Sheri-D Wilson

Sheri-D Wilson, CM[1] D. Litt,[2] (also known as "The Mama of Dada")[3] is a Canadian poet, spoken word artist, educator, speaker, producer and activist.[4]

Sheri-D Wilson
Occupation	poet, educator, speaker, producer, activist
Nationality	Canadian
Literary movement	Dada, Surrealism, Spoken word
Website
www.sheridwilson.com

From 2018-2020, Sheri-D Wilson was Poet Laureate of Calgary.[5] In 2019 Sheri-D was appointed one of the country’s highest honours, The Order of Canada, for her contributions as a spoken word Poet and her leadership in the spoken word community.[1] In 2017, she received her Doctor of Letters—Honoris Causa from Kwantlen University.[2] In 2015 Sheri-D was awarded with The City of Calgary Arts Award, for her contributions as an artist and community activist and was named, Best of Calgary many times.[6]

In 2019, her play, "A Love Letter to Emily Carr," was produced by Handsome Alice Theatre in Calgary and published by Frontenac Press.[7] Her collection, "A Book of Sensations," addresses our relationship with the earth.[8]

Her 9th poetry collection, "OPEN LETTER: Woman Against Violence Against Women," tackles difficult terrain. Conceived from improvisation, this collage of poems culminates in a flood poem as the desecration of the earth is compared to the treatment of women. Throughout the work a drumbeat, a heartbeat, a healing chant pervades. "OPEN LETTER," was nominated for the Robert Kroetsch Poetry Award and the ReLit Award.[9]

Her last collection, "Goddess Gone Fishing for a Map of the Universe," is the first poetry book to use QR codes that connect to video, audio, and interactive talk-back.[10] Her collection, "Re:Zoom" (2005, Frontenac House), won the 2006 Stephan G. Stephansson Award for Poetry, and was shortlisted for the CanLit Award.[11]

She has three Spoken Word CDs,[12] and 4 award-winning VideoPoems including: Airplane Paula (2001), Spinsters Hanging in Trees (2002), all produced for BravoFACT.[13]

A strong advocate for social change and community building in Sheri-D Wilson founded The Spoken Word Program at The Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. She was director and faculty of that program (2005-2012).[14] At which time Tanya Evanson took over as director of the program. Sheri-D Wilson also edited The Spoken Word Workbook: Inspiration from Poets who Teach in 2011 (CSWS/BCP), an educational tool for teaching and writing Spoken Word.[15]

In 2012, she was featured in Chatelaine Magazine, in a story about the creative mind. A regular on CBC,[16] In 2013, she was interviewed by Canadian icon Sheilah Rogers. In 2011 she was honored to be presented by The National Slam of Canada in “Legends of Spoken Word.” In 2009 CBC called her one of the Top 10 Poets in Canada. In 2003 she won the USA Heavyweight title for poetry, and in 2006 The National Slam of Canada presented her with the Poet of Honour Award. Of the beat tradition, in 1989 Sheri-D studied at Naropa University’s Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics, in Boulder, Colorado.

Her influences include Guillaume Apollinaire, T.S. Eliot, Diane di Prima, Anne Waldman and Allen Ginsberg.[10]