NICHOL b. p. (Barry)
Born 1943 in Vancouver British Columbia.
This versatile writer began as a concrete poet which gave him an international audience and reputation. From there he branched out into other forms of poetry, novels, nonfiction. He won the Governor General’s Award for poetry in 1970 for his book comic chef. He joined fellow poets Rafael Barreto-Rivera, Paul Dutton and Steve McCaffery to form the group The Four Horsemen which produced to 33rpm discs of sound poetry. I have added some of his other works below.
As can be seen in the graphic stories below, he became involved with the alternative cartoonists of the 1970’s and 1980’s, including Tony Meers, Tom Nesbitt, Franc Reyes, Paul Rivoche who were grouped around Ron Van Leeuwen’s Andromeda Publications Ltd.
In 1988, he was with Mark Askwith co-consultant on the film Comic Book Confidential and co-designer the promotional booklet.
WORK:
ADAPTOR:
PERIODICAL GRAPHIC ANTHOLOGY:
Content story:
Andromeda, 2-3, Sept. 1978: “Exile of Aeons.” Writ., Arthur C. Clarke. Illus., Paul Rivoche..
Andromeda, 2-4, Dec. 1978: “The Narrow Land.” Writ., Jack Vance. Illus., Tom Nesbitt..
Andromeda, 2-5, June 1979. “The Big Hunger.” Writ., Walter M. Miller. Illus., Tony Meers. Let., Paul McCusker: 2-26.
WRITER:
PERIODICAL GRAPHIC ANTHOLOGY:
Content:
Story:
Andromeda, 2-5, June 1979: “The Bellergon Version.” Illus., Tom Nesbitt.
Story background:
Arik Khan, 1-3, June 1979: “Tales of Phagbilau.” Illus., Franc Reyes. 17-33. The land where the “Arik Khan” story is set.
BOOK TEXT:
Content :
Prose:
Two Novels. Coach House Press. 1969.
Poetry:
ABC The Aleph Beth Book. Oberon Press. 1971
The comic chef: an evening of concrete. Oberon Press. 1970.
The Martyrology Book I. Coach House Press. 1972.
The Martyrology Book II. Coach House Press. 1972.
Once: A Lillaby. Black Moss Press. September 1983.
To The End Of The Block. Black Moss Press. September 1984.
DISC AUDIO 33RPM:
Content poetry sound:
Canadada, Four Horsemen. Griffin House, 88760 036 0. No date.
Live In The West: Four Horsemen. Starborne Productions, STB 0177. No date.
SOURCE
Book:
Aka bpNichol. Writ., frank davet. ECW Press, 2012.
Article book:
Comic Book Confidential. 1988: 1 & inside front & back covers
The Oxford Companion to Canadian Literature. Oxford University Press, 1983: “Nichol, bp.” Writ.,
Frank Davey: 560-561.