WHAT IS EXPROSÉ?

Exprosé will be a space for poets and writers to commune with featured guests and witness these artists peel the layers of metaphors and similes away from their pieces. The title comes from a combination of exposé and prose.

This showcase also includes the opportunity for attendees to write draft pieces inspired by what they heard, with the option to share their work at the mic in front of their peers. The three prompts given, inspired by lines from the showcase, are each slated to have 10 minutes of writing time available. There are no limitations on the number of pieces written in this period as long as attendees use this time to write. At the end of the writing section, the host will read one of the pieces they wrote during that time and encourage those comfortable with public speaking to do the same.

By the end of this series, my only hope is that someone has a poem they’re excited they wrote, a featured poet’s confidence in their work increases and the connections between Mississauga’s local poetry community are both created anew and reinforced to be stronger than before.

FEATURED POETS

MAY 13 – VIRTUAL LAUNCH!

Nathan Nicholas is a 28-year-old spoken word artist and songwriter from Mississauga, Ontario. He has performed throughout the province in cities like Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Windsor, Vaughan, and more. While bringing his own style of storytelling to stages like PrideTO, Manifesto, and 1234, just to name a few. His goal is to share his journey of self-love and the lack thereof through his art, and he has no plans on stopping.

MAY 27

Lisa Shen is a writer and spoken word artist, and the 2023-2025 Youth Poet Laureate of the City of Mississauga. Her work centers on feminism and gender-based violence, with secondary focuses on Chinese-Canadianism, disability, and queer identity. Lisa is the winner of the 2021 Mississauga Poetry Slam, the 2022 Ink Movement Slam, and the May 2020 Open Drawer Poetry Contest. She is the Director of Sauga Poetry, Mississauga’s hub for spoken word events. She was awarded the 2022 Buddies Queer Emerging Artists Award, and is dedicated to uplifting poetry across the Greater Toronto Area.

JUNE 24

Ramon Carty is a Jamaican-Canadian Poet from Ajax. As the founder of 6ixPoetsSociety, he focuses on event curation and inspiring people to scrape away the silence lodged in their throats and put it to paper. Ramon curates weekly virtual writing workshops and open mics.

JULY 22

Judith Shaw is a poet who welcomes art however it arrives. She is the author of the children’s book “My Grandmother Said Art Is Everywhere.” Judith enjoys sharing her art with others and finds a satisfying beauty in other artists’ creativity.

INFORMATION FOR ATTENDEES

ADMISSION

All collected funds will be donated to the Mississauga Food Bank at the end of the series. Due to the nature of what is shared within these workshops, the suggested age group is 19+.

REQUIRED MATERIALS

Bring your favourite notebook & pen, your phone, or just yourself and materials will be provided. Please bring a refillable water bottle if you can.

PARKING

Free parking is included on-site.

REFRESHMENTS

Flow water & snacks to be provided personally by the host. Alcohol is prohibited.

CODE OF CONDUCT

In all spaces I host, I ensure the following rules are set:

• There will be zero tolerance of harassment or discrimination against others because of their race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, cultural background, religious affiliation, age, or physical or mental ability.
• We will always allow others space to speak, listen, and be heard.
• We understand that the personal stories shared here are not to be shared outside of the room, unless we’ve seeked and received permission to share other’s stories.
• Maintain respect and gentleness when giving feedback, ensuring permission is granted before giving feedback that isn’t 100% positive.