David Fraser was host at WordStorm on Tuesday, April 29th for the annual general meeting of the WordStorm Society of the Arts. David is co-founder with Cindy Shantz of WordStorm, Nanaimo’s monthly spoken word event.

Through the years of its existence, WordStorm has had several homes. We’re now very comfortable at the Vault Café in an old building that used to be a bank. (The vault is still in the back of the café at 499 Wallace Street.) Amanda, one of the co-owners, has created a special ambience in the Vault and it’s become a hub of artistic and musical events.

I say “we” as I’m a board member and somehow got the title of secretary for the upcoming year. I do like to take notes after all.

Joining the board are some new members. We’re very excited to welcome: Bernice (Berni) Friesen from Comox, Philip Gordon from Nanaimo, and Shaleeta Harper from Nanaimo. Each of the new board members read at the open mike following the short AGM.

Berni put on a garment so her reading became performance art as she told us of the Astrackan lamb coat she inherited and transformed with black velvet from an opera coat, and black fabric roses. She had embroidered the words of the poem she read on ribbons that are sewn into the fur. It’s an amazing work of art. Gorgeous.

The poem Berni read (and embroidered) is called “Berenina” which means “lamb” in Ukranian.  The spelling in the Cyrillic alphabet is: Баранина. You can read about the Cyrillilc alphabet here. (I know my Ukranian friends will appreciate this, especially you Stephanie!)

Berni is the fiction editor for Rhubarb magazine which features the writing and visual arts of “diversely defined Mennonites.”   And have a […]