Interests
After couple of years of extensive performing/touring around the world, and following the release of his newest poetry collection "Allowed and Aloud", Gus has found his home and creative space at Te Henga Studios, Arts and Healing Centre in-making at Bethells Beach, Auckland.
He is a poet and performance artist, educator, publisher, and a producer of contemporary cross-disciplinary performances with a strong spoken word component. Organiser and promoter of poetry events. Apart from his two poetry collections, his work has been published in magazines and anthologies, locally and internationally. In 2010 he created a spoken word show “iWas” and in 2011 released 15 track poetry/music collaboration CD. He created and performed collaborative multimedia stage shows: “Lovers Walk”(Edinburgh Fringe 2011), “Insomnia in a Daydream”(Auckland Fringe 2012), “Aotearoa Found in Translation” (Matariki Festival 2013). Gus is creator of a popular “Page2Stage” – Artist Development Programme, involving up-and-coming artists and high school students. He is a Poetry Slam winner, workshop leader and in some previous incarnations in this lifetime he was also known as: viticulturist, key accounts manager, laborer, traveler, bookstore manager, stay home dad, pie maker and a photographer.
Gus is an Auckland coordinator for NZ Poetry Society, his prime aim is to help create modern and dynamic poetry organisation that will effectively support and promote poetry and poets, and bring poetry/spoken word to the widest possible audiences. He is a founding trustee for Poetry/Spoken Word Art Trust NZ and, also, a driving force behind "Printable Reality" project. Printable Reality is an unlimited company for exploration and implementation of poetic ideas. In past couple of years, under the motto “Experience Poetry Differently” Printable Reality has initiated, supported and organised a large number of spoken word events ( “inVOICE and music”,”Spread the Word”... ), projects (“The First Page”, “Poems4Peace”, “Page2Stage”, “We Society 2015”, “Slant 2015”, “VOW 2015”...), workshops and produced number of stage shows. www.printablereality.com
In 2010 Gus was awarded Auckland Regional Art Trust ArtVenture Award for creative entrepreneurs, and in 2014 Miles Hughes Award for innovation, involvement and perseverance in the current writing and publishing climate.
Gus is also a Yoga teacher, massage, reflexology and Reiki therapist. He combines his passion for art and dedication to wellbeing in running Yoga and Creativity workshops and retreats.
gus@printablereality.com
www.printablereality.com/gussimonovic
“Gus uses the language joyously, playing with repetition in a semi-hypnotic way to reinforce his enthusiasm. As an immigrant, Gus brings an observer's eye to life in New Zealand, and his poetic voice is distinctive in its slightly off-key English. Added to his unique grasp of metaphor, his voice is a pleasure to read and listen and deserves to be disseminated widely.” Laurice Gilbert, NZPS President
“Gus's poems have strength, depth and clarity and reveal fine workmanship. An invitation for deeper contemplation invites the reader to go back and re-read his pieces and discover layers of meaning. Gus delights in wordplay and creates thrumming images of bridges and skies, waking and dreaming. His love of poetry is infectious and his understanding of poetry's evocative power is an inspiration. I can't wait to hear/read more of his poems.”Anita Arlov, Creator, Inside.Out spoken word events
Personal Description
Printable Reality is all about connecting people - through poetry: raising profile of poetry/ spoken word performance, supporting and promoting poets and artists, encouraging collaboration, creating new, exciting poetic experiences using music, visuals, dance, film, theatre ...
Printable Reality is an unlimited company for exploration and implementation of poetic ideas. In past couple of years, under the motto “Experience Poetry Differently” Printable Reality has initiated, supported and organised a large number of spoken word events ( “inVOICE and music”,”Spread the Word”... ), projects (“The First Page”, “Poems4Peace”, “Page2Stage”, “We Society 2015”, “Slant 2015”, “VOW 2015”...), workshops and produced number of stage shows.
www.printablereality.com
