by Kyra Harris
Kyra started out on the slam scene as an angry poet whose voice was the manifestation of her survival. After competing nationally at the Canadian Festival of Spoken Word in 2009, touring in a two-woman spoken word show (The Queens of Inappropriate), writing and presenting academic theory about the politics of representation in slam and co-directing the London Poetry Slam, Kyra has emerged a stronger, more hopeful young poet. Her awkward and endearing stage presence is always undercut by an honesty that speaks of the strife that has inspired her to find light in spite of darkness.
Kyra has also directed her artistic talents towards her community. Over the past five years, Kyra has worked with the pediatric gastroenterology clinic at the Children’s Hospital of Western Ontario to author and illustrate seven medically-minded comic and children’s books about childhood diseases and disorders. In 2008, after noticing a lack of artistic programming for marginalized individuals in the community, she spearheaded an expressive arts program for women who are or are at risk for homelessness through a local transitional support centre. Over the last two years, Kyra has organized and curated two art shows featuring the visual art and written word of marginalized women in the community. She is currently working to complete her degree in Women’s Studies and Health Sciences at The University of Western Ontario.