Eclectic artist bill bissett brings his famously animated performance poetry to Duncan on Friday to complement his 35-piece art show that’s been hung here since September.

The soft-spoken creator and former ‘60s political agitator aims to act out poems from his fresh book sublingual in the Cowichan Valley Arts Centre.

“A poem is a container,” he told the News Leader Pictorial, explaining his use of phonetically written English without capital letters.

“Phonetics gives an added nuance to reading.

Bissett, 69, noted poet e.e. cummings as an early mentor.

“English was originally pictographic. Now I find correct spelling almost impossible to do; it’s fascinating about habits.”

Halifax native Bissett began writing poetry in around 1962, gaining fame for his unconventionally droll style.

He also became known for his lively, expressionistic paintings reminiscent of child-like styles of Picasso or perhaps Van Gogh.

After uncompleted studies at Dalhousie University and UBC, bissett moved to Vancouver in 1958.

Five years later he started the blew ointment magazine and later launched blewointment press.

His 45 years as a writer and publisher earned bissett the 2007 George Woodcock Lifetime Achievement Award for outstanding contributions to B.C. literature.

Bissett’s uses visual elements in his printed poetry, while his performance poetry involves what he called concrete sound — sound effects such as rattles, chanting, and barefoot dancing.

“I write political poetry, visual poetry, narrative poetry, erotic poetry, spiritual poetry and fusion poetry,” he said. “I’ve written lots of unrequited love poetry but I’m sick of it.”

But notables aren’t sick of reading it.

“bill bissett is a one-man culture ... he is a lesson to us all,” said writer James Reaney.

“bill bissett is my astral twin,” claimed Margaret Atwood.

“bissett’s the greatest living poet today,” the late beat author Jack Kerouac once told the Paris Review.

“I don’t know where Kerouac read my work but it meant a lot to me that he liked it,” said bissett.

So did many other writers.

In 2006, Nightwood Editions published radiant danse uv being, a poetic tribute to bissett with contributions from more than 80 writers including Atwood, Leonard Cohen, and Lorna Crozier.

“I’m almost used to being well-known,” bissett said modestly.

Still, he views himself as both a poet and painter.

“It’s mostly about following heart, mind, soul and body,” he said, citing Norval Morrisseau as perhaps his favourite painter.

Bissett — singer for the former rock band The Luddites — advised young poets and painters to “never get discouraged unless it helps you.”

The nomadic artist — who has always bounced between homes on the coast and in Ontario — pursues his work while struggling with various medical conditions including hepatitis C.

He painted those 35 paintings for the Cowichan Valley Arts Council’s extended show while taking treatments in Toronto for the disease.

But bissett might be called an optimistic realist.

“I’m not shaped by my illness,” he said. “I just feel lucky to be here and doing stuff.”

Your ticket:

What: Performance poetry by bill bissett

When: Nov. 13, 4 to 8 p.m., reading at 7 p.m.

Where: Cowichan Valley Arts Centre, 2-139 Station St., Duncan

Tickets: Free. Call 250-746-1633.