Friday, July 16, 2010
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Thursday
This evening read in tiny Municipio del Carmen de Viboral. Le centre culturel était charmant ainsi que le publique. Քաղաքը երկու հարիւր հիսուն տարիէ ի վեր գոյութիւն ունի։ A couple of women said they were moved to tears when hearing my work.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Wednesday
This morning read at Theatre Ateneo with Nathalie Handal (Palestine), Indran Amirthanayagam (Sri Lanka, E.U.) and Gémino Abad (Phillipines). We had schoolchildren and "ladies who lunch" with a few tourists thrown in. I got very good feedback here too.
A blue haired young woman approached me and said, "I loved hearing your Arabic".... I was sorry to disappoint her that I was reading in Armenian!Then had a wonderful lunch with my Spanish reader, Lina.We ate a traditional meal and it took me hours to digest it but it was delicious.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Municipio de Caldas, Casa de la Cultura
Rafael Patiño Góez (Colombia), Lola Koundakjian (Armenia), Obediah Michael Smith (Bahamas), Nathalie Handal (Palestine).
Municipio de Caldas, Casa de la Cultura
Originally uploaded by Lola Koundakjian
Tuesday
In the morning, I was interviewed for Tele Medellín. Very curious to know when/if it will be broadcast.
A couple of videoclips have appeared in the festival's website.
http://www.festivaldepoesiademedellin.org/pub.php/es/Intro/index.htm
The website evolves at all times, so catch it if you can, if not Youtube has the XXth festival's videos long term. Luis Eduardo Rendón was kind enough to give me the DVD anthologizing past festivals.
This evening's reading was at the Casa Culturale of Municipio de Caldas, with Rafael Patiño Góez (Colombia), myself, Obediah Michael Smith (Bahamas), Nathalie Handal (Palestine).
A couple of videoclips have appeared in the festival's website.
http://www.festivaldepoesiademedellin.org/pub.php/es/Intro/index.htm
The website evolves at all times, so catch it if you can, if not Youtube has the XXth festival's videos long term. Luis Eduardo Rendón was kind enough to give me the DVD anthologizing past festivals.
This evening's reading was at the Casa Culturale of Municipio de Caldas, with Rafael Patiño Góez (Colombia), myself, Obediah Michael Smith (Bahamas), Nathalie Handal (Palestine).
Monday, July 12, 2010
Monday - day off
I've read every day since my arrival but today was a time off for many of us. Verónika Zondek (Chile) and Carlos Villagra Marsal (Paraguay) and I went around the city, discovered the metro and its teleferic system.
I did a little window shopping for local goods but only bought two nice t-shirts. I am planning to get some things later on though.
Tomorrow: planning to go to the Museum of Modern Art of Medellín, in the morning, as I have a reading in the PM.
I did a little window shopping for local goods but only bought two nice t-shirts. I am planning to get some things later on though.
Tomorrow: planning to go to the Museum of Modern Art of Medellín, in the morning, as I have a reading in the PM.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Honda Y Cruz
Three of us read our work at a settlement on the outskirts of Medallín. With me in the picture are several of the local poets who read at the 'open mike' session afterwards.
Saturday
July 10, 2010
After breakfast, we all got passes to go to the municipal museum. The 3rd floor was dedicated to Botero's work. I really like the modern wing, and the special exhibit.
I was asking Luis Andres Rendon about the 7pm reading, because I wanted to hear the poets in that program and got asked to substitute for the author from Bangladesh who couldn't make his trip. So I had an hour to find a replacement for Lina who was sick. My reader Beatriz and I practiced and I went up to change.
7:00 p.m. Park de los Deseos. Cl. 71 # 52-30. Asian Poets .
Ak Welsapar (Turkmenistan), Gemino H. Abad (Philippines), Hala Mohammad (Syria), Lola Koundakjian (Armenia), Imtiaz Dharker (India).
The event went very well. It was very well attended despite the rain.
After breakfast, we all got passes to go to the municipal museum. The 3rd floor was dedicated to Botero's work. I really like the modern wing, and the special exhibit.
I was asking Luis Andres Rendon about the 7pm reading, because I wanted to hear the poets in that program and got asked to substitute for the author from Bangladesh who couldn't make his trip. So I had an hour to find a replacement for Lina who was sick. My reader Beatriz and I practiced and I went up to change.
7:00 p.m. Park de los Deseos. Cl. 71 # 52-30. Asian Poets .
Ak Welsapar (Turkmenistan), Gemino H. Abad (Philippines), Hala Mohammad (Syria), Lola Koundakjian (Armenia), Imtiaz Dharker (India).
The event went very well. It was very well attended despite the rain.
Friday, July 09, 2010
Friday
July 10, 2010
Today met with my reader, Lina after breakfast and then worked on a translation for a new poem.
Je suis allée faire un tour dans la ville et a pris des photos de plusieurs sculptures de Botero.
Այս գիշեր 7-ին պիտի կարդամ գրադարանի մը մէջ։
7:00 p.m. Biblioteca Pública Bernardo Arango Macías del Municipio de La Estrella. Carrera 60 # 82 Sur-45. Héctor Fagot (Colombia), Lola Koundakjian (Armenia), Esteban Moore (Argentina), Udo Kawasser (Austria).
PS: Our group pictures are on the front page of El Colombiano newspaper!
Thursday, July 08, 2010
Festival kick-off
This morning, there was a photo opportunity and press conference at the hotel. I had great opportunities to chat with Mohammed Bennis (Morocco), Caroline Bird (UK), Patricia Jabbeh Wesley (Liberia), Koumanthio Zeinabou Diallo (Guinea). These last two ladies, I translated for them back and forth between English and French during lunch.
In the afternoon, all the poets boarded two busses which took us to the open air amphitheater. Thousands of people attended to hear us; they were a most enthusiastic audience. The event lasted FOUR hours and it rained, but nothing deterred these poetry lovers.
After the opening ceremonies we headed back to the hotel for a late dinner and a party. There was latin jazz and much dancing.
In the afternoon, all the poets boarded two busses which took us to the open air amphitheater. Thousands of people attended to hear us; they were a most enthusiastic audience. The event lasted FOUR hours and it rained, but nothing deterred these poetry lovers.
After the opening ceremonies we headed back to the hotel for a late dinner and a party. There was latin jazz and much dancing.
Opening Ceremonies
Lola with Moroccan poet Mohammed Bennis, just before the start of the evening's program
Wednesday, July 07, 2010
1st impressions of the International Poetry Festival and Medellín
First of all: I am so happy that it's cooler here, after a week of 36C in NYC.
The flights were without any issues. As you may be aware, in this part of the world, it's sunset at 7pm so we landed in the dark, with an overview of the valley where Medellín is situated.
It's a large city, population is 2.4 million.
The airport reception was very well organized and warm, same at the hotel. I was handed a package and a late dinner was waiting for us.
Everything is pretty much Spanish but I was able to understand how to open the hotel room (wand action) and set my mini-vault, so I am ahead. We have several young translators with us all the time. There is a woman assigned to reading my work in Spanish throughout the festival and I can't wait to meet her tomorrow. There will be a press meeting in the morning, then the festival kicks off.
Citibank, Hooters are here [!] otherwise it's reminiscent of my last trip in the region, and Barcelona, with palm trees, beautiful weather, tropical flowers and fruits, warm people and very friendly atmosphere. The hotel has all the amenities, including free Wifi. The Botero museum is nearby.
My welcome package had a poster, a t-shirt, festival brochure with my readings highlighting my five appearances in Medellín, plus the closing ceremonies where I will read just one poem. There is also an additional side trip to another festival in a small town called Santa Marta which will involve a plane ride on the 16th to this northern part of the country.
When I arrived, one of the poets from Venezuela, Gustavo Pereira, was amongst the guests waiting for the van to get us to the hotel, and when I introduced myself he informed me that 30 years ago he had been invited to Yerevan by the Writer's Union. It's a small world!
The flights were without any issues. As you may be aware, in this part of the world, it's sunset at 7pm so we landed in the dark, with an overview of the valley where Medellín is situated.
It's a large city, population is 2.4 million.
The airport reception was very well organized and warm, same at the hotel. I was handed a package and a late dinner was waiting for us.
Everything is pretty much Spanish but I was able to understand how to open the hotel room (wand action) and set my mini-vault, so I am ahead. We have several young translators with us all the time. There is a woman assigned to reading my work in Spanish throughout the festival and I can't wait to meet her tomorrow. There will be a press meeting in the morning, then the festival kicks off.
Citibank, Hooters are here [!] otherwise it's reminiscent of my last trip in the region, and Barcelona, with palm trees, beautiful weather, tropical flowers and fruits, warm people and very friendly atmosphere. The hotel has all the amenities, including free Wifi. The Botero museum is nearby.
My welcome package had a poster, a t-shirt, festival brochure with my readings highlighting my five appearances in Medellín, plus the closing ceremonies where I will read just one poem. There is also an additional side trip to another festival in a small town called Santa Marta which will involve a plane ride on the 16th to this northern part of the country.
When I arrived, one of the poets from Venezuela, Gustavo Pereira, was amongst the guests waiting for the van to get us to the hotel, and when I introduced myself he informed me that 30 years ago he had been invited to Yerevan by the Writer's Union. It's a small world!
Tuesday, July 06, 2010
Invitation to Medellín, Colombia
About nine months ago, I received a correspondence from poet and director of the International Poetry Festival of Medellín, Colombia, Fernando Rendón. A month later I formally submitted my application and was accepted to participate in this prestigious festival.
I am here thanks to a travel grant from AIWA and the fundraising by the Colombians who invited me. I am very humbled to be participating and representing Armenia and its Diaspora in this world class event.
I am here thanks to a travel grant from AIWA and the fundraising by the Colombians who invited me. I am very humbled to be participating and representing Armenia and its Diaspora in this world class event.
Miami Airport
Miami Airport
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