New (song) writers-in-residence
Christine Fellows
The University of Manitoba’s Centre for Creative Writing and Oral Culture (CCWOC) is pleased to announce the arrival of Christine Fellows and John K. Samson, its new Writers-in-Residence. They will hold the position through December 13, 2013.
Fellows, a singer/songwriter and interdisciplinary collaborator, and Samson, The Weakerthans songwriter/front man and managing editor of ARP Books, will visit classes, mentor writers and songwriters, and offer a weekly songwriting workshop over the fall term. In addition, they will be working on new collaborative and solo repertoire.
Of their new post, Fellows and Samson say, “CCWOC is such a wonderful resource, a hidden jewel within the University of Manitoba. We are thrilled and honoured to participate as Writers-in-Residence this term, and we are looking forward to meeting and working with students, writers, storytellers and songwriters alike.”
Winnipeg songwriter Christine Fellows has released five solo albums to date, and her sixth album, Burning Daylight, will be released in 2014 alongside a companion graphic novel. An avid interdisciplinary collaborator, Fellows often works with visual artists, choreographers, filmmakers and musicians to create performance works, scores and spectacles.
John K. Samson
In addition to his work with The Weakerthans, Winnipegger John K. Samson is a writer whose poetry and prose has appeared in Matrix Magazine, CV2, Geist, The Believer, and Post-Prairie: An Anthology of New Poetry. Samson is also the co-founder and managing editor of Winnipeg publishing house ARP Books. In 2012, he released Provincial, a solo album, and the book Lyrics and Poems, 1997-2012.
Earlier this year, Fellows and Samson shared the position of Writer-in-Residence at the University of British Columbia Creative Writing Program, and will return to UBC as Adjunct Instructors in 2014.
“Christine and John bring a unique set of talents to our residency this year, and we are honoured to host them as our first resident songwriters,” says Warren Cariou, director of CCWOC. “The U of M’s community of artists and writers can learn a great deal from these extraordinary teachers and creators, and I know we will all have a wonderful time doing that. They will help us to understand the musicality that is at the basis of so many art forms.”
On Wednesday, September 18, 2013, CCWOC will host a welcome event for Fellows and Samson who will perform live in concert. Free and open to the public, this event will take place at 11:30 am in the Great Hall, 218 University College, 220 Dysart Road on the University’s Fort Garry Campus.
The Centre for Creative Writing and Oral Culture was created to provide a space for scholars, students and visiting artists to collaborate, create works of verbal art and study the relationship between oral and written culture.
Find more information about Christine Fellows at: christinefellows.com
Find more information about John K. Samson at: johnksamson.com
Find more information about the Centre for Creative Writing and Oral Culture at: umanitoba.ca/centres/ccwoc/
For further information, please contact Jessica Woolford at: 204-480-1065 or email: ccwoc [at] cc [dot] umanitoba [dot] ca