Once upon a time large areas of Battersea were covered in market gardens and lavender fields. The air must have thrummed with bees and other pollinators. Bees feature in the mosaic tiled floors at Battersea Arts Centre, no doubt referring back to these earlier times, but also, like Manchester, an acknowledgement of the role of industry and working people in the making of Battersea.
Lately I have been flitting from one project to another and feeling very much like a busy bee. Hot on the heels of my found ~ flow ~ flux project came an opportunity to lead a series of short walks in the Nine Elms area. The walks are free to residents of Nine Elms and Battersea, and part of a wider programme of free autumn classes. I’m enjoying working out a different route for each walk, sharing a bit of the area’s history and listening to other people’s responses to all the changes taking place.
At the same time, I’m preparing for a free drop-in Plant-based Poetry workshop on Saturday 5th November from 2-4pm. It’s taking place in the south alcove of Merchants Way, which is the new pedestrian walkway between New Covent Garden Market and Nine Elms tube station. If you’re in the area, do drop by and have a go at writing a poem inspired by a fruit or vegetable, or pick up a postcard with suggestions for you to try at home in your own time. The workshop is supported by Vinci St Modwen.
A couple of days before the workshop, I’m venturing north of the river to the beautiful Ink@84Books in Islington for the in-person launch of my great friend Joolz’s sizzling pamphlet Face the strain, published by Against the Grain Press. I’m so excited to get my hands on a copy of Joolz’s pamphlet. Having read earlier versions of some of the poems and heard her perform some of them, I know it’s going to be a stunner. I’ll be reading a short set of poems alongside Katie Griffiths and Charlotte Ansell as supports to the main star: Joolz Sparkes. The launch is on Thursday 3rd November at 6:30pm and you can book here.
Also on the horizon is a found ~ flow ~ flux reading at Northcote Library on Thursday 17th November at 5:30pm. The event will be free and some of the contributors will be reading their poems from the booklet. It’s lovely to be going back there after Joolz and I read from London Undercurrents earlier this year.
There are a couple more projects in the pipeline, so it doesn’t look like I’ll be hibernating any time soon.
Hilaire 