New Collection: akal.

My new collection, 'akal', published to mark my 35th year of working in community arts. 

This rarely produced volume contains 70 poems (35 x 2 - geddit?),each one is based on a weekly, live Kundalini meditation.

The launch was at Middle Street Resource Centre, Beeston, Notts on 20th June 2023; I stepped into the universe of creativity that same day in 1988. 



Akal is published by Big White Shed and costs £14.99 plus P and P.

Background and details about Dave Wood


For further information, see

Contact davewrite2002[@]yahoo.com or O77O9977684

In general
I began my career in creativity in 1988 with community arts collective, Word And Action (Dorset) Ltd.  I write, paint, sculpt and run community arts based sessions.  I have a keen interest in the environment, recycling where I can and using green materials.  I am dedicated to working solely 'in the round'.


 

 

2014
I've just completed nine days for Sheffield's Festival of the Mind creating haiku for visitors to the old Co-op Department Store. Recently I spent five days on a project for Transported as Dr Rhyme, enabling visitors to the mobile library service to access a new poem written for them and/or a personal reading.  I've been involved in the (Derbyshire) Borrowash Project, Unexamined Lives. talking to and recording those local to the area and creatively responding to it.  I've been Wandering Poet at Lincoln Inspired as Dr Rhyme and facilitator of the Creative Washing Line of Thoughts on the Flaming Skirts Festival bus (see jpeg above).  

2013 - 2014.  
I was trainee on the Opening Up Archives scheme from The National Archives, taking on board digitisation skills, online community engagement, and document handling as well as basic archives skills. During this period I studied a diploma in Outreach and Education: an introduction to the Promotion of Archives.  I came out with a B2 (63 - 68%).  
While this was happening, I continued to offer creative sessions.

2012.  I created various commissions for birthdays, romances, beards and, erm, dog poo (yes, really).  I was also asked to be one of the artists for Excite, Inspire and Engage Erewash; the Coal Age, creating a walk-on board game, sculptural coal and a soap opera called, 'Trouble at T'Pit'.  I am nominated for the Octavia Hill Award by the Woodland Trust for my Creative Perambulations of Sherwood Forest project.

2011 - 2012
I successfully took a diploma in Environmental Conservation, enabling skills such as hedgelaying, woodland management, clearance, risk assessment, bird, tree, grassland and flower identification and tree planting.

2011/2012 -  I ran a very exciting project connected with Sherwood Forest. This was financially supported by the National Lottery/Arts Council England.  The ramble around the 1662 perimeter of Sherwood Forest involved walking with the public, enabling creativity (poetry, story and performance) and the launch of a broadsheet of imaginative contributions from the public.

I completed a project for Newark Museum Service through MuBu. Published in 'Unsaid Words' and February's 'Living for Tomorrow' magazine.  I've been in the LEAMAC Open Art Exhibition 2011.  

I create a performance piece for the LEAMAC preview.

2010. I win 1st in acrylics in LEAMAC for my painting, man walks dog. I use my acting to help train doctors in communication skills and for role play in Child Protection Issues. I work at Skegness SO10 festival and with Mantle Arts. I run creative sessions for the British Art Show at the NAE and the Nottingham Contemporary.

2009. I concentrate on my artwork, my writing and my allotment. I join forces with musician, Vic Scott and others to create typeface; quirky poetry and music ensemble. Myself and Emma Fawcett share an art exhibition at the NSA. My artwork is accepted in the Leicester Open.

2008 – 2009 - Writer in Residence for Yorkshire based prison (through WIPN)

Shared Exhibition with Emma Fawcett
Ollerton session creating a poem for St George
Poem created for Ilkeston Festival used on shop billboard



Reading alongside Robert Lyndsay – Stanton Road Cemetery
Writing Project with Aphasia Group – Beeston Library

2005 – 2008 - Collaborative Writing Project with Homeless Group (Derbyshire) organised through Washarts CIC
Commissioned Artist (writer) for Ilkeston Festival 2008
Facilitating Arts on Prescription sessions with vulnerable adults
Commissioned Haiku for paintings by Lucy Rivers (exhibiting at Waterstone’s)
Poem published – (three haiku for Victoria Baths) Nottingham Evening Post
Poetry Collaboration with musicians, Will Park and Vic Scott
Shared performance of own poetry with four other writers ‘Four Candles for Bangladesh’
Designed creative writing sessions for Leicester Museum Service’s Community Outreach
Facilitator for Growing Bolder Project, Mansfield
Facilitated Shakespeare Workshop with elderly group – Mansfield Arts Theatre
Workshops and scripts film, ‘The Seven Ages of Man’. Hosted by City Arts, Nottingham. (funded by Lloyds TSB)
On Discovering I've been Sold Spaghetti Hoops Instead of Alphabetti Spaghetti
published in Poetry in the Waiting Room.
Commissioned Poetry Reading at studio opening, Nottingham,
Four poems accepted by Red Inc, December 2006
Reading of own poetry at Nottingham City Arts for Arts in Mental Health’s first anniversary.
Commission - poem created and read at wedding of writer, R.G.Gregory
Created Valentine poems at Derby Museum and Art Gallery masquerading as Dr Love
Joint winner (with artist, Kurt Bosworth) of the Cushendall Tower Project, N.Ireland
Private commission - poem for Ellis N, Dorset
Poem, ‘Shadow Walking’ published in Express Art Gallery
Using Poetry, a creative examination of peace in Northern Ireland in the Mourne Valley, (Funded by NI Community Relations and hosted by The Cnocnafeola Centre, Atticall)
Poetry collection - dot dot dot launched at Beeston Library, (also available as BSL dvd)
First two poetry collections put on the internet, now removed
Competition win - Aesthetica magazine, the affair with my fridge
Commission – poem read at Derby Museum and Art Gallery for Angela Verdon exhibition

2003 – 2004 - Working visit to Northern Ireland creating a compare and contrast collection of poetry on the past and present. Project supported by and output posted on award winning website www.sluggerotoole.com  with output posted on www.davewoodinireland.blogspot.com.
Poetry performance, joint sponsored by Notts Library Service (BSL interpreted)
Commission - poem and reading at Belper Arts Festival for St Swithun’s Church
Developed new writing courses: ‘Creatively Developing’, ‘Confidence and Creativity’,
‘Creative Writing and Collage’, ‘Blowing the Dust off your Biro’ and ‘Making a Manuscript’.
Writer in residence for Surface Gallery, Nottingham,
Commissioned poem and reading for civil partnership, Laura and Hanna

2001 – 2002 - Writer in residence at Creswell, Notts (employed by Junction Arts).
Publication – collection of poems, boon launched in Nottinghamshire,
Shared performance with Vickie Rouse at Galleries of Justice for Medical Foundation for Care of Victims of Torture,
Commission - poem as collaboration with artist, Sue Jarman (funded by the Arts Council) posted on www.ghostsandshadows.blogspot.com
One day Poetry Residency at Erewash Museum Maze, Ilkeston
Poem - Cleaning the Bath published in Nottingham Poetry Society Magazine,
Commission - poem for Mick Fealty and Fay Bowden’s wedding,

1999 – 2000 - Exhibition and Reading - Chapter and Verse (Draycott, Derbyshire)
Writing Residency starts at Waterstone’s booksellers in Nottingham,
Poetry Collection Choosing Paths launched at The Arthur Mee Centre, Stapleford.
Began teaching creative writing with Broxtowe College and the University of Nottingham

1988 – 1998 - Toured with international theatre and publishing company, Word And Action (Dorset) Ltd’. During this period, my poetry appeared in ‘Egg Cups’, ‘The Green and White Bag’, ‘South’, ‘From Colditz to Bangladesh’ and ‘Doors’. I also fulfilled poetry commissions and my first play, ‘The Pink Cog’, was performed in Dorset and at the International Theatre in the Round festival, London.

I've also been on the following training courses:

 
Communication Teaching in UG Medical Education

Walk Leader Training (including planning a walk, risk assessments and health and safety.

Evaluation Methods for Arts Practice
Emergency First Aid
Equality and diversity training
Current legislation regarding Advocacy and the Mental Health Act 2007
Disability Awareness and Equality
7307 Teaching Qualification
Welcoming students with sight or hearing loss

(Advanced) GNVQ Art and design (Merit)