Last evening’s Echoes & Shadows Poet-Artist Collaboration was well attended, dynamic, and thought-provoking.
To get the full effect (images of art, poems, and artist statements) the best option is to use this link (scroll down a bit!). This will give you the feeling of an exclusive tour of the gallery show. Of course, if you are nearby, you can come in and see the show for yourself, which is the best way to view the art.
My photos really don’t do justice to the event, but I am including a few just to give you a feeling of the energy of the gathering. Some artists were also poets, and some artists took on more than one poem to interpret. For poets and artists alike, both beginning and long-time practioners were represented, and all the work was well executed. All told, I believe more than 60 people attended this lively event.
Emcees and participating poets D.E. Green and Becky BolingArtist Darla DeLong, describing her work, “Different Views,” inspired by the poem, “Seat Assignment,” by Heather Candels“Different Views” by Darla DeLongArtist Patsy Dew, describing her work, “Last September,” inspired by the poem of the same name by Craig EvensonPoet Sharol Nau in the gallery next to her poem, “Winter Thoughts,” with art by Charlie SkinnerArtist and FiftyNorth Program Coordinator Michelle Brant in the gallery, with her piece titled “Muscle Memory,” inspired the poem of the same name by Pamela Thompson“Destination,” by Christine Otis-Skinner, inspired by Susan Jaret McKinstry’s poem of the same nameMarie Gehry, who helped to organize the event, participated as both poet and visual artist, and also read for poets and artists who could not be presentPat Jorstad’s multi-layered art work, “Hope for Peace,” with cranes made by Paula Gargarry, based on my poem, “A Gesture of Peace”Me, reading “A Gesture of Peace” beside the image of Pat Jorstad’s canvas
Thank you, FiftyNorth, for creating a much-needed occasion for exuberant sharing of words and images this spring!
A special event is being held tomorrow from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at FiftyNorth, located at 1651 Jefferson Parkway. You can have a preview if you follow the above link and scroll down.
This year, inspired by the long-running Poet-Artist Collaboration (begun in Zumbrota, Minnesota, and now transplanted to Red Wing, Minnesota), FiftyNorth Program Coordinator Michelle Loken took the idea and gave it a local twist.
At the beginning of the new year, local poets were invited to submit poems, and then the sumbitted poems were selected by local visual artists who were drawn to create an art work inspired by their selected poem. One of my poems, “A Gesture of Peace,” was chosen by an artist I haven’t yet met, Pat Jorstad. I am looking forward to the Artists Reception in the Gallery, starting at 4:00 p.m., to reading my poem in Room 103 (Reading starts around 4:30 p.m.), to seeing and hearing the work of all these other artists, and to seeing some old friends and meeting a few new people.
As for my own inspiration to write the poem? The life and work of my friend, Kaz, who is currently in Japan on his own version of a vacation: first spending six days to walk the entire circuit of Shodo Island (120 miles; 88 temples) while praying for world peace; then traveling to the Noto Pennisula to help, through his skill as a doctor of acupuncture, those affected by the devastating earthquake that struck there on New Year’s Day.
One of Kaz’s Mobiles Hung from a Cactus SpineKazuhiko WataseDawn on Shodo Island (Photo: Kaz Watase)Shodo Shrine (Photo: Kaz Watase)Middle of the Journey (Photo: Kaz Watase)Daisies on Shodo Island (Photo: Kaz Watase)End of Journey (120 miles walk in six days) (Photo: Kaz Watase)Kazuhiko Watas]
I greatly appreciated being able to follow Kaz’s progress on this journey through his texts, photos, and video clips. Thank you, Kaz, for your inspiring presence, and for your permission to share these stories and images!
