50 Heads read
Around 50 people turned up for the launch party for 50 Heads . As Orwell observed - Poetry readings can be grizzily affairs - so instead of me reading, I invited other artists to interpret a poem each. Alan Johnston, Phil Davenport, Hester Reeve, Helmut Lemke and Mark Jalland did the honours/did me the honour. Phil opened with “ Reciprocity ”. Alan read “ Yddrasill ”. Then sound artist Helmut Lemke did a brilliant interpretation of “ Entscheidungsproblem ” - this involved a tape of him reading it underpinning reading a strip of the poem spooling along a fishing rod, periodically punctuated with a yarrow stick inserted into holes in the rod. This was followed with “ Faces ” from Mark Jalland who, with intense clarity, took up the challenge with about 15 minutes notice. Hester ended the readings with “ Place ”. Then we ate Chinese and drink happily.