A revered poet, painter and musician, bill bissett is a pre-eminent figure of the 1960s counterculture movement in Canada. His poetry collections, which combine sound and visual elements with printed works, are acclaimed for breaking down artificial barriers between the arts. He is also the esteemed co-founder of the Secret Handshake Gallery in Toronto’s Kensington Market, Canada’s first and only peer-support facility for people with schizophrenia.
On PennSound's bill bissett author page you'll find a fascinating assortment of recordings that span the breadth of bissett's career as well as depth of his talents. The most recent recordings include a brief home recording from 2021 and his set from a 2012 launch reading celebration of a new edition of his germinal collection, Rush: what fuckan theory; a study uv language. The earliest is a remarkable relic from 1967: an appearance by bissett and bpNichol on the CBC television program Extension, hosted by Phyllis Webb, during which they perform together and separately, and discuss their work and the contemporary Canadian poetry scene. In between, you'll find readings at the Bowery Poetry Club, the St. Mark's Poetry Project, and the Kootenay School of Writing, along with a 1978 radio appearance and the 1968 album Selections from Awake In The Red Desert. Click here to start exploring.
