Penn Kemp

{{short description|Canadian poet and writer (born 1944)}} {{Infobox writer | embed = | honorific_prefix = | name = Penn Kemp | honorific_suffix = | image = | image_size = | image_upright = | alt = | caption = | native_name = | native_name_lang = | pseudonym = | birth_name = Patricia Penn Anne Kemp | birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1944}} | birth_place = Strathroy, Ontario | death_date =  | death_place = | resting_place = | occupation = Poet and playwright | language = | nationality =  | citizenship =  | education = {{plainlist| * University of Western Ontario * University of Toronto (MEd) }} | alma_mater = | period = | genre =  | subject =  | movement = | notable_works = | spouse =  | partner =  | children = | relatives = | awards = | signature = | signature_alt = | years_active = 1972–present | module = | website = {{URL|http://pennkemp.weebly.com}} | portaldisp =  }} '''Patricia Penn Anne Kemp''' (born 1944), better known simply as '''Penn Kemp''', is a Canadian poet, novelist, playwright, and sound poet who lives in London, Ontario.<ref name="canpoetry">{{cite web|url=http://www.library.utoronto.ca/canpoetry/kemp/|title=Penn Kemp: Biography|author=|year=2000|work=Canadian Poetry Online|publisher=University of Toronto Libraries|accessdate=18 December 2010}}</ref> Kemp has been publishing her writing since 1972 and was London's first poet laureate, serving from 2010 to 2013.

== Early life and education == Kemp was born on August 4, 1944, in Strathroy, Ontario, to parents Anne Kemp and James "Jim" Kemp. She was raised in the nearby city of London.<ref name="canpoetry" /><ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Haas |first=Kelsey |date=2018 |title=Western Archives Finding Aid for Penn Kemp fonds |url=https://www.lib.uwo.ca/files/archives/archives_finding_aids/AFC%20452%20-%20Penn%20Kemp.pdf |access-date=2022-08-22 |website=Western University}}</ref> Her father was an advertising and publicity executive at London Life Insurance, painter, and war artist.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Brown |first=Dan |date=2022-01-28 |title=Tony Urquhart left indelible mark on London's art scene |work=London Free Press |url=https://lfpress.com/entertainment/local-arts/tony-urquhart-left-indelible-mark-on-londons-art-scene |access-date=2022-08-21}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite journal |last=Curnoe |first=Lynda |date=December 2022 |title=Review: George the Purple Spotted Horse: A Graphic Tale |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/215229631 |journal=Pouch Cove |volume=8 |issue=2 |pages=9 |id={{ProQuest|215229631}}}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite news |last=Belanger |first=Joe |date=2018-05-01 |title=Poet celebrates London's cultural heroes in new book |work=London Free Press |url=https://lfpress.com/entertainment/local-arts/poet-celebrates-londons-cultural-heroes-in-new-book |access-date=2022-08-22}}</ref> Penn says she wrote her first poem when she was six years old.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Mockler |first=Kathryn |date=2012-07-28 |title=Penn Kemp: Performance Poet, Activist, and Playwright |url=http://www.therustytoque.com/3/post/2012/07/penn-kemp-poet.html |access-date=2022-08-22 |website=The Rusty Toque |language=en}}</ref>

She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and literature from the University of Western Ontario in 1966 and received certification as a teacher in 1968.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Winders |first=Jason |date=2016-07-19 |title=Cull named Poet Laureate for London |url=https://news.westernu.ca/2016/07/cull-named-poet-laureate-london/ |access-date=2022-08-22 |website=Western News |language=en-CA}}</ref><ref name="canpoetry" /> In 1988 she received an Ontario Graduate Scholarship to complete a Masters of Education degree at the University of Toronto.<ref name="canpoetry" />

== Career == Kemp taught high school English in Timmins and North York, Toronto for several years.

Kemp's first book, ''Bearing Down'', was published by Coach House in 1972. In 1973, it was performed as a radio show for four voices in Seattle.<ref name=":3" /> In 1984, Kemp was writer in residence for Niagara Erie Writers in New York State; for the Labrador School Board in 1986; for Flesherton Library in 1988 and '89; and at SNDT Women's University in Mumbai in 1995.<ref name="canpoetry" /> In 1994, Kemp's play, ''What the Ear Hears Last'', was produced by Theatre Passe Muraille in Toronto and, in the same year, she was featured on the CBC Radio show, "Sounding Off."<ref name="canpoetry" /> In 1995 the Indian Institute of Canadian studies sponsored her tour of Mumbai colleges and universities.<ref name="canpoetry" />

She was London's inaugural Poet Laureate,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Belanger |first=Joe |date=2020-04-11 |title=It's time to embrace London's poet laureate, Penn Kemp, and all artists |work=London Free Press |url=https://lfpress.com/entertainment/books/london-poet-helps-explore-identity-at-wordsfest |access-date=2022-08-22}}</ref> serving from 2010 to 2013<ref name="laureate">{{cite news|title=Introducing London's First Poet Laureate: Penn Kemp|author=Jennifer Sproul|url=http://www.thelondoner.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2778413|newspaper=The Londoner|date=October 2010|accessdate=18 December 2010}}</ref> and University of Western Ontario's Writer-in-Residence (2009–2010).<ref name="uwo-wir">{{cite news|title=Former Writers-in-Residence|url=https://www.uwo.ca/english/people/past_writersinresidence.html|accessdate=1 July 2021}}</ref> Kemp runs Pendas Productions.<ref name=":5" />

In 2021, Kemp was commissioned by Brescia University College to deliver their inaugural Women's Day Poem. During the university's fourth annual Dr. Colleen Hanycz Leadership Lecture, Kemp performed her poem "Choose to Challenge" as a riff on the theme, "Choose To Challenge: Finding Common Ground Through Dialogue."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Belanger |first=Joe |date=2021-03-05 |title=London poet Penn Kemp marks Women's Day with call to action |work=London Free Press |url=https://lfpress.com/entertainment/local-arts/london-poet-penn-kemp-marks-womens-day-with-call-to-action |access-date=2022-08-22}}</ref>

== Personal life == Kemp's left London, Ontario after graduating from Western University. She returned in 2001 and her mother had a stroke.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Montanini |first=Chris |date=2021-04-27 |title=Latest work from poet Penn Kemp published by Stratford micropress Beliveau Books |url=https://stratfordbeaconherald.com/entertainment/books/latest-work-from-poet-penn-kemp-published-by-stratford-micropress-beliveau-books |access-date=2022-08-22 |website=The Londoner |language=en-CA}}</ref> She now lives in London and considers it her home.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Buechler |first=Steven |date=2016-08-21 |title="What made me a poet? Curiosity. The thrill of adventure, of new worlds." {{!}} Q&A with poet Penn Kemp |url=https://pacifictranquility.wordpress.com/2016/08/21/what-made-me-a-poet-curiosity-the-thrill-of-adventure-of-new-worlds-qa-with-poet-penn-kemp/ |access-date=2022-08-22 |website=The Library of Pacific Tranquility |language=en}}</ref> Her husband, Gavin Stairs, developed vascular dementia<ref>{{Cite news |last=Belanger |first=Joe |date=2021-09-03 |title=Our poet laureate's financial plight, and a call to help |work=London Free Press |url=https://lfpress.com/entertainment/local-arts/belanger-our-poet-laureates-financial-plight-and-a-call-to-help |access-date=2022-08-22}}</ref> and died in fall 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |title=PENN KEMP |url=http://pennkemp.weebly.com/ |access-date=2022-08-22 |website=PENN KEMP |language=en}}</ref>

==Works==

===Theater=== {{BLP sources section|date=March 2015}} * 'Homeward Bound (2015); The Spousal Song (2013). PlayWrights Cabaret, The Grand Theatre, London, * 'The Dream Life of Teresa Harris, Eldon House, London (2013) * 'Scenes from the Electric Folklore Machine, Aeolian Hall, London (2012) * 'Mrtvolka, with Anne Anglin, Daniela Sneppova, Harbourfront Studio Theatre, Toronto * 'The Space Between: A Transmorphous Journey, Wolf Performance Hall, London (2010) * 'Re-Visions: a sound opera, with Brenda McMorrow, Bill Gilliam, Aeolian Hall, London (2009) * 'What the Ear Might Hear, (2009); When the Heart Parts, Playwrights Cabaret (2007) * 'Communication Breakdown, with Chris Meloche, McManus Theatre, London (2008) * 'Re:Animating Animus: a sound opera, Aeolian Hall, London (2008) * 'Xtra Text/ure. Symposium, Playing the Gallery: McIntosh Gallery Western U, London (2007) * 'Darkness Visible: a sound opera, with Chris Meloche, Aeolian Hall, London (2006) * 'Trance Dance Form: sound opera, with Bill Gilliam, Jean Martin, Brick Works, Toronto (2006) * 'Vocal Braiding: an experiment in poetry and theatre (with Patricia Keeney, directed by Don Rubin, 2000.) Performed in Jaipur, India and for Indian television; York University * 'Symposium on Canadian Theatre at the University of Rajasthan (with Don Rubin, 2000) * 'Temporary Harmonies, The Music Gallery, Toronto; U. of Mumbai, India * 'What The Ear Hears Last (The Gathering); Eros Rising, 1978, Theatre Passe Muraille, Toronto * 'Angel Makers, Red Theatre, Toronto. Trance Dance Form, Harbourfront, Toronto (1976) * 'The Epic of Toad and Heron: a play. Toronto Island Clubhouse and ON schools, (1977–2012) * ''The Dream Life of Teresa Harris'' (2013)<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Meyer |first=Sean |date=2013-08-29 |title=Former poet laureate gives insight into Eldon House history |url=https://www.insidehalton.com/whatson-story/4048741-former-poet-laureate-gives-insight-into-eldon-house-history/ |access-date=2022-08-22 |website=InsideHalton.com |language=en-CA}}</ref>

===Individual poems=== * "Simultaneous Translation" in {{cite book |editor-last1= West Coast Collective |date= 1984|title=Women and Words |location=Madeira Park, British Columbia |publisher=Harbour Publication Co.}}<ref>{{Cite journal |last=von Flotow |first=Luise |date=2006 |title=Feminism in Translation: the Canadian Factor |url=https://ddd.uab.cat/pub/quaderns/11385790n13/11385790n13p11.pdf |journal=Quaderns. Revista de traducció |issue=13}}</ref> * "The Dream Life of Teresa Harris" in {{cite book |date=2013 |title=Possessions: The Eldon House Poems |url= |location= |publisher= Eldon House|page= |isbn=}}<ref name=":0" />

===Poetry collections=== {{BLP sources section|date=March 2015}} * {{cite book |last=Kemp |first=Penn |date=1972 |title=Bearing Down |publisher=Coach House}}<ref name=":3" /> * {{cite book |last1=Kemp |first1=Penn |last2=Stairs |first2=Gavin |translator-last1=Gillard |translator-first1=Claude |date=2001 |title=Quand cesse le temps |trans-title=Time Less Time |language=French |publisher=Pendas Productions}} * {{cite book |last=Kemp |first=Penn |date=2001 |title=Incrementally |publisher=Pendas Productions}} * {{cite book |last1=Kemp |first1=Penn |last2=Keeney |first2=Patricia |date=2001 |title=Vocal Braiding |publisher=Pendas Productions}} * {{cite book |last=Kemp |first=Penn |date=2001 |title=Suite Ancient Egypt |location=Salt Spring Island |publisher=(m)Other Tongue Press}} * {{cite book |last1=Kemp |first1=Penn |last2=Hryniuk |first2=Angela |date=2002 |title=Sarasvati-Scapes |publisher=Pendas Productions}} * {{cite book |last=Kemp |first=Penn |date=2002 |title=Poem for peace in many voices |volume= 1 and 2 |publisher=Pendas Productions}} * {{cite book |last1=Kemp |first1=Penn |last2=Mulcahy |first2=Gloria |date=2002 |title=Gathering Voices |publisher=Pendas Productions}} * {{cite book |last=Kemp |first=Penn |date=2003 |title=C'Loud |publisher=Pendas Productions}} * {{cite book |last=Kemp |first=Penn |translator-last1=Neneve |translator-first1=Miguel |date=2004 |title=Poemas escolhidos de Penn Kemp |trans-title=Selected poems by Penn Kemp |language= |location= |publisher=Pendas Productions/Abecan |isbn=}} * {{cite book |last=Kemp |first=Penn |date=2006 |title=Re:Animating Animus |publisher=Pendas Productions}} * {{cite book |last=Kemp |first=Penn |date=2011 |title=HELWA! |location=London ON |publisher=PigeonBike Press}}<ref name=":3" /> * {{cite book |last=Kemp |first=Penn |date=2012 |title=From Dream Sequins |publisher=Lyrical Myrical Press}} * {{cite book |last=Kemp |first=Penn |date=2016 |title=Barbaric Cultural Practice |publisher=Quattro Books}}<ref>{{Cite news |last=Montanini |first=Chris |date=2016-10-28 |title=Penn Kemp as barbarian |work=The Londoner |url=https://www.thelondoner.ca/2016/09/28/penn-kemp-as-barbarian |access-date=2022-08-21}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=deRango Adem |first=Adebe |date=2016-12-06 |title=Review: Barbaric Cultural Practice |url=https://quillandquire.com/review/barbaric-cultural-practice/ |access-date=2022-08-22 |website=Quill and Quire |language=en}}</ref> * {{cite book |last=Kemp |first=Penn |author-link= |date=2018 |title=Local Heroes |url= |location= |publisher=Insomniac Press |page= |isbn=}}<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Lederman |first=Marsha |date=2021-01-22 |title=Independent publisher Insomniac Press cancels 12 book deals |language=en-CA |work=The Globe and Mail |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books/article-independent-publisher-insomniac-press-cancels-12-book-deals/ |access-date=2022-08-22}}</ref><ref name=":4" /> * {{cite book |last=Kemp |first=Penn |author-link= |date=2019 |title=River Revery |url= |location= |publisher=Insomniac Press |page= |isbn=}}<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Belanger |first=Joe |date=2019-10-30 |title=London poet helps explore identity at Wordsfest |work=London Free Press |url=https://lfpress.com/entertainment/books/london-poet-helps-explore-identity-at-wordsfest |access-date=2022-08-22}}</ref> * {{cite book |last=Kemp |first=Penn |date=2018 |title=Fox Haunts |url= |location= |publisher=Aeolus House |isbn=978-1987872149}}<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Chan |first=Sunny |date=2019 |title=Rewilding Poetry |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/2306205380 |journal=Canadian Literature |issue=238 |pages=151, 183 |id={{ProQuest|2306205380}} }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Howell |first=Stevie |date=2018-11-22 |title=Review: Fox Haunts |url=https://quillandquire.com/review/fox-haunts/ |access-date=2022-08-22 |website=Quill and Quire |language=en}}</ref> * {{cite book |last1=Kemp |first1=Penn |last2=Thesen |first2=Sharon |date=2018 |title=P.S. |location= Toronto |publisher=Product Photo}}<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wenn |first=Jennifer |date=2022-06-26 |title=P.S. by Penn Kemp and Sharon Thesen |url=https://miramichireader.ca/2022/06/p-s-by-penn-kemp-sharon-thesen/ |access-date=2022-08-22 |website=The Miramichi Reader |language=en-US}}</ref> * {{cite book |last=Kemp |first=Penn| date=2021 |title=A Near Memoir: New Poems |publisher=Beliveau Books |isbn=9781927734315 }}<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fretwell |first=Katerina |title=Review: A Near Memoir: New Poems by Penn Kemp |url=https://poets.ca/review-a-near-memoir-new-poems-by-penn-kemp/ |access-date=2022-08-22 |website=League of Canadian Poets |date=6 July 2021 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Belanger |first=Joe |date=2021-05-01 |title=Poet Penn Kemp celebrates growing up in London in new book of verse |work=London Free Press |url=https://lfpress.com/entertainment/local-arts/poet-penn-kemp-celebrates-growing-up-in-london-in-new-book-of-verse |access-date=2022-08-21}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Stioski |first=Richard-Yves |date=Summer 2021 |title=Memoria Tenere: Penn Kemp's A Near Memoir: New Poems |url=http://www.sage-ing.com/Sage-ing37.pdf |journal=Sage-ing |issue=37 |pages=25–27}}</ref>

=== Recordings === * ''On Our Own Spoke''. Penn Kemp, Toronto: Pendas Productions, 2000. (CD/CD-ROM) * ''Two Lips''. Penn Kemp, Anne Anglin, and Susan McMaster, Toronto: Pendas Productions, 2001. (CD) * ''Time Less Time''. Penn Kemp, Darren Copeland, and Claude Gillard, Toronto: Pendas Productions, 2001. (CD) * ''Souwesto Words: 25 poets in Southwestern Ontario.'' Includes recordings from Penn Kemp, John Tyndall, Molly Peacock, Emily Chung, Paul Langille, Sheila Martindale, Roy McDonald, Sadiqa Khan, Jan Figurski, Jody Trevail, Beryl Baigent, John B. Lee, Cornelia Hoogland, James Reaney, Colleen Thibaudeau, Michael Wilson, Aimee O'Beirn, Jason Dickson, Marianne Micros, Skot Deeming, Victor Elias, David J. Paul, April Bulmer, Julie Berry, Don Gutteridge, Ergo Books, 2002. (CD)

=== As editor === * {{cite book |editor-last1=Kemp |editor-first1=Penn |date=2013 |title=Jack Layton: Art in Action |url= |location= |publisher=Quattro Books |page= |isbn=}}<ref>{{Cite news |last=Belanger |first=Joe |date=2013-05-20 |title=London launch of the book, Jack Layton: Art in Action, edited with contributions by Londoner Penn Kemp and published by Quattro Books Inc. of Toronto |work=Calgary Herald |url=https://calgaryherald.com/2013/05/20/london-launch-of-the-book-jack-layton-art-in-action-edited-with-contributions-by-londoner-penn-kemp-and-published-by-quattro-books-inc-of-toronto |access-date=2022-08-21}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2016-06-15 |title=Jack Layton: Art in Action |work=London Free Press |url=https://lfpress.com/2015/06/15/tracy-regan-says-she-can-barely-recognize-her-before-weight-loss-picture-above-shes-relishing-her-weight-loss |access-date=2022-08-21}}</ref> * {{cite book |editor-last1=Kemp |editor-first1=Penn |date=2016 |title=Women & Multimedia, Poetry Collaboration/Elaboration |publisher=League of Canadian Poets}}<ref name=":6">{{Cite news |last=Belanger |first=Joe |date=2016-11-23 |title=Literary events feature poems, wartime letters |work=Calgary Herald |url=https://calgaryherald.com/2016/11/23/literary-events-feature-poems-wartime-letters/wcm/6a6b547e-9e2d-148d-d1c2-69b486f29374/amp/ |access-date=2022-08-22}}</ref> * {{cite book |editor-last1=Kemp |editor-first1=Penn |date=2016 |title=Performing Women |publisher=League of Canadian Poets}}<ref name=":6" /> * {{cite book |editor-last1=Kemp |editor-first1=Penn |editor-last2=Sitoski |editor-first2=Richard-Yves |date=2022 |title=Poems in Response to Peril: An Anthology in Support of Ukraine |publisher= Pendas Productions and Laughing Raven Press}}<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lederman |first=Marsha |date=2022-06-17 |title=Ukrainian art in Canada reflects the war and our responses to it |language=en-CA |work=The Globe and Mail |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/article-ukrainian-art-in-canada-reflects-the-war-and-our-responses-to-it/ |access-date=2022-08-22}}</ref>

=== Other works === * Text and introduction to {{cite book |last=Kemp |first=James |date=2002 |title=George the Purple Spotted Horse: A Graphic Tale |publisher=Pendas Productions |isbn=0-920820-02-6}}<ref name=":2" />

== Awards == In 2012, Kemp was awarded the League of Canadian Poets' Life Membership Award.<ref name=":5" /> Kemp received a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2013 for her service to the arts.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Robertson |first=Becky |date=2015-04-01 |title=League of Canadian Poets 2015 awards finalists revealed |url=https://quillandquire.com/awards/2015/04/01/league-of-canadian-poets-2015-awards-shortlists-revealed/ |access-date=2022-08-22 |website=Quill and Quire |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2013-10-30 |title=And the winners are . . . |work=London Free Press |url=https://lfpress.com/2013/10/30/and-the-winners-are |access-date=2022-08-21}}</ref> In 2015, the League of Canadian Poets awarded Kemp the Sheri-D Wilson Golden Beret Award, which honoured her as a spoken-word poet.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tobias |first=Conan |date=2015-06-03 |title=League of Canadian Poets announces annual award winners |url=https://quillandquire.com/awards/2015/06/03/league-of-canadian-poets-announces-annual-award-winners/ |access-date=2022-08-22 |website=Quill and Quire |language=en}}</ref>

==External links== * [https://pennkemp.wordpress.com/ Penn Kemp – Penn, poet/playwright/performer] * [https://canpoetry.library.utoronto.ca/kemp/index.htm Canadian Poetry Online – Penn Kemp: Biography] * [https://www.facebook.com/pennkemppoet Penn Kemp, Poet Facebook page] * [https://twitter.com/pennkemp Penn Kemp on Twitter] * [https://www.canadianplayoutlet.com/search?q=penn+kemp Penn Kemp works on Canadian Play Outlet] * [https://marymcdonald.ca/storyteller/ Mary McDonald collaborations with Penn Kemp]

==References== {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kemp, Penn}} Category:1944 births Category:Living people Category:University of Western Ontario alumni Category:University of Toronto alumni Category:Canadian schoolteachers Category:Municipal poets laureate in Canada Category:Canadian women dramatists and playwrights Category:People from Strathroy-Caradoc Category:Canadian spoken word poets Category:20th-century Canadian poets Category:20th-century Canadian women poets Category:21st-century Canadian poets Category:21st-century Canadian women poets Category:Poets from Ontario