Salon of the Refused

Authors and poets read from works that went unrecognized Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024

On Sunday, Dec. 8 at 12:30 p.m., I joined seven other writers at Windsor’s lovely and historic Mackenzie Hall for the Salon of the Refused.

It’s a fascinating concept that was initiated by Wayne Johnston, a writer and retired librarian at the University of Guelph. He borrowed the idea from the Salon des Refusés, an art exhibition held in 1863 in Paris, France. At the time, Napoleon III commissioned several artists whose works had been refused by the jury of the official Salon including legends like Paul Cézanne, Camille Pissarro, James Whistler and Édouard Manet. Similarly, Johnston’s Salons are a celebration of writing that were initially rejected and of marginalized communities who often feel rejected by mainstream society.

I read from two unpublished poems: “The Barber of Civil Discourse,” “In Memory of Elizebeth McAvinue: 1896-1965,” and “Heartbreak Box.”

Many thanks to Wayne for inviting me and my fellow writers. It’s a worthwhile and wonderful initiative.