Vannessa Barnier
Here is a photo of my desk in early spring, pre-bloom, tidied up.
What do you feel is your best piece of work?
DOG YAWN does exactly what I want it to do, but I have received the most attention for THERAPIST EARRING. That being said, I think “kick aside the snot rag” is the best sounding line I’ve ever written.
What music have you been listening to lately?
I’m always a bit all over the place with genre, but there’s always something on. Spring Has Been A Long Time Coming by Eric Chenaux is now back in rotation for obvious reasons and there’s something about Goodbye Stranger by Supertramp that really gets me out of bed lately. Other notables currently in heavy rotation: Ex-Factor by Lauryn Hill, Forever & Ever by Prince Innocence, A Hit by Smog, I Can’t Wait by Nu Shooz, Don’t Think by Eliza Niemi, Keep The Fire Burning by Gwen McCrae, Runnin’ With The Devil by Van Halen.
What’s in your fridge right now?
Wine and radishes and yogurt and tofu. Lots of sauces, cheeses, jams, syrup, horseradish and a cup of scallions in water that I should probably throw away.
Who is the last character you related to and why?
Unfortunately, I think about this a lot so I have to list a few: George in Seinfeld, Caden in Synecdoche, New York, Loretta in Moonstruck, Nandor in What We Do in the Shadows, and Gob in Arrested Development.
Have you ever failed at something you care about?
Yes and it is the thing I care about most. I am constantly failing at communicating with other people and reading them and being read by them and all I want in this world is to understand and be understood by my friends.
What was the last gift you received?
My dear friend, Mubashir, most recently gifted me a beautiful bowl to hold my incense cones.
Favourite photo you’ve taken?
A few come to mind: mostly of people in my life, out of my life. I’m someone who documents a lot in film, so it’s hard to pick just one when I have been lucky to capture so much. Always thinking of that Nan Goldin quote, “I used to think that I could never lose anyone if I photographed them enough. In fact, my pictures show me how much I've lost.”
Best season?
Summer! I’m a solstice baby.
What is your least favourite household chore?
Pulling hair out of the shower drain.
Best outfit?
I feel like I really ping-pong between styles depending on how I am feeling gender-wise, so when I consider it now, the answer doesn’t feel so static or definite. I did love wearing my plum-wine coloured suit to Fawn & Andre’s wedding, but that gets so easily overshadowed by anytime I wear my loose, hard cotton, front pocket’d Arthur Russell shirt.
Do you like to write in the morning or at night?
I used to write at night exclusively, but now it’s sort of all the time and the best stuff seems to come in the morning. There’s control in the process now that I didn’t have then and I benefit from it.
What was your first rejection?
It may not be my first-first, but I remember I had sent in writing for a project around 2014 and got rejected and took it very hard. I have since had my work accepted by the same person for their new project which is a real thrill.
Latest book you’ve read or favourite book ever?
The latest book I’ve read is Dad Says He Saw You At The Mall by Ken Sparling. My favourite book changes based on where I’m at – in life, in my head, in general. That being said, I always eagerly return to Diane Williams, Donald Barthelme and Garielle Lutz.
Anything you’d like to promote?
This summer I will be running poetry readings in the park again. Those event announcements will be posted here: https://www.facebook.com/litoronto or my instagram: @visceral.visuals
Vannessa Barnier is a poet, collaborator, facilitator, instigator, publicist and community organizer. Vannessa facilitates writing workshops, hosts the open mic series, Legible Intelligibles, and is the author of SAMPLE PLATTER (Gap Riot Press, 2021).
