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THE HAIKU NORTH AMERICA CONFERENCE 2001, BOSTON, MA, USA
"Haiku and Beyond":  an Informal Account  

 

The sixth conference of Haiku North America, "Haiku and Beyond," ran from June 28- July 1, in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. This was the 10th Anniversary of the first one; they are held biennially.

One handout listed 152 registrants, but it was probably a bit larger that that by the conclusion.  This was the best-attended HNA ever. Personally, I had only been to one other -- that in 1999.

It was a festival of things haiku and the related haikai arts. Four very full days of all of it. Great speakers, panels, workshops, videos, live dance, music, mime, theatre, painting, even bonsai.  But centrally haiku -- with renku, haiga, haibun, and tanka.

At the start of this jumbled report, I am writing informally from just-fresh memories, let me tell you that the 7th Conference will be in NY City in 2003. No, it's not too early to be aware and to plan. I do not know the dates, but historically they have been in June, perhaps late June as in this year. If we continue a few more years perhaps HNA should be proposed as a Kigo of early summer? The Haiku Society of New York City is hosting.

This time things in Boston were HOT! Sweltering temperatures and blistering pace of haiku and haikai things --- very exciting and draining.

Main speeches and presentations were by some folks whose books are on your shelves, or should be -- Professors Haruo Shirane and Hiroaki Sato, William J. Higginson, Penny Harter, Lee Gurga, Pamela Miller Ness, Jim Kacian, Cor van den Heuvel, Bruce Ross... and others for whom I intend no slight by not mentioning.

Several of those who "were there" when Haiku in English began in North America --- were there -- and read ...  Cor, and Bill (Higginson) already mentioned and Arizona Zipper, and Alan Pizzarelli.  From the 50's and 60's some of the coffee-house scene --- the beginnings. Bill gave a speech about the very first publications and journals in English (remember mimeo machines?) and the early directions of haiku. Fascinating. 

Some from the WHC lists were at the conference. Apologies to those I may have missed: Ferris Gilli, Paul Mena, Bruce Ross, AC Missias, Mike Nickels-Wisdom, Carolyn Hall, Kirsty Karkow, Carmen Sterba, Peggy Willis Lyles, Linda Robeck, Sonia Christina Coman and Zinovy Vayman. I had met many of these folks before and it was great to do so again, and to add the new ones to acquaintance and friendship.

Back row: Yu Chang, Fay Aoyagi, Paul Watsky, A.C. Missias
Front row: Claire Gallager, John Stevenson, Paul MacNeil

Names from books or computer screens became faces and hands to shake, and became lunch or dinner companions. Or  . . .  sit-on-the-steps conversationalists. I ate in restaurants: Japanese, Greek-- but only for breakfast... ha! -- Cambodian, Cajun, Thai, and Moroccan. Boston is a wonderful city. Part of the program was a  tour of splendid Asian exhibits at Boston's Huge and wonderful Museum of Fine Arts -- a Special Exhibition of Japanese prints of the Meiji Period, also the subject of Dr. Hauruo Shirane's lecture (a huge ovation), Art in the Life of Haiku Poets in Edo Japan (sponsored by the Japan Foundation of New York City). 

Lots of haikuists, not yet named, were presenters of one type or another, workshops, panels, performances, readers. Ion Codrescu gave an introduction to Haiga. Raffael De Gruttola and Carlos Colon led the first session of Exploring Haiga: Haiga as Concrete Poetry. Raffael De Gruttola presented Japanese Shikishi Prints. Christina Coman of Romania spoke. Zinovy Vayman was a featured speaker with Haiku-like images in American Poetry. He contributed some of the verses in a 100 stanza renku as part of the huge multi-media presentation of that large work in experimental video by Kathleen Decker. Zinovy was also leader of one of the two ginko walks. William J. Higginson gave the Keynote Address and led a panel discussion of new or regional kigo not yet known or recognized.  The panel was Mike Welch, Tom Clausen, Penny Harter, Ferris Gilli, Peggy Willis Lyles, A.C. Missias, and Paul MacNeil. Ferris, Peggy, and I each led renku workshops for Bill with Tadashi Kondo and Penny Harter. Jeanne Emrich led a hands on haiga workshop. Bruce Ross moderated a haibun panel.

Bruce Ross at HNA

There were many amazing presentations. We were all treated to readings by some of the absolute best (obviously my opinion) who have ever written haiku in English: Peggy Willis Lyles, Vincent Tripi and others already mentioned on this page. Just this type of thing was worth the effort of attending. 

Over 1,000 haiku were read, maybe twice that in one way or another for the four day event. Some readings were hilarious, intentionally -- senryu --done so by folks who all knew the difference. Their serious stuff ran a gamut of style. It was all haiku. For example, one fellow read 10 or so -- opened with a senryu, like a night-club comic, some serious stuff (he is good) and closed with senryu that raised laughter, hoots and howls from the audience. 

Many of the world's English-language publications were represented by Editors or Associate Editors.  Some were speakers or presenters, but all were available for conversation ... more names becoming faces.  Lee Gurga -- Modern Haiku (Bob Spiess was in Evanston/Chicago '99), Jim Kacian -- Frogpond and Red Moon Press, A.C. Missias -- Acorn, Ferris Gilli and Paul MacNeil -- The Heron's Nest, Stanford Forrester-- Bottle Rockets, Kathleen Decker -- Chiyo's Corner, Michael Dylan Welch -- Tundra, Dorothy Howard -- Raw Nervz, Ferris Gilli and Paul MacNeil --World Haiku Review, Caroline Gourlay -- Blithe Spirit, Yu Chang, John Stevenson, and Hilary Tann -- Upstate Dim Sum, Carmen Sterba -- haijinx, and others I certain have skipped through inadvertence.

A great feature of these things is the book room. A treasure store, stuff for sale you really need ... but will it fit in your luggage? Or in your budget? Ahhh ... it is Art after all!

There was, again, a silent auction for many wonderful things, book, artwork, etc.  Folks who wished could do public readings of their own haiku. Most of the various haiku clubs and groups in the US read as a group. This is a great feature both to be on stage and in the audience.  Ahead of time the participants were given the opportunity to be in the published HNA Anthology.  Over 100 fine haiku there.  Many people had each other sign their haiku.

In all, a great opportunity for pollination of haiku and the related haikai arts. Attendees came from:  Romania, India, Guam, Britain, Croatia, Canada, and many from Japan as well.

Linda Robeck, Yu Chang, Fay Aoyagi at HNA

I wrote haiku there, and in the car on the way back to Maine. Thoroughly exciting.  I met old friends and new.

This was put on by the Boston Haiku Society:  Raffael de Gruttola, Judson Evans and Karen Klein in particular, with help from Paul Mena, his wife Mary and the rest of the membership, I am sure.  A great deal of work for more than a year. We all thank them heartily.

Your tired reporter, the one with the heavy book bag ...

Paul MacNeil
Florida, USA

 

Photos courtesy of Carmen Sterba

 

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