Michelle Darby, Curator
Michelle Darby is a photographer and artist who is currently based out of Guelph, ON. Most recently, Darby was the photographer for the Canadian Festival of Spoken Word 2011. Michelle has connected through Art for most of her life, be it through music (plays a variety of instruments), drawing, painting, photography, fashion, and writing. She is always looking for new mediums for self-expression. Michelle also is a strong supporter of the spoken word/poetry community, including being one of the co-organizers for the Burlington Slam Project, a volunteer for both the Toronto Poetry Project and Guelph Poetry Slam.
Cathy Petch, Web Design, Organizer
Cathy Petch is a playwrite, spoken word artist, performer, musician and lighting designer for both theatre and film. She hosts the Plasticine Poetry Series in Toronto, now in it's 5th year. She was a member of the Union Theatre collective in Peterborough Ontario as well as S.C.A.G (Serious Contact Artist Group). Her book “Late Night Knife Fights” has just been published by Lyricalmyrical press. She is a member of the 2011 and 2012 Toronto Poetry Slam Team. Her latest play, "A Mean Thing" was produced by Mysterious Entity Theatre.
Dianne Robinson, Treasurer, Organizer
Dianne Robinson is an Event Planner, Event Hospitality Manager and Volunteer Trainer who has been a part of the Arts community in a variety of roles. She also operates her own Jewellery Design business. Robinson has a love affair with psychology, dance and writing. "I believe there is an intertwining of all three because words are embodied into movement and there is spiritual connection between mind and body when the three meet."
Her motto: Words and actions must add up because one does not exist without the other.
Her motto: Words and actions must add up because one does not exist without the other.
Greg Frankson A.K.A Ritallin, Advisor
Greg Frankson a.k.a. Ritallin, is a spoken word artist, author, arts educator, event organizer and creative services consultant. He has performed poetry and music across Canada, in the United States and overseas that illustrates his personal mission: to present the vision that inspires others to positively change the world. Greg is the Poet Laureate of the International Initiative for Mental Health Leadership and a passionate youth ally, social justice activist and mental health advocate. Through his company Cytopoetics, Greg works in schools, businesses and with community organizations as a presenter, facilitator, speaker and consultant.
Mahlikah Aweri - Advisor
Mahlikah Awe:ri is a drum talk poetic rapologist of Afro-Native heritage/Mohawk (Kahnawá:ke) & Mi'kmaw (Bear River) , with Nova Scotian roots, based in Toronto. Mahlikah is a founding member of Red Slam Collective, a live Hip Hop Fusion Band of diverse indigenous artists & Coordinator for their 4 Direction Urban Arts based community projects across Ontario. She is an OAC Aboriginal Artist in the Schools, a TDSB Artist as a member of the ANDPVA, and the Manager of Training & Resource Development for TCCL&D and the Daniels Centre for Learning Regent Park. In 2011 she released the EP Serpent's Skin and 2 Dream In Colour was published in the 6th Edition of Diaspora Dialogues TKO. In 2012 expect a full length LP from Red Slam and the launch of 6Degrees of Sovereignty a 6 member collective of 3 spoken word artists and 3 visual artists all with Indigenous roots
Founding Members
PENTA was founded in 2011 by: Michelle Darby, Kayla Fraser, Greg Frankson, Jon Negrytch and Truth Is...
