Arts BiographySince 1965, Bob MacKenzie has been a working professional artist in the multi-media areas of writing, photography, montage/collage, and live and recorded performance.Some of Bob's Achievements Widely published Canadian poet (more than 200 poems published); five published books: Reflection (1966), Audio Visuals (1973), The Little Song (1975), the collective work (with eight other artists) A Beautiful Day to Be Dead (2008), and Innocent (I wasn't there) (2008), as well as publication in numerous anthologies; many poems reproduced by artists in other media (visual and tactile); only Canadian poet to have an art gallery devote an entire visual arts exhibition to his work; possibly only poet to have versions of his poetry owned by the Canada Council's National Art Bank; has done readings across Alberta and Ontario; band leader and performer (Poem de Terre) with numerous songs written and performed; two cassette tapes ("Pyramid" and "Windfall") released in 1994 and 1995, mixed-media music CD (Assume Nothing, including the novel Ghost Shadow) released 1999, double compact disc (Live at Newlands Pavilion, Parts 1 and 2) released 2002, music CD (War & Love) released 2006. Photographer/photo-montagist exhibited in a number of shows. Has received awards for both prose fiction and script-writing and an Ontario Arts Council grant for literature (poetry). His novel (“A Gathering of Shadows”) has been accepted for publication by Eris Press. In both 1996 and 1997, Bob organized, managed, and performed in a summer series of free live music concerts in Kingston’s Macdonald Park, a total of 13 hours of music each summer. In 2001, Bob again organized, managed, and performed in this music series, now expanded to 26 hours of free live music featuring not just bands from Kingston but groups from as far away as Hamilton, Toronto, and North Carolina. Bob had full responsibility for all aspects of this series, including fundraising, marketing, hiring and payroll, and so on. Biographical Fact SheetName: Robert Donald MacKenzieDate of Birth: January 13, 1947 Place of Birth: New Westminster, British Columbia Citizenship: Canadian Education: B.A. (English Literature) University of Western Ontario M.A. (English Literature & Creative Writing) University of Windsor B.Ed. (English & Drama - The Artist in Community Education) Queens University Publications: Reflection (poetry, self-published book, 1966) A Ballad (poetry, woodcut print by G. Brender à Brandis, Brandstead Press, 1972) Birdwing your way (poetry, woodcut print by G. Brender à Brandis, Brandstead Press, 1972) Some times of night (poetry, woodcut print by G. Brender à Brandis, Brandstead Press, 1972) Tree (poetry, woodcut print by G. Brender à Brandis, Brandstead Press, 1972) Winter's artist's hand (poetry, woodcut print by G. Brender à Brandis, Brandstead Press, 1972) Audio-Visuals (poetry book/catalogue, Sarnia Public Art Gallery, 1973) The Little Song (prose fiction art-book, Brandstead Press, 1975) more than 200 poems published in periodicals (Canada, the U.S.A., worldwide) arts criticism and commentary in print and broadcast media across Canada Sound Bytes (internet music review column, 1996-present) Ghost Shadow: Unfinished Sins (novel in hypertext, Poet Pourri Entertainment, 1999) A Gathering of Shadows (novel, accepted for publication, Eris Press, 2001) A Beautiful Day to Be Dead (collaborative prose fiction art-book, Thee Hellbox Press, (2008) Innocent (I wasn't there) (poetry art-book, Thee Hellbox Press, (2008) Recordings: Windfall (cassette, Poem de Terre, 1994) Pyramid (cassette, Poem de Terre, 1995) Assume Nothing (compact disc, Poet Pourri Entertainment, 1999) Poem de Terre Live at Newlands Pavilion (two disc set, Poet Pourri Entertainment, 2002) Silken Wind, recorded by Alysson Light (song, CD: Looking Glass Conversations, 2003) Rough Cuts & Square Songs, Cilla Leigh and Hank Secord (compact disc, Poet Pourri Entertainment, 2006) War & Love (compact disc, Poet Pourri Entertainment, 2006) Innocent (I wasn't there) (music/video compact disc by Claudia Wade, Grandmother Studios, 2008 Other: Calgary Cabaret (organized and hosted this series of readings by Canadian Poets, also featuring live music and visual arts, presented at Calgary’s Allied Arts Centre, 1966) Poetry Readings and Performance (performed at numerous literary poetry and music events, primarily in Alberta and Ontario, 1965 to present) Audio-Visuals (three week show at the Sarnia Public Art Gallery featuring visual and sculptural art based on Bob MacKenzie’s poetry, performance of his poetry and songs, and a poetry book published as catalogue, 1973) National Art Bank (Canada Council) owns visual representations of poems originally displayed as part of the Audio Visuals exhibition The Tower Exhibition (with gallery curator, edited and co-ordinated three week show at the Sarnia Public Art Gallery featuring visual and sculptural art based on poetry by members of The Tower Poetry Society of Hamilton, performance of their poetry, and a poetry book published as catalogue, 1974) Ontario Arts Council grant for literature, 1991 The Edward Day Readings (organized and hosted this series of readings by Canadian Poets, also featuring live music and visual arts, presented at Kingston’s Edward Day Gallery, 1994-1995) Boards of Directors (member or past member of numerous boards of directors of arts organizations) Photographer/Montagist with numerous exhibitions to his credit Poem de Terre (founder and director of the folk-music performance group Poem de Terre, 1993 to present) The Poetry Readings at the Creative Emporium (organized and hosts this new series of readings by Canadian Poets, also featuring visual arts and sometimes live music, presented at Kingston’s Chameleon Nation Creative Emporium (art gallery), 2008-2009) |