BIO
Moe Clark: multidisciplinary Métis artist, looping pedal mistress, spoken word poet, educator, artistic producer, public speaker, activist…
Multidisciplinary Métis artist Moe Clark is a nomadic songbird with wings woven from circle singing and spoken word. Mistress of the looping pedal, she creates sonic landscapes of layered voice that invite audiences into a trance-like space. Her poetic songs soar through these landscapes, with tonal and lyrical resonance. In music collaborations, Moe’s intuitive and sensual approach to vocal improvisation pulls from soul, gospel, folk and spoken word genres. She’s trained with the likes of Rhiannon (Bobby McFerrin’s Voicestra), Pura Fé (Ulali) and David Smukler (Linklater approach).
As artistic producer she has collaborated on numerous projects. In 2013 she directed the 10th Annual Canadian Festival of Spoken Word in Montreal, the first bilingual edition of the six-day national slam festival, which highlighted Indigenous languages and the art of poetic translation. Other collaborations include Bird Messengers theatre performance with Émilie Monnet, It Is Only Sound that Remains sound theatre with Shahrzad Arshadi, Tschakâpesh puppet street theatre at Place des Arts with Presence Autochtone, and Back to Where My Heart Belongs Cree language songwriting project with Joseph Naytowhow and Cheryl L’Hirondelle.
As community arts educator Moe facilitates writing, spoken word performance and looping pedal workshops in high schools, communities and with Aboriginal youth with a basis for de-habitualizing speech and deepening personal and collective expression. Taking her as far north as Iqaluit to offer intergenerational storytelling exchanges and as far south as Brazil to collaborate inter-culturally with the Tembe people, her approach to group facilitation aims to build bridges through empathetic listening and sharing. In 2010 she was chosen as Leonard Cohen Poet in Residence (Westmount High School, 2010) and has since worked with the Quebec Writers’ Federation Writers in the Community program. Moe draws from traditions of the talking circle, employing the microphone as a talking stick to engage youth through technology. She also facilitates professional-level workshops.
As performer, Moe’s work spans international borders and creative disciplines. Following the success of her debut album “Circle of She: Story & Song” (2008) she toured national and international stages. Her second album “Within” (September 2014) builds off this success to bring elaborated musicality. Highlight feature performances include Maelström ReÉvolution Poétique Fiéstival in Belgium (2013 & 2009), IDEA World Congress: Art for Social Change in Brazil (2010), Aboriginal Music Week (2012), Makusham APTN Series (2011) and she will perform as “Poet of Honour” for the 2014 Canadian Festival of Spoken Word. Her 2009 videopoem “Intersecting Circles” is now part of the Peace River Museum, Archives and Mackenzie Centre.
As public speaker Moe is a sought-after presenter with feature talks at TedXMontreal (May 2012) and a commissioned performance for the Canadian Olympic Team at the Olympic Summer Games in London, U.K. (July 2012).
FEATURED ARTIST
Select PERFORMANCE + FESTIVAL highlights
2014
Berks Conference for the History of Women Theatre Performance, Toronto, CA
Ukiuqtarturmiut Anirnirit Spoken Word Summit, Featured Artist Facilitator, Iqaluit, NU
Sâkêwêwak Distinguished Storytelling Festival, Featured Performer, Regina, SK
2013
10th Canadian Festival of Spoken Word aucasinosonline.com/ca/, Montreal, QC, Featured Performer, Director
Maelström ReEvolution Poétique Festival + Book Launch, Belgium, Featured Artist
2012
Aboriginal Music Week: Opening Act for Tanya Tagaq Featured Performer
London Olympic Games: Vocal Performance at Canada House, Performer
Talking Stick Festival: Aboriginal Performances: Bird Messengers, Featured Performer
2011
Makusham Television Series, Co-Production of APTN & CTV Featured Performer
Bird Messengers World Premier – Theatre Performance, Co-Founder, Creator, Performer
Re:Frame Film Festival “Intersecting Circles”, Peterborough Film Presenter, Performer
2010
KIMINIKE: Aboriginal Erotica with Brazilian Swing, Joao Pessoa Featured Performer
ReelFemme Film Festival “Intersecting Circles”, AB, Featured Film Presentation
2009
Métis Week Celebration: Intersecting Circles Video Premiere, Medicine Hat, Artist
Maelström ReEvolution Poétique, Brussels, Belgium, Featured Performer
2008
Tusarniq: Beautiful Sound Aboriginal Festival, Montreal, QC Featured Performer
Transfiguration: In Rounds, Dancers Studio West, AB Co-Creative Director, Performer
2007
PEI Confederation Centre “Alberta Fusion” Youth Show Performer, Assisted art-director.
2006
CBC Radio1 Poetry Face-Off Slam Competition @ Beatniq, Performer
PROFESSIONAL development
2014 – “Linklater Technique” Vocal Master Training with David Smukler, AB
2013 – Vocal Improvisation Master Training Reunion with Rhiannon, CA
2012 – Vocal Improvisation Year-Long Master Class with Rhiannon HI, CA and QC
– Aboriginal Music Projects (AMP Camp), Manitoba.
2011 – S.O.R.P.L.U.S.I Methodology Master Class with d’bi young Toronto, ON
2010 – IDEA WORLD CONGRESS: Art for Social Transformation, Belem, Brazil
2009 – Diverse as This Land Aboriginal Voice Intensive, Banff Centre, AB
2008 – Spoken Word Program Intensive, Banff Centre, AB
Select TEACHING experience
2014
“Gashka’oode” Workshop, London University & Munsee Delaware Healing Lodge
2013
Speak Up! Crash Course in Spoken Word Workshops for Teachers, McGill, Montreal.
2012
Quebec Writers’ Federation: Writers in the Community workshops, Montreal.
2011
Global Youth Assembly: Water as a Form of Resistance in Artistic Practice, AB.
2010
Siksika Blackfoot First Nations Spoken Word & Theatre Workshop, Siksika, AB
2009
Tasiutigiit: Inuit & Aboriginal Youth Voice & Expression Workshop, Montreal, QC.
DISC+VID+BIBLIOGRAPHY
2014
Within, full-length spoken word music album, independent release.
I Find Grace, music video, Bis Films.
nitâhkôtan, video poem aucasinosonline.com, Wapikoni Mobile Montreal Stop Over.
2013
Fire & Sage / De sauge et de feu, bilingual poetry book, éditions maelstrom.
2012
Exit: revue de poésie #66, Éditions gaz moutarde, Ed. Stéphane Despatie.
2009
Intersecting Circles video poem, permanent collection, Peace River Museum.
2008
Mic Check: An Anthology of Spoken Word in Canada, Quattro Books, Ed. David Silverberg.
2008
Circle of She: Story + Song full-length spoken word album independent release.
AWARDS
2014
Poet of Honour, Canadian Festival of Spoken Word, Victoria, BC
Banff Centre Aboriginal Vocal Intensive Scholarship, Banff, AB
2013
All The Way In Voice Master Training Scholarship with Rhiannon, California
Canada Council for the Arts Aboriginal Music Grant “Back to Where My Heart Belongs”
2012
Canada Council for the Arts Spoken Word Creation Grant “Within” Album
2011
le Prix LOJIQ for International Cultural Engagement for Bird Messengers Collaboration
Leonard Cohen Poet in Residence Award + Residency, Montreal, QC
Canada Council for the Arts Inter-Arts Grant for Bird Messengers, Montreal, QC
2009
Montréal Arts Interculturel Residency for Bird Messengers Collective, Montreal, QC.
Bravo!Fact Short Film Grant for “Intersecting Circles” Video Poem, AB.
Canada Council for the Arts Creation Grant for “Intersecting Circles” Video Poem, AB
Alberta Foundation for the Arts Project Grant for “Intersecting Circles” Video Poem, AB
2008
Canada Council for the Arts Spoken Word Creation Grant for “Circle of She” Album
2007
CBC Poetry Face Off First Place, Calgary, AB
