Friday August 22. The Woodshed Readings were proud to host Edmonton poet and visual artist Laurie MacFayden, who gave a reading from her second collection, Kissing Keeps Us Afloat. The book doesn’t officially launch until September, so we were fortunate enough to have a sneak preview. See Laurie’s website for more information, and for images of her paintings and photography.
“Swinging and searing verses, meditative narratives, honky-tonk tunes and catalogues of favoured things (including what lovers bring — or leave behind), all merge to make Kissing Keeps Us Afloat a book for tongues and lips to sing. MacFayden knows painting and music, and she loves words and women. The result is art without limit, craft without regret, and poetry that faces trauma and embraces the erotic. MacFayden’s poetry is both red-hot and cool-blue, white lies and film noir, memory and truth. In the supposed mundane, she shows us, transcendence awaits.” – George Elliott Clarke
Musical guest Karen Donaldson Shepherd, who has served as the unofficial — but absolutely fantastic, and very much appreciated — “Woodhaven house band” throughout the summer, played sets on the gayageum (a traditional Korean stringed instrument), guitar and vocals, and fiddle.
A big thank you to Laurie, and Karen, and everyone who made the trip out to Woodhaven to enjoy this evening with us.