JC Sulzenko, Canadian Poet & Author

About JC

JC Sulzenko’s award-winning poetry appears in anthologies and journals in print and online either under her own name or her pen name, A. Garnett Weiss.

Bricolage: A Gathering of Centos (Aeolus House), her second book of poetry, was named a finalist for the Canadian Authors Association’s 2022 national Fred Kerner Award. Her centos had won the 2023 and 2019 Wind & Water Contests (County Arts.) Point Petre Publishing issued her debut collection of narrative and lyric poetry, South Shore Suite…POEMS, in 2017.

A full member of the League of Canadian Poets, JC serves on the Board of the Ontario Poetry Society.  JC writes poetry on commission and creates impromptu poems as fundraisers for charitable causes. She welcomes opportunities to introduce her work to community groups.

What’s New

  • Heliconian Club Luminous–a Photography Show October 4 includes JC Sulzenko poems

    JC delights in the opportunity to participate in this show of exceptional work by photographers who are members of the Heliconian Club in Toronto.

    “I welcome the chance to write ekphrastic poetry, poems inspired by other forms of artistic expression. I feel honoured that my poems are part of this show. Its opening reception includes two sets of performances, readings, and artist commentary on Saturday afternoon, October 4. I will read in both the 2:15PM and 3:15PM programs.”

    Attendance is free. 

    Here’s the poster for the event:

  • Karole Marois Exhibition opened at the Royal Annex, Picton, Ontario, September 6

    JC is delighted to participate in this exhibition of evocative paintings by Prince Edward County visual artist Karole Marois. The show began with a reception from 2:00 to 6:00 PM on Saturday, September 6. The exhibition of her work runs until September 28 in the Barlow Room of the Royal Annex, 6 Ross Street in Picton, Ontario.

    “I embraced this opportunity to contribute two poems to Karole’s show on the theme: “The Power of Water,” which showcases her unique vision of this element essential to life and to spirit,” JC announced. “I thank her for the honour of displaying my work alongside her memorable canvasses.”

    Here’s a link to Chris Fanning’s review in the Picton Gazette:
    https://pictongazette.ca/post/ekphrasis-on-ross-street

    Here’s a link to the artist’s site: https://karolem.com

  • THIRD THURSDAY READING SERIES FEATURED JC SULZENKO IN COBOURG ON JULY 17

    “I was delighted to appear on Thursday, July 17 with my most recent poetry collections, written under my pen name A. Garnett Weiss. Poems from Life after Life—from epitaph to epilogue took centre stage during my presentation. I also read from Bricolage, A Gathering of Centos, which was one of five finalists for the 2022 national Fred Kerner Book Award from the Canadian Authors Association, “ JC revealed.

    “I was honoured to read at this fine series. I hope I was able to convince those in attendance that found poetry is ‘no second-class citizen’ but rather worthy of their attention.”

    “While in town, I visited the site in a glorious lake-side park where my poem “Chrysalis” ‘ is among nature poems etched into a tabletop’s wood as part of the Picnic Table Anthology project. POETCHRY is a first for me!” 

    JC thanked poetry convenor James Pickersgill for inviting her to Cobourg and Kate Rogers who curated the poetry for the nature table.

  • ADJUDICATING ARTS GRANTS: A NEW EXPERIENCE FOR JC 

    Here’s a link to the announcement of funds granted to arts organizations after an adjudication process under the auspices of the County Foundation in which JC participated.

    https://www.countylive.ca/local-arts-organizations-share-60k-in-grants/

    “I have not been involved in a such process before, whereby grants are awarded by assessing the relative strengths and merits of proposals against criteria which governed the selection.

    I was very pleased to have the opportunity to meet with other adjudicators and consider many worthy projects which exceeded in amounts requested the funding available from the inaugural year for the Arts Fund. Given that Prince Edward County has one of the highest concentration of writers, artists and artisans in all of Ontario, every investment the municipality makes in the cultural sector generates not only more creativity but also brings economic and other benefits to the region,” JC noted.