Driving into the Sun, by Marcella Polain — ANZ LitLovers LitBlog

Just purchased the e-book version of ‘Driving into the Sun’ and looking forward to a wonderful reading…

I’m not fond of novels written from a child’s limited perspective … but when well done, they can transport the reader back to childhood in a most compelling way. In Marcella Polain’s new novel Driving into the Sun, the suburbs of Perth in 1968 are the backdrop for disputing the nostalgia of the ‘good old days’, […]

via Driving into the Sun, by Marcella Polain — ANZ LitLovers LitBlog

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All you need is the beach.. — Perth Daily Photo

I am so lucky to live 10 minutes from this beach… featured in my sister-in-law’s blog Perth Daily Photo. 

… thought every dog I saw on the dog beach yesterday 🙂 The little sweetie above turned to look at me as if to say there’s only one way to get her off the phone…PULL!Well hello there, you’re just my size!… but no! I’m not sharing my frisbee!All too soon it’s time to go home!…

via All you need is the beach.. — Perth Daily Photo

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Martin Scorsese and ‘The Irishman’ Enter Oscar Race With World Premiere at NYFF — Variety

Even with its three-hour run time and a short 28 days in theaters before it’s available on Netflix, Martin Scorsese’s “The Irishman” is likely to be a major contender at the Oscars. The 57th New York Film Festival opened on Friday night with the world premiere of the epic real-life mob drama. Scorsese and his…

via Martin Scorsese and ‘The Irishman’ Enter Oscar Race With World Premiere at NYFF — Variety

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Unrecognizable – #poetry of #life — Night Owl Poetry – Dorinda Duclos

Why is it I don’t recognize, the face reflected back at me? What is it about her look, I no longer wish to see? Sunken, hollowed cheeks, color pale, in shades of white Turn away, bow my head, I can’t take my ghostly sight Missing is the sparkle, once, so prominent in these eyes Replaced […]

via Unrecognizable – #poetry of #life — Night Owl Poetry – Dorinda Duclos

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Arts in Schools

Twenty years ago the practice of arts in schools was very much dependent on, if a teacher was interested and prepared to go outside the curriculum box to practice their art.  Children who wanted to be involved in drama in the Northern Suburbs only had school opportunities which were very few and far between. 

I know, my daughter was one of them.  She regularly came with me to a local adult theatre group but because they didn’t have roles for 12 year olds, she enjoyed helping backstage. She just wanted to be involved and soak up the atmosphere of performance.

So in 1992, I set up our own group for 12 – 25 years olds to produce and perform something for the public, which 80 enthusiastic members of Northern Youth Theatre did very well, every three months until 1996. 

I am proud to say my daughter Jessica was accepted into WAAPA’s ‘ Set Design &  Construction’ course at 17 years old, because of her experience with Northern Youth Theatre.  They usually only considered 24 year olds and over, for their courses.

The only reason I closed the group was because I had decided to study full-time at ECU/WAAPA myself.

As the founder and Artistic Director of Northern Youth Theatre, I was very much involved as the community Theatrical consultant with the Department of the Arts & Culture Peer Assessment Panel and Wanneroo/Joondalup Community Festival & Performing Arts Centre Advisory Committees.  

“Since the 1990’s, the City has considered the need for a dedicated performing arts and cultural facility to provide local opportunities for residents to participate in and experience cultural events.”   City of Joondalup

I lobbied hard for the introduction of the arts into the Australian school curriculum all those years ago and celebrated when the plan was accepted.  Now, there will be an inquiry into how well the Arts Curriculum is being implemented. 

Meanwhile, the long awaited dedicated Performing Arts Centre in Joondalup is still on the drawing board because the public doesn’t appreciate the value of arts practice and plans remain just that.   

If the Performing Arts Centre was now the reality we worked so hard for in the 90’s, the public would know how many in the community actually already practice the five arts markers: dance, drama, media arts, music and visual arts.

We have dance schools in the Northern Suburbs with their top students achieving scholarships to prestigious schools around the world again and again, representing Western Australia.  My niece is a senior teacher at Gale Meade Performing Arts Centre  and her sister, an ex-student won many scholarships and has danced professionally all over the world. 

Our proud ex-students from WAAPA leave their mark with each performance here and overseas:  

 Star graduates

“WAAPA graduates excel in their chosen professions around the world, confirming the Academy’s well-earned reputation. Many well-known actors, dancers, musicians and music theatre stars including Hugh Jackman, Frances O’Connor, Marcus Graham, William McInnes, Lisa McCune, Lucy Durack, Rachelle Durkin, Emma Matthews, Jamie Oehlers, Eddie Perfect and Tim Minchin, have called WAAPA home.

The employment record of our graduates, in extremely competitive fields, continues to be outstanding and well-attuned to the needs of the industry. Our designers, arts management and production graduates are highly sought after and many hold influential positions across a wide range of performing arts companies, festivals, venues, film, television, major events, arts organisations and teaching institutions.”  WAAPA

It is essential we have effective Arts Practitioners teaching our young to develop and hone their skills, then enabling them to put those skills into practice in their community – preferably in our own Performing Arts Centres show-casing the abundant talent in our Northern Suburbs and Perth. 

25 years after Northern Youth Theatre, participants have grown into valuable members of their communities, applying the lessons learnt working as a team to produce something for someone else to enjoy. 

Appreciation of the Arts should begin in school and have the opportunity to thrive in a community which encourages and offers multiple venues to share their talent with a wider audience.  Some may even make a living doing so.

Practicing the Arts crosses all boundaries and permeates lives in a positive way – smashing down walls of division and enabling friendships and experiences which last a lifetime.

#PerformingArts  #ArtsPractice  #ArtInSchools  #ArtsTeaching  #Theatre  #Drama  #Dance  #VisualArts  #Music  #MediaArts  #WAAPA  #JoondalupPerformingArtsCentre   #NorthernYouthTheatre

 

 

 

 

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Poem: Doors Closing

 

 

This poem appeared in my book published in Ireland ‘Hidden Capacity ~ a poet’s journey’.  Out of print now but still interesting to look back at my poems – snapshots of where my life was at that time.

I’d just finished a BAWriting at ECU, was standing strong on my own two feet, looking forward to a creative future full of possibilities.  Totally unaware – how my life would be completely turned upside down by someone I’d known in my African youth.

DOORS CLOSING

How often has the door closed on opportunity for me?
And how many times have I shut it?

‘Well, open it again.’ You say.  Not so easy
when it is wedged with prejudice.

Locked with lies about your femininity
and jammed with judicial errors.

I am an opportunist and I do believe
as one door closes, another… you know.

But sometimes, for my sanity, I take
the easy way out.  My heart’s the same.

I’m not brave in letting that door stand ajar.
The solid barrier protecting my comfort zone.

A jack-hammer wouldn’t be heard now!
I’m deaf to desire and numb to need.

The woolen blanket around my feelings keeps me warm.
I lock the door, pocket the key, work and love in secret.

Frances Macaulay Forde © 2000

#FrancesMacaulayForde  #Poem  #LovePoem  #Poetry  #Romance  #ComfortZone  #Desire  #DoorsClosing  #Lessons

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Pull Apart The Perfect Nest

Very clever metaphor. Only just discovering Tom’s words and enjoying the journey.

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Updating…

    I must apologize to anyone who has recently joined my blog and taken the time to read my information pages.  Many of the links are now defunct. I have closed my Frances Macaulay Forde  and Poets CornerWA  web pages and although a past member of many associations, in retirement I have had to let some lapse. 

These blog information pages are a work in progress.  It takes time to know what to post and what not to so I am still editing.  Today I have updated some of  my  ‘Back Story’  &  ‘The Poetic Me’ pages.  

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Reading my poems…

So many seem to have recently downloaded the PDF of this poem ‘My Life As A Sari’ so I thought I would reblog the SoundCloud version but also an updated version of my PDF: My Life As A Sari.

Perth Words... exploring possibilities.

I’d completely forgotten I had recorded quite a few poems on SoundCloud.

Here’s ‘My Life As a Sari’ and I’m just looking to see what else I can make ‘public’.

@FrancesMForde  @FrancesMacForde  #SoundCloud  #ReadingPoems  #POEM:MyLifeAsASari

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reverie — slideaways

the agapanthus sways upon the wind’s reverie as if fishing for your thoughts when you lean sideways hand clasped on the brass bird’s head that adorns your walking stick, you forget why you came here this was your garden after all, but somehow it doesn’t feel like yours anymore for there are strangers fitting safety […]

via reverie — slideaways

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