Michael V. Smith is an interdisciplinary artist, working as a writer, filmmaker, performance artist, and occasional clown. He is one of several authors performing at the second-annual Beat Salad event this Friday.
Poetry, music, wine, and cheese at Woodhaven Eco Culture Centre
What: Second-annual Beat Salad event
Who: Various award-winning writers and musicians
When: Friday, July 10, at 6 p.m.
Where: Woodhaven Eco Culture Centre, 969 Raymer Rd., Kelowna
Beat literature is alive and well and living in the woods at the Woodhaven Eco Culture Centre. UBC Okanagan’s Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies is hosting the second annual Beat Salad event — an evening of beat poetry, great writers, and good food.
“We’re inviting people to come and celebrate the beauty and power of beat literature,” says event organizer Connal McNamara. “We have a new generation of five of Canada’s top writers who will perform the works they love best by some of the Beat’s greatest. This is a night for lovers of great writing, music, wine and cheese and all things delicious.”
Writers Laisha Rosnau, Michael V. Smith, Joan Crate, W. Mark Giles, Matt Rader, and others will share original works set to Woodhaven’s natural back drop decorated by artistic director Lucas Glenn. Live music will be provided by Rhoneil.
“Beat Salad is the perfect mix of cultural event and natural splendor, held at one of Kelowna’s more exciting arts venues,” says Clayton McCann, host of last year’s show. “Set at the beautiful Woodhaven Eco Culture Centre, the stage will be set under the towering pines for a memorable evening of beat poetry, and the beat of live music.”
Beat Salad, Friday, July 10 at 6 p.m., is an annual poetry/musical night hosted by UBC Okanagan’s Faculty of Critical and Creative Studies in partnership with the Regional District of the Central Okanagan. This year, a free shuttle will run from between the Naked Café, 571 Lawrence Ave. to the Woodhaven Eco Culture Centre starting at 5 p.m., running every hour until 10 p.m.
Participants are encouraged to come early, as headliners take to the stage at 6:30 p.m. This is a free event, but McNamara encourages people to bring cash to purchase drinks from wine sponsor St. Hubertus Estate Winery.
To find out more, visit Woodhaven’s Public Facebook group at: www.facebook.com/groups or beatsaladevent.wordpress.com
Coldstream artist Laisha Rosnau is the author of three poetry collections, Pluck, Lousy Explorers, and Notes on Leaving and her novel, The Sudden Weight of Snow. She is one of several authors performing at the second-annual Beat Salad event this Friday.