Sunday, October 11, 2009

The beginning of this spontaneous project.

Dunedin Poets (Other Creatives) & Ukuleles is an ongoing project started by artist, poet and designer Larry Matthews. 

One day in March 2009 Larry bumped into Peter Olds on George Street and invited Peter up to his flat for a cuppa. After showing Peter an online literary database, Larry gave Peter a ukulele and just started filming. Larry originally put the video clip onto youtube. 

This was the beginning of a concept: to invite other Dunedin and Otago poets (and now extended to other creatives) to participate in an ongoing collaborative documentary of poets and ukuleles. (Basically any creative having some connection to Dunedin and Otago).

So, the call has been put out to Dunedin poets (and other creatives) to participate in this spontaneous project with no set deadline or timeframe. While the original clip of Peter is what prompted this 'momentous' online project, he is being invited back for another go now that the project is more concrete.

While the preferred medium is video, poets are free to perform through any media they choose - here are some suggestions: 

The poet or other creative doesn't need to know how to play the ukulele. 
The poet or other creative can simply talk while the ukulele is in the frame.
The poet or other creative  can recite a poem about ukuleles or anything relevant to ukuleles.
The poet or other creative  can draw or paint a ukulele and the image can be posted.
The poet or other creative  can act as an 'mc' and ask Larry questions.
The poet or other creative  can just take a photograph of themselves with ukulele and go write a poem to be posted later.
The poet or other creative  can bring a pre-written 'ukulele' oriented poem.
The poet or other creative  can write a song or a poem 'on the spot'.
The poet or other creative  can chat with Larry over a cup of coffee or tea, and brainstorm.
The possibilities are endless.