Dusty Owl: August

Signs of Dusty Owl were all the way from the top of Rideau Centre’s transit bridge, arrows alternating with the owl footprint.

Following the bit of chalk, you couldn’t miss it.

Cathy was there to greet and host. The outdoor space is indoor/outdoor with walls around but the ruins has no roof, but has light and sound system. Neat warm sunny space. We missed the first bit because of leaving late.

The pianist Tim Piper sang and played a few songs against war (and for love I expect. Can anyone verify or deny?)
I took no notes and brought no camera but borrowed hubby’s ipod for a few.

Lukayo Estrella shared 3 pieces, the one which struck me most was about remembering Lolo (Tagalog for granddad). (Was there a dry eye in the place?) It was about his influence but more – how there’s a struggle to fight, flight and write and that isn’t enough. Sometimes you have to lay yourself on the line in person and tell your story and listen. That risk is the peace, not the retreat of writing. It’s the connecting that corrects our world’s course.
Lukayo’s getting an anthology out soonish so watch for it.

Kalyani Pandya shared a short story about her sister. It was written with a ingenue child point of view to reveal information bit by bit that added up to profound effect. It became almost a parable of how we treat our society’s children and ourselves. What significance do we put on weight? On each other? What relationship and continued influence do we maintain with those who are no longer with us?
Find all the anthologies she’s in and buy them. Okay, excellent.
Here she’s showing the Mrs Beasley doll from the 1967 show Family Affair. (The first mainstream gay couple on American sitcoms?)
The open mic had David who recited a couple poems, Jess who told about the scene in Toronto around early Harbourfront and the workshop group that formed about Al Purdy’s son, Brian Purdy. She recited a couple poems as her stage return after 30 years off-stage.
Craig Calhoun who introduced a teaser as he’ll be the next feature. Am I missing 1 person or two? One lady did a piece about acquiring as a subconscious attempt to make large comfort one small piece at a time. She had some lovely turns of phrase of “getting purchase”.
You had to be there, but you can’t now. Still, somewhere over 40 people made it out.
The next Owl event is Sunday, September 22, 2013 at 3:00pm with writer Craig Calhoun and poet Amanda Earl. It will be outdoors, weather permitting or in the old jail proper if it’s rainy. If you want a drink or nibbles, it’s cash only. (There’s an ATM that’s likely to be refilled but it was empty that day. Must have been the run on hot dogs?)