Biography
Ellen Redbird is a poet, playwright, spoken word performer, teacher, and small press publisher. She was born in 1975, in Santa Barbara, California, and began seriously writing poetry at age nine. She earned a B.A. in literature from the College of Creative Studies, University of California, Santa Barbara, winning two poetry awards. She went on to earn an M.F.A. in Writing & Poetics from Naropa University, winning two awards for service to the Naropa community. Studying performance with Anne Waldman and ecology literature with Jack Collom are two highlights of her time at Naropa. In 2000, Redbird founded Pyriform Press, publishing handbound books. She edits the journal Nerve Lantern: Axon of Performance Literature, 2001 to present. Her seven years of teaching experience includes conducting poetry writing workshops for children and adults. Her poems and performance texts have appeared in journals, including Negative Capability, Singapore Poetry, Tarpaulin Sky, Chain, Bombay Gin, Spectrum, For Immediate Release, and Score. Redbird is a contributor to the compendium, kari edwards: NO GENDER: Reflections on the Life & Work of kari edwards (Litmus Press / Belladonna Books, 2009). She wrote, produced, directed, designed, and publicized Verve of Verge: a puzzle play, which was performed in Goleta, CA, 2010, raising donations for the local Pacific Pride Foundation. A scene from Verve of Verge was previously produced by Magus Magnus and directed by Enoch Chan for the Yockadot Poetics Theatre Festival in Alexandria, Virginia, 2007.
Education
M.F.A. in Writing & Poetics. Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics, Naropa University, Boulder, CO. May 2002. Concentration: Poetry.
Critical Thesis: “Disidentification, the Nonstable Subject, and Co-resignification in kari edwards’ Novel, a day in the life of p.”
Poetry Manuscript: Moving Potential For Noncenter (unpublished).
B.A. in Creative Studies. College of Creative Studies, University of California, Santa Barbara. June 1997. Concentration: Literature
Awards & Honors
Student Union of Naropa University Award for “outstanding contributions and service to the Naropa Community,” 2001-2002. Boulder, CO. May 11, 2002.
2002 GLBTQ Award for Outstanding Service. Naropa University. Boulder, CO. May 3, 2002.
Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers 2000. Selected for inclusion in the sixth edition. Nominated by a student.
College of Creative Studies Pocket Money Award for Superior Writing, poetry. University of California, Santa Barbara. 1994 & 1997.
Third Prize in the Singapore Poetry Contest for the poem “Zones.” Singapore Poetry (singaporepoetry.com). July 20, 2015.
Publication in Journals
Negative Capability, Vol. 34: The Body in D[ist]ress. January, 2016.
“Pages from And You: the official handbook” (poem made up of selections from Redbird’s unpublished poetry manuscript And You: the official handbook)
Singapore Poetry, online magazine. July 20, 2015.
“Zones” (poem)
Tarpaulin Sky, online magazine. September 3, 2013.
“X. Second Hand : Sink” (poem excerpt from Redbird’s unpublished hybrid poetry manuscript Unrequited Symbiosis: A Mitochondrial Mistranslation & Underwater Opera)
caesura, 37th Summer Writing Program Magazine, Naropa University. 2011.
“Undergarten: DHEIRVTWBSGJPNACFKMLOPZUQX” (11 poems from a series)
(r)evolve, 35th Summer Writing Program Magazine, Naropa University. 2009.
“You Can Read It In Discover Magazine, May 2009″ (poem)
fre•quen•cy: the poethics of change, 34th Summer Writing Program Magazine, Naropa University. 2008.
“insulted / wishing to be recognized…”
“superhumanly / luckless…” (2 poems, altered pages from Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne)
Hass, Issue 3. 2007.
“Avocado Chrono-Acrostics” (3 poems)
One Less: Art on the Range: Collection(s), Issue 2. Winter 2005.
“Take Criticism In a Collected Manner. Take Notes Ravenously” (poem)
“Found Poem: Program Line-up on The Discovery Channel, 4-7-05,” (poem)
“But What Did I Mean By: detaching itself concerns an innermost atom?” (poem)
“Collection of Notes from the Process of Writing the Puzzle Play, Verve of Verge” (creative notes)
“Notes / 11-19-02” (creative notes)
One Less: Art on the Range < Home, Issue 1. Spring 2005.
“Home Sweet Mo” (journal entries).
el pobre mouse, Issue 2. 2005.
“Decimate Your Percentiles: A Dyke Tragedy (origins best left undisclothed)” (performance text)
Erik & Laura-Marie Magazine, Issue 29. 2005.
“Misogyny” (essay)
Erik & Laura-Marie Magazine, Issue 15. 2004.
Response to interview questions. Interviewed by Laura-Marie Taylor.
Score, Issue 19. 2004.
“Rig Up (two mistranslations)” (2 poems)
“from Seventh Half: a mistranslation of Den Lille Havfrue” (excerpt from poem)
the muse apprentice guild. Online magazine. Spring 2003.
“Listless Voluminous” (poem)
“The Mastery of Circumstances” (poem)
“from Unrequited Symbiosis: a Mitochondrial Memoir” (poem)
Bombay Gin, Issue 28. 2002.
“Lack Luster” (poem)
Chain 9: dialogue. Summer 2002.
“Cellular” (scene from one-act play)
For Immediate Release, Vol. II, Number 5. Online magazine. May 2002. (2 poems)
“A Performance to Undo” (poem)
“Temporary Manifesto” (poem)
Tendrel: a Journal of Diversity at Naropa University. Spring 2002.
“Totally Fetishized” (creative prose)
Avoid Strange Men, Vol. 1, Issue 1. April 2002. (2 poems)
“Good Night, Photo Op” (poem)
“Identification Dislodged” (poem)
Hass. 2001.
(published under the name Ellen Weiss)
“Avocado Queen” (poem)
Tendrel: a Journal of Diversity at Naropa University. Fall 2001.
“Drag 1” (poem)
“Bi-askual” (poem)
Pocket Trick, Vol. 1, Issue 6. July 2001.
(published under the name Ellen Weiss)
“Not Antinomy” (poem)
27th Annual Summer Writing Program Magazine, Naropa University. Summer 2001.
“Erotic Postulation” (creative prose)
Nerve Lantern: Axon of Performance Literature, Issue 1. 2001.
“Muddy Bank” (performance text)
Underwater Elephants, Issue 12. Spring 2001.
“PLeAChE” (poem)
“Hybrid” (poem)
“After Thoreau” (poem)
“My Assignment Was to Write an Observation Poem” (poem)
“Atomic Now” (poem)
“As a kid…” (poem)
“I hear the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant…” (poem)
“A Little Intimate” (poem)
“Pond Observations” (poem)
Pocket Trick, Vol. 1, Issue 5. February/March 2001.
(published under the name Ellen Weiss)
“DivInert sung to the tune DefInert” (poem)
Pocket Trick, Vol. 1, Issue 4. January/February 2001.
(published under the name Ellen Weiss)
“Patrick and His Hat Trick” (poem)
Tendrel: a Journal of Diversity at Naropa University. Fall/winter 2000-2001.
“Told a Lesbian Friend” (poem)
“Transstatic” (poem)
“They Make It” (poem)
“Our Answer” (poem)
Fence Sitter, Issue 3. May 2001.
“Drag 1” (excerpt from poem)
“Bi-askual” (poem)
“In my opinion…” (short essay)
Pocket Trick, Vol. 1, Issue 3. November/December 2000.
(published under the name Ellen Weiss)
“Congratulatory Argument Against Albert Keeping Animals” (poem)
Specimens from the Petri Dish: Jackals, Toads, and Cretins, Vol. 1, Issue 1. November 2000.
“Petri Dish Poets Part I” (poem)
“Petri Dish Poets Part II” (poem)
Pocket Trick, Vol. 1, Issue 2. October 2000. \
(published under the name Ellen Weiss)
“Broken Links” (poem)
Pocket Trick, Vol. 1, Issue 1. September 2000.
(published under the name Ellen Weiss)
“A Saga of Symbeciles” (poem)
Empty Set, 26th Summer Writing Program Magazine, Naropa University. 2000.
(published under the name Ellen Weiss)
“Your Sonnet” (poem)
“Want” (poem)
Into the Teeth of the Wind: A New Poetry Review, Vol. 1, Issue 1. November/December 1999.
“Almost Answers” (poem)
“Kite” (poem)
“Existing Upon Reflection” (poem)
Spectrum, Vol. XXXVI, literary journal of the University of California, Santa Barbara. 1994.
(published under the name Ellen Weiss)
“The Blue Dusk Drive Leaving Campus” (poem)
“The Mess I Made of a Situation” (poem)
“Two Picked Bell Peppers: Life in the Kitchen” (poem)
“My Order at Carrows” (poem)
Anthologies
My Other Bumper Sticker is a Poem, Ed. Laura-Marie Taylor. 2014. (6 poems)
Online collection of literary/art postcards, under construction. Project organized by Christopher Mazura. (28 poems)
kari edwards: NO GENDER: Reflections on the Life & Work of kari edwards, Eds. Julian T. Brolaski, erica kaufman, and E. Tracy Grinnell. Brooklyn: Litmus Press / Belladonna Books, 2009. “Disidentification, the Nonstable Subject, and Co-resignification in kari edwards’ Novel, a day in the life of p.” (excerpts from M.F.A. critical thesis).
Caffeinated Verse. Ed. Deb Sica. Anthology of texts read at the event, Caffeinated Verse, at Buzz Fill’er Up Cafe, Denver, CO. March 18, 2001. (3 poems)
Electric Spandex: anthology of writing the queer text with kari edwards. Ed. Ellen Redbird. Boulder: Pyriform Press, 2001. (2 poems)
Chapbooks
Keeping the X. Poems and drawings by Laura-Marie Taylor and Ellen Redbird. Goleta: Pyriform Press. 2017.
Girl Holding Onto My Legs. Collage poems. Goleta: Pyriform Press. 2013.
Candescent Ashes. Poems & visual art. Boulder: Pyriform Press. 2001.
Auto-Aquatica. Poems & found images. Boulder: Pyriform Press. 2001.
WHEN. Art book of poems. Boulder: Pyriform Press. 2001.
Day of No Contradictions: a performance book for binaries. Poems & visual art. Boulder: Pyriform Press. 2001.
Make Apart. Performance texts and visual art. Boulder: Pyriform Press. 2001.
Mutinous Offshoot. Poetry. Boulder: Pyriform Press. 2000.
Four. Poetry. Boulder: Pyriform Press. 2000.
External Organs. Poetry. Boulder: Pyriform Press. 2000.
A Guide to Avian Field Theory. Poetry. Boulder: Pyriform Press. Published under the name Ellen Weiss. 2000.
Hold Sway. Poems & visual art. Published under the name Ellen Weiss. Boulder: Unsung Press, 2000.
Readings & Performances
Naropa University Summer Writing Program Student Reading, Boulder, CO. 2011.
Naropa University Summer Writing Program Student Reading. Boulder, CO. 2009.
Naropa University Summer Writing Program Student Reading. Boulder, CO. 2008.
Memorial event for kari edwards. California College of the Arts, San Francisco. April 27, 2007.
Sleeptalk: a full-moon evening of music, poetry, and dreams. Santa Barbara, California. October 28, 2004.
Naropa University Student Reading. Boulder, CO. May 10, 2002.
Victuals Reading Series. Louisville, CO. April 8, 2002.
Performance for Nerve Lantern, Issue 2. Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art. March 21, 2002.
National Coming Out Day open mic event. Naropa University. Boulder, CO. October 11, 2001.
Writing the Queer Text. Naropa University. Boulder, CO. July 2001.
Student Performance. Summer Writing Program, Naropa University, Boulder, CO. July 2001.
Vernacular Transfusion of Text. Naropa University, Boulder, CO. May 3, 2001.
Caffeinated Verse. Denver. March 18, 2001.
People’s Summit on Globalization. University of Colorado, Boulder. March 8, 2001.
Naropa University Student Arts Concert. Boulder, CO. Fall 2000.
Petri Dish, writer’s salon. Boulder, CO. Fall 2000.
National Coming Out Day open mic event. Naropa University. Boulder, CO. October 11, 2000.
Naropa University Summer Writing Program Student Reading. Boulder, CO. June 2000.
Student Performance. Summer Writing Program, Naropa University, Boulder, CO. June 2000.
Into the Teeth of the Wind: A New Poetry Review. University of California, Santa Barbara. Fall 1999.
College of Creative Studies, Literature Symposium. University of California, Santa Barbara. May 5, 1999.
College of Creative Studies Pocket Money Award for Superior Writing. UC Santa Barbara. Spring 1997.
College of Creative Studies student reading. University of California, Santa Barbara. Fall 1994.
College of Creative Studies Pocket Money Award for Superior Writing. UC Santa Barbara. June 3, 1994.
Spectrum, Vol. XXXVI. University of California, Santa Barbara. Spring 1994.
Poetry Installations
“INstruction / EXits / ACTion” (poetry and performative art object installation). These Are Your Instructions, instructional performance event organized by ric royer. Center Stage, Baltimore, MD. December 16-21, 2005.
“Photo Op Position” (poem & visual art on a 4×4 card). The Poetry Wholesaler’s OUTRAGEOUS Spring Clearance Sale. Organized by ric royer and Bonnie Jones. CHELA artspace, Baltimore, MD. March 27, 2004.
“kept warm is in the kept but warmth…” (response text to assignments, installation for performance). AntiMatter performance event. Organized by ric royer. CHELA artspace, Baltimore, MD. October 4, 2003.
“Poem Kaleidoscope” (interactive poetry sculpture). Final Art Show for the students of Inge Bruggeman’s book arts course, Image and Text in the Book Form. University of California, Santa Barbara. Spring 1997.
Stage Plays
“Seventh Half” (excerpt from the peformance poem/manuscript Unrequited Symbiosis: a Mitochondrial Mistranslation & Underwater Opera). Performed by poets Kris Lew, Hillary Keel, and John J. Trause as part of the 5th Boog City Poets’ Theater event of the Welcome to Boog City Poetry, Music, and Theater Festival. Staged at Sidewalk Cafe in New York City. Poets’ theater event curated by Magus Magnus. Festival directed by David Kirschenbaum. August 3, 2014.
Verve of Verge: a puzzle play (full-length poetry-driven stage play). Wrote, produced, directed, designed, and publicized. Cast: Tawnie Fransen, Megan Burwell, Celeste Ondreya, Ashley Toles, Everett Lapman, Marissa Gomez, and Nidia Guerrero. Assistant Director: Lauren Casapulla. Original music score by Dan Weiss. All proceeds donated to the Pacific Pride Foundation, Santa Barbara, CA. Performed at the Goleta Public Library, Goleta, CA. April 9, 10, 17 and May 1, 2010.
“Unbox 1 : Metapuzzle 4” (scene from stage play Verve of Verge: a puzzle play). Staged reading produced by Magus Magnus and directed by Enoch Chan. Performed by the Yockadot’s poetics theatre troupe. Yockadot Poetics Theatre Festival. Alexandria, VA. May 5, 2007.
“Cellular” (scenes 1 and 2 from one-act play). Staged reading. Performers included: Christopher Mazura, pen*, Maureen Foley, P. M. Kalayeh, and Ellen Redbird. Naropa University Student Arts Concert.
Publishing
Editor. 2001 to present. Edit the journal, Nerve Lantern: Axon of Performance Literature. Pyriform Press. Boulder, CO and Goleta, CA. Contributors include: Anne Waldman, Carla Harryman, Kevin Killian, Camille Roy, kari edwards, Akilah Oliver, Bhanu Kapil, ric royer, Jena Osman, Sawako Nakayasu, and Michelle Ellsworth. Organized, with Brandi Mathis, a performance and release party at the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art, 2002. Organized, with Dennis Leroy Kangalee and Kris Lew, a performance and release party at La MaMa E.T.C. in New York City, hosted by William Electric Black, 2013. Organized, with Kris Lew, a performance at Medicine Show Theatre in New York City, hosted by Medicine Show Theatre, 2014.
Small Press Publisher. 2000 to present. Pyriform Press. Handbound books and anthologies of poetry. Authors include: kari edwards, Laura-Marie Taylor, La Vonne Natasha Caesar, David Gardner, and students from the writing workshops I taught. Published the journal Nerve Lantern: Axon of Performance Literature. Design and maintain website. Spoke on a student panel about small press publishing at the Summer Writing Program 2001, Naropa University. Set up a table and formal system to sell books published by student-run small presses at the Summer Writing Program 2001. Boulder, CO and Goleta, CA.
Pyriform Press Titles:
- Keeping the X. Poems and drawings by Laura-Marie Taylor and Ellen Redbird. 2017.
- The Ascension Prophecy|{PAPER} #9 by La Vonne Natasha Caesar. 2015.
- MisNonTranSenseLation. Anthology: poems by kids in Ellen Redbird’s online poetry class. 2004.
- Animal & Syllable. Anthology: poems by kids in Ellen Redbird’s workshop. 2003.
- Hungry Fireflies & Dazzled Claws. Anthology: poems by kids in Ellen Redbird’s workshop. 2003.
- Gobble Up Your Light Bulb. Anthology: poems by kids in Ellen Redbird’s workshop. 2003.
- The Title is Poetry. Anthology: poems by kids in Ellen Redbird’s workshop. 2003.
- Electric Spandex: anthology of writing the queer text with kari edwards. 2001.
- White Plastic Swan. Anthology: poems by adults in Ellen Redbird’s workshop. 2001.
- Inside & In Real Life. Collection of poems by Laura-Marie Taylor. 2001.
- Nerve Lantern: Axon of Performance Literature. Literary journal, nine issues. 2001-2004 & 2013-2015.
- Vintage Coins. Chapbook of poems by David Gardner. 2000.
Proofreader. 2002. Hired by kari edwards to proofread the novel manuscript, a day in the life of p.
Editor. 2001-2002. In the Tendrel Collective of editors for three issues of Tendrel: A Journal of Diversity at Naropa University. Boulder, CO.
Book Designer. 2000-2002. Provided layout and binding services to Unsung Press, Man Press, and the Tendrel Collective. Boulder, CO.
Poetry Editor. 1995. On staff of editors for the literary journal, Spectrum. University of California, Santa Barbara.
Theater
Organizer of Performance Event. July 19, 2014. “An Afternoon of Sparking Poetry,” a performance for Nerve Lantern: Axon of Performance Literature, issue 7. Hosted by Medicine Show Theatre as part of its Word/Play reading series in New York City. Co-organized by Kris Lew and myself. Designed the event flier and promoted the event. The show featured work by Nerve Lantern contributors: Joel Allegretti, Allan Andre, Michelle DuPré, Kim Essex, Aimee Herman, Kris Lew, Magus Magnus, and John J. Trause. Performers: Joel Allegretti, Allan Andre, Maggie Dubris, Michelle DuPré, Trae Durica, Kim Essex, Aimee Herman, Kris Lew, Magus Magnus, and John J. Trause.
Organizer of Performance Event. March 18, 2013. “By Light of the Nerve Lantern,” a performance and release celebration for Nerve Lantern: Axon of Performance Literature, issue 6. Hosted by William Electric Black as part of the reading series “Poetry Electric” at La MaMa Experimental Theater Club in New York City. Co-organized by Dennis Leroy Kangalee, Kris Lew, and myself. Designed the event flier and promoted the event. The show featured work by Nerve Lantern contributors: Joel Allegretti, Jessica Hagemann, Kim Essex, Kris Lew, and John J. Trause. Performers: Joel Allegretti, Amy Barone, Caroline Contillo, Maggie Dubris, Kim Essex, Davidson Garrett, Aimee Herman, David Lawton, Kris Lew, LuLu LoLo, Todd Pate, and John J. Trause.
Playwright / Producer / Director / Designer / Publicist. 2009-2010. Verve of Verge: a puzzle play. Full-length poetry-driven stage play. Performed at the Goleta Public Library, Goleta, CA. April 9, 10, 17 and May 1, 2010. All proceeds donated to the Pacific Pride Foundation, Santa Barbara, CA.
Organizer of Performance Event. March 21, 2002. Performance and release party for Nerve Lantern: Axon of Performance Literature, issue 2. Hosted by the event series “Afterhours” at the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art. Co-organized by BMOCA production manager Brandi Mathis and myself. Introduced the performances and performed in “systematic bed & noir” by pen*. Also designed event fliers and programs, provided refreshments, and sold issues of Nerve Lantern. Eighteen performers, including Anne Waldman, Stephanie Heit, and Bobbie Louise Hawkins. Boulder, CO.
Teaching
Poetry Writing Instructor. 2002-2004. Private workshops for home schooling kids ages 8-14. Oak View and Ventura, CA. Also developed and taught an online creative writing course to home schooling kids, 2004.
Composition Tutor. 2000-2002. Private essay writing instruction to a graduate student. Boulder, CO.
Poetry Writing Instructor (volunteer). Spring 2001. Workshop for adult clients of the Boulder County AIDS Project. Conducted via Project Outreach with Jack Collom, Naropa University, Boulder, CO.
Teacher’s Assistant. Summer 1999. Assisted college instructor, Caroline Allen, in teaching creative writing to high school students. Developed and taught poetry assignments. Young Scholars Summer Program, College of Creative Studies, University of California, Santa Barbara.
Online Teacher. 1998-1999. Taught ten high school courses (five English, five social studies) to students through online and postal correspondence. Laurel Springs High School, Ojai, CA.
Preschool Teacher. 1997-1998. Developed, prepared, and taught a curriculum of language arts (including poetry), math, science, and music activities to preschoolers. Beach Area Day Care, San Diego.