P042 Elizabeth Cunningham - Marty's Place

In the spirit of HARVEST, this autumn’s programs will recall people and events, underscoring their importance which reverberates in today’s world when we remember.

Elizabeth Cunningham of Nelson, British Columbia is a writer, teacher and visual artist who loves collaborating with others. Both her life and her work demonstrate a wide range of interest and commitment, which seem to flow through time and experience.

In this episode we spotlight her 2021 poetry release, Watching the Light Below the Storm. Then Elizabeth and I discuss her creative non-fiction memoir, Marty's Place and her next poetry offering, Airborne which are works in progress, with readings from both.


Marty's Place fits our autumn theme of harvest very well. 

Marty's Place was The Village Bookstore owned by Marty Ahvenus. It opened in 1961 in the Gerrard Street Village in Toronto; a creative hub of the 60's and 70's which eventually gave way to the inevitable high-rises of urban renewal. Marty Ahvenus was an early supporter of emerging Canadian authors Margaret Atwood, bpNichol and many others.

Elizabeth worked for Marty in her late teens, and at Coach House Press, working on her own projects among others. Her memoir of these times recalls the early flowering of CanLit which is evident in the blooming garden of Canadian books today.

Two poems from Airborne complete the program, accompanied by Doug Jamieson's original music by the same title.

Watching the Light Below the Storm and Elizabeth's earlier poetry book,  A Fragile Grace are available through bookstores or direct from the publisher, Ekstasis Editions.

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