Ivy Alvarez
Encyclopedia
Ivy Alvarez is an award-winning Filipino Australian poet, editor, and reviewer currently residing in Wales. A prolific writer, Alvarez has had her work featured in various publications in Australia, Canada, England, the Philippines, Ireland, Russia, Scotland, Wales, the USA, South Africa, and online.
, Australia. While reading English at the University of Tasmania
, she was published in various literary journals and anthologies, and subsequently became the reviews editor of Cordite Poetry Review, an Australian online poetry journal. In 2000, she won the Great Age Melbourne Writers Festival
Poetry Slam.
She moved to Aberdeen
in 2002 and lived in Dublin between 2003 and 2004. In 2004, she was awarded a bursary from the Scottish Arvon Foundation
and became the Special Poetry Guest to Dublin’s Trinity College
/Florida International University
poetry summer program. She moved to Cardiff
in 2004. During the same year, her poem "earth", which first appeared in the anthology Moorilla Mosaic: Contemporary Tasmanian Writing, was included in the Australian/Pacific Region Literacy Placement Test for Scholarships. Alvarez was awarded fellowships from MacDowell Colony
(New Hampshire, USA) and Hawthornden Castle
(Scotland) in 2005.
In 2006, she edited A Slice of Cherry Pie, a chapbook
anthology
inspired by David Lynch
's TV show, Twin Peaks
. That same year, she received a grant from Wales Arts International which enabled her to travel to Sydney and participate in The Red Room Company
’s "The Poetry Picture Show".
Her first poetry collection, Mortal, was released in 2006 by US publisher Red Morning Press. Craig Santos Perez, writing for Boxcar Poetry Review, called it "an incredible first collection" whose "casual tone, visceral imagery, and surprising figurative language keeps the reader engaged throughout."
In late 2006, Alvarez received The Australia Council Literature Board grant for poetry. She was invited on a writing residency by Fundación Valparaíso
in Spain for April 2008.
As a performer of her work, she has been Artiste-in-Residence for Australia's SBS
radio and TV network. Her poetry has been featured on the audio compilations FlightPaths, Going Down Swinging and You Have Been Chosen.
Having been a guest at numerous writing festivals, including the National Young Writers' Festival
in Newcastle, New South Wales
, Alvarez was recently writer-in-residence at the Booranga Writers Centre at Charles Sturt University
in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales
. In addition to poetry, she also writes plays, articles, and reviews. Alvarez was awarded funding for her second poetry manuscript from both the Australia Council
and the Welsh Academy.
Biography
Alvarez was born in the Philippines and grew up in TasmaniaTasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
, Australia. While reading English at the University of Tasmania
University of Tasmania
The University of Tasmania is a medium-sized public Australian university based in Tasmania, Australia. Officially founded on 1 January 1890, it was the fourth university to be established in nineteenth-century Australia...
, she was published in various literary journals and anthologies, and subsequently became the reviews editor of Cordite Poetry Review, an Australian online poetry journal. In 2000, she won the Great Age Melbourne Writers Festival
Melbourne Writers Festival
The Melbourne Writers Festival is an annual literary festival held in the Australian city of Melbourne.- History :The festival was founded in 1986 as a joint initiative between the Melbourne International Festival of the Arts and the City of Melbourne...
Poetry Slam.
She moved to Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
in 2002 and lived in Dublin between 2003 and 2004. In 2004, she was awarded a bursary from the Scottish Arvon Foundation
Arvon Foundation
The Arvon Foundation is a charitable organisation in the United Kingdom which promotes creative writing. It is based in the Free Word Centre for literature, literacy and free expression in London.-History:...
and became the Special Poetry Guest to Dublin’s Trinity College
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
/Florida International University
Florida International University
Florida International University is an American public research university in metropolitan Miami, Florida, in the United States, with its main campus in University Park...
poetry summer program. She moved to Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
in 2004. During the same year, her poem "earth", which first appeared in the anthology Moorilla Mosaic: Contemporary Tasmanian Writing, was included in the Australian/Pacific Region Literacy Placement Test for Scholarships. Alvarez was awarded fellowships from MacDowell Colony
MacDowell Colony
The MacDowell Colony is an art colony in Peterborough, New Hampshire, U.S.A., founded in 1907 by Marian MacDowell, pianist and wife of composer Edward MacDowell. She established the institution and its endowment chiefly with donated funds...
(New Hampshire, USA) and Hawthornden Castle
Hawthornden Castle
Hawthornden Castle is located on the River North Esk in Midlothian, Scotland. The castle lies a mile to the east of Roslin at grid reference , and is just downstream from Roslin Castle. Hawthornden comprises a 15th century ruin, with a 17th century L-plan house attached. The house has been restored...
(Scotland) in 2005.
In 2006, she edited A Slice of Cherry Pie, a chapbook
Chapbook
A chapbook is a pocket-sized booklet. The term chap-book was formalized by bibliophiles of the 19th century, as a variety of ephemera , popular or folk literature. It includes many kinds of printed material such as pamphlets, political and religious tracts, nursery rhymes, poetry, folk tales,...
anthology
Anthology
An anthology is a collection of literary works chosen by the compiler. It may be a collection of poems, short stories, plays, songs, or excerpts...
inspired by David Lynch
David Lynch
David Keith Lynch is an American filmmaker, television director, visual artist, musician and occasional actor. Known for his surrealist films, he has developed his own unique cinematic style, which has been dubbed "Lynchian", and which is characterized by its dream imagery and meticulous sound...
's TV show, Twin Peaks
Twin Peaks
Twin Peaks is an American television serial drama created by David Lynch and Mark Frost. The series follows the investigation headed by FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper , of the murder of a popular teenager and homecoming queen, Laura Palmer...
. That same year, she received a grant from Wales Arts International which enabled her to travel to Sydney and participate in The Red Room Company
The Red Room Company
The Red Room Company is a non-profit organisation based in Sydney, Australia. Its aim is to "create, promote and distribute poetry by new and emerging Australian writers to the public in unusual ways." It was established by Johanna Featherstone in 2002, emerging from the Red Room Radio Show, which...
’s "The Poetry Picture Show".
Her first poetry collection, Mortal, was released in 2006 by US publisher Red Morning Press. Craig Santos Perez, writing for Boxcar Poetry Review, called it "an incredible first collection" whose "casual tone, visceral imagery, and surprising figurative language keeps the reader engaged throughout."
In late 2006, Alvarez received The Australia Council Literature Board grant for poetry. She was invited on a writing residency by Fundación Valparaíso
Fundación Valparaíso
Fundación Valparaíso is an international arts residency organization located on the Mediterranean coast of Andalucia, Spain, in the old Moorish hilltown of Mojacar....
in Spain for April 2008.
As a performer of her work, she has been Artiste-in-Residence for Australia's SBS
Special Broadcasting Service
The Special Broadcasting Service is a hybrid-funded Australian public broadcasting radio and television network. The stated purpose of SBS is "to provide multilingual and multicultural radio and television services that inform, educate and entertain all Australians and, in doing so, reflect...
radio and TV network. Her poetry has been featured on the audio compilations FlightPaths, Going Down Swinging and You Have Been Chosen.
Having been a guest at numerous writing festivals, including the National Young Writers' Festival
National Young Writers' Festival
The National Young Writers' Festival occurs annually in the city of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, over the New South Wales' Labour Day Holiday Weekend in late September/early October...
in Newcastle, New South Wales
Newcastle, New South Wales
The Newcastle metropolitan area is the second most populated area in the Australian state of New South Wales and includes most of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Local Government Areas...
, Alvarez was recently writer-in-residence at the Booranga Writers Centre at Charles Sturt University
Charles Sturt University
Charles Sturt University is an Australian multi-campus university located in New South Wales, Victoria, and the Australian Capital Territory. It has campuses at Bathurst, Canberra, Albury-Wodonga, Dubbo, Goulburn, Orange, Wagga Wagga and Burlington, Ontario...
in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
. In addition to poetry, she also writes plays, articles, and reviews. Alvarez was awarded funding for her second poetry manuscript from both the Australia Council
Australia Council
The Australia Council, informally known as the Australia Council for the Arts, is the official arts council or arts funding body of the Government of Australia.-Function:...
and the Welsh Academy.
Poetry collections
- Food for Humans (Melbourne: Slow Joe Crow Press, 2002)
- catalogue: life as tableware (Wales: The Private Press, 2004)
- What’s wrong (Wales: The Private Press, 2004)
- Mortal (Washington, DC: Red Morning Press, 2006)
Edited volumes
- A Slice of Cherry Pie (The Private Press / Half Empty/Half Full, 2006)
- We Don’t Stop Here (The Private Press, 2008)
Anthology contributions
- Moorilla Mosaic (Bumble-bee Press, 2001)
- Father Poems (Anvil Publishing, 2004)
- The First Hay(na)ku Anthology (Meritage Press / xPress(ed), 2005)
- OBAN 06 (NZ Electronic Poetry Centre, 2006)
- NaPoWriMo (Big Game Books, 2006)
- From the Garden of the Gods (Sun Rising Press, 2006)
- The Musculature of Small Birds (Shadowbox Press, 2007)
- Brilliant Coroners (Phoenicia Publishing imprint, 2007)
- The Sex Mook: What is Our Sex? (Vignette Press, 2007)
- Letters to the World: Women Poets Anthology (Red Hen Press, 2008)
- The 2008 Anthology of Younger Poets (Outside Voices, 2008)
- The Best Australian Poems 2009 (Black Inc., 2009)
- Red Leaves / 紅葉Red Leaves / 紅葉Red Leaves / 紅葉 is an English-language and Japanese bi-lingual literary magazine.-Description:Based out of Melbourne, Australia and Tokyo, Japan, Red Leaves / 紅葉 is edited by writers Kirk Marshall and Yasuhiro Horiuchi, and designed by Liberty Browne. The inaugural issue was translated by Sunny...
#001 (A Cowboy Named Molasses Publishing, 2010)
External links
- Official website
- Ivy Alvarez (two prose poems), Mascara Literary Review, 10 October 2011