)

Dr Natalie Ferris (Lecturer in 20th and 21st Century Women's Writing, University of Bristol)

Luke Allan (PhD Candidate, University of Cambridge)

India Oswin (PhD Candidate, University of Cambridge)

The symposium will take place between 9:30am and 1:00pm on Saturday 30th November (GMT), and will be followed in the afternoon by a virtual, collaborative poetry performance and conversation with concrete sound poet Paula Claire. Mapping a career that spans over sixty years, Claire's performance will highlight a variety of styles and practices that are central to her oeuvre. With her audience, she will explore a range of works and materials, from early 'poem-objects' to her pioneering work 'sounding' the natural environment. Claire's performance will be followed by a conversation with Cambridge PhD candidate India Oswin, who is currently researching a thesis on women and concrete poetry in Britain. Audience members will be invited to ask questions during the discussion, and are also encouraged to collaborate with Claire during her performance.

We invite you to attend both the symposium and the performance. However, you are more than welcome to attend only one if you prefer. When booking tickets, please book for the sessions you wish to attend (i.e., if you would like to go to both the symposium and the performance with Paula Claire, please book two tickets - one for each session). Both the symposium and the performance with Claire will be run in a hybrid format. Please book the appropriate ticket when registering. Links will be made available for those wishing to attend virtually in due course.

Tea, coffee, and light refreshments will be served.

For enquiries, please email: [email protected]

Full programme TBC.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Faculty of English, 9 West Road, Cambridge, United Kingdom