BOOK FEATURES ‘HERE/NOT HERE’ EXHIBIT

‘Here/Not Here: Art and Poetry of Place’ is available in paperback and hardback editions.

Salisbury University Art Galleries has published a book celebrating its exhibit “Here/Not Here,” which was on display July 17 through Oct. 17. The show included works by 18 artists including Michael Amato, Lani Seikaly, Eve Hennessa, and Marcia Wolfson Ray.

     In addition, poets were invited to write and submit ekphrastic poems inspired by the art. Pictures of artwork from the exhibit and ten of the poems are included in the book “Here Not Here: Art and Poetry of Place,” which is available in paperback and hardback editions.

     A virtual poetry reading moderated by Salisbury Poet Laureate Nancy Mitchell was held Oct. 15. Among the featured poets, Susan Donoghue read “Brittle Bones,” inspired by Stephen Borko’s digital photograph Family Plot. Matt Hohner read “Rumbley Maryland,” inspired by Jonathan Nepini’s oil on canvas Hooper’s Island. And Paula Lambert read “Abandon,” inspired by Wil Scott’s digital photo Abandoned Farmhouse. I read my poem “Book,” inspired by Richard Paul Weiblinger’s archival digital print Old Book with Butterfly 1434.

     Other featured poets include Lennart Lundh, Joan Drescher Cooper, Tara A. Elliott, Mary McCoy, K. Serenity and Gail Peck. Other artists include Petra Bernstein, Michel Demanche, Camila Franco Ribeiro Gomide, Richard Hall, Pat Lang, Mehves Lelic, George Lorio, Lake Roberson Newton, Peter VanderPoel and Scott J. Whitman.

     Although the exhibit has ended, books are available for purchase in the SUAG online store at:

https://my-site-101612-102435.square.site/product/here-not-here-art-and-poetry-of-place/7?cs=true

FINDING INSPIRATION IN THE PAINTING OF A PINK TOILET

Finalists in the Crossroads Ekphrastic Poetry/Flash Fiction contest sponsored by the Eastern Shore Writers Association include, from left, Caroline Kalfas, Beth Dulin, and Pat Valdata, finalists; Kari Ann Ebert, winner; Carl Goldhagen, artist; and Tina Raye Dayton-Ludwick, honorable mention.

     Mixing artwork and writing makes for a great venue of creativity.

     The Eastern Shore Writers Association recently sponsored “The Crossroads Ekphrastic Poetry and Flash Writing Contest” in conjunction with an exhibit of artwork by painter and sculptor Carl Goldhagen.  

     Writers were invited to visit the artist’s exhibit “The Long View: Selected Works 1970s to Present” on display at the Salisbury University Art Galleries Downtown and use inspiration from the collection to write poetry or flash fiction.

     Browsing through the various paintings and selecting one to write about was like choosing a book to read from the shelves of a library. Many of Goldhagen’s works caught my attention, including “On the Move,” which depicts a small house on wheels rolling over an object in the road; “Two Right Hands,” featuring fingers and thumbs in the same direction working upon a manual typewriter; and “Supper in the Little House,” which gives an under-the-table view of a couple sitting almost knee to knee. All the paintings were vibrant and interesting with much to consider. But “The Facility,” featuring a distorted image of a pink toilet, captured my attention the most.

     Using the painting as inspiration, I wrote the flash fiction piece “Splash of Pink,” which began with a pink toilet left on a deceased woman’s front lawn and followed with her granddaughter’s subsequent attempts to deal with the loss of her grandmother.

     As a finalist, I had the honor of reading my piece and listening to the poetry of four other honorees with Goldhagen’s animated artwork as a backdrop. The poets included Beth Dulin and Pat Valdata, finalists; Kari Ann Ebert, winner; and Tina Raye Dayton-Ludwick, honorable mention.

     The paintings “Cooking” and “What’ll It Be” fueled some of the featured poetry. Goldhagen, his family, and Salisbury’s Poet Laureate Nancy Mitchell were among the audience members. Mitchell judged the event. Light refreshments were served.

     The exhibit and the winning poem remain on display through Aug. 24. I encourage people to see the paintings first-hand, especially writers who may be inspired to create their own ekphrastic poetry or fiction.

–cawk