Sheri-D Wilson



Sheri-D Wilson (born 1958) is a Canadian poet and playwright.

Life
Sheri-D Wilson was born in Calgary, Alberta. At 17 she became a world traveller, living and working in Los Angeles, New York, and London, but in the mid-200s returned to Calgary, which remains her base. [http://www.cca.ukzn.ac.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=340%3Asheri-d-wilson-canada-&catid=31&Itemid=45 Sheri-D Wilson, Centre for Creative Arts, University of Kwazulu-Natal, Web, July 6, 2012.

Sheri-D Wilson has written seven (7) collections of poetry; her most recent, Autopsy of a Turvy World (2008, Frontenac House), was launched in April 2008. She has 2 Spoken Word CDs (arranged by Russell Broom), and 4 award-winning VideoPoems: Airplane Paula (2001), Spinsters Hanging in Trees (2002), Surf Rave Girrly Girrl (2004), and The Panty Portal (2008), all produced for BravoFACT.

Reading Highlights:
 * Voix d'Amériques 2008, (2005; Montreal)
 * Bumbershoot 2003 (1999, 1992, 1991, 1989; Seattle)
 * Vancouver International Writers Festival 2002 (2000, 1995, 1993, 1990; Vancouver)
 * The World Poetry Bout 2002 (Taos, New Mexico)
 * Poetry Africa 2001 (South Africa)
 * WordFest 2008, 2000, ’95 (Calgary; Banff)
 * Harbourfront Reading Series 1993 (Toronto)
 * Small Press Festival 1990 (New York City)

Other Highlights:
 * Women and Words, 2003-2007 (instructor)
 * First Time Eyes: Unearthing Spoken Word, 2007 essay (Canadian Theatre Review)
 * Heart of a Poet, 2006, featured poet documentary series
 * Bowery Project, 2005 (Instructor), Alberta Scene, 2005 (a commemoration of Alberta's centennial)
 * Human Rights Symposium 2005: Victoria
 * Sounds Like Canada, 2002 CBC Poet in Residence
 * Addicted: Notes From The Belly Of The Beast, 2001 essay entitled Blackout
 * Confessions a Jazz Play, 1991 text of play (Theatrum)

In the beat tradition, in 1989 she studied at Naropa University's Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics in Boulder, Colorado.

Wilson founded the Calgary International Spoken Word Festival in 2003, produced the 2008 National Slam, and founded/organized SWAN (Spoken Word Arts Network, 2007, 2005). She is the Program Director of the Spoken Word Program at Banff Centre.

Recognition
Her 2005 collection, Re:Zoom (Frontenac House), won the 2006 Stephan G. Stephansson Award for Poetry, and was shortlisted for the CanLit award. Other Awards Include: Global TV's Woman of Vision Award (2006), SpoCan Award (2005), Bumbershoot Heavyweight Title for Poetry USA (2003), Gold Award at the Houston Film Festival (2003), Three ACE awards (2003), AMPIA (2003, for best short or vignette), CBC Face-off (2002).

Poetry

 * Bull Whips and Lambs Wool. Petarade Press, 1989.
 * Swerve. Arsenal Pulp Press, 1993.
 * Girl’s Guide to Giving Head. Arsenal Pulp Press, 1996.
 * The Sweet Taste of Lightning. Arsenal Pulp Press, 1999.
 * Between Lovers. Arsenal Pulp Press, 2002.
 * Re:Zoom. Frontenac House Press, 2005.
 * Autopsy of a Turvy World. Frontenac House Press, 2008.
 * Goddess Gone Fishing for a Map of the Universe. Frontenac House Press, 2012.

Edited

 * Spoken Word Workbook: inspiration from poets who teach

CDs

 * Sweet Taste of Lightning
 * Re:Cord

Plays

 * Confessions: A Jazz Play
 * Boy Wonder (with Ballet B.C.)