Monday, June 25, 2018

Kourtney Rabinowitz's "Chrysalis" after Alix Hitchcock

Kourtney Rabinowitz photographed at the Art of Poetry Catawba Valley event on June 9, 2018. She reads in front of the Alix Hitchcock piece that inspired her work at Caldwell Arts Council in Lenoir, NC.



CHRYSALIS
By Kourtney Rabinowitz
after Evolving Moves by Alix Hitchcock

Her thoughts tumble and twist
Insisting she reach toward them
She resists folding away

Persisting they entangle her
Twisting their vines around her arms
Wrapping around her legs.

She is cocooned
Hoping she is actually a butterfly.

Monday, June 18, 2018

Steve Downing's "All Dressed Up" after Sharon McCullough



Steve Downing reads his poem inspired by Sharon McCullough's whimsical sculpture at the Art of Poetry Catawba Valley event on June 9, 2018 in Lenoir. Many thanks to Caldwell Arts Council and Executive Director, Lindsay Barrick, for inviting us to tour the wonderful exhibits through ekphrastic poetry.


ALL DRESSED UP
by Steve Downing
after sculpture All Dressed Up by Sharon McCullough 

Hoop Skirts, Farthingale, Panniers, Crinoline.
Whatever the name,
An Elegant Ensemble 
For the dress up game

Ready for a night out:
A Damsel so fair
With lipstick, polished nails, 
Perfume and coiffured hair

Champagne and Cocktails?
Dinner and a Dance?
Orchestral Concert? 
A night of Romance?

Reminiscent of Tara and Miss Scarlet
Cotillion? Debutante Ball?
Perhaps In Charleston
At Boone Hall

Ah yes! Hoop Skirts…
Southern Charm with Southern Style



Tuesday, June 5, 2018

Carly Schwartz's "Kites" after Owen-Murakami and Van Ameyden


Carly Schwartz shares her poem inspired by the Kites installation of Michigan artists, Ginger Owen-Murakami and Vickie Van Ameyden on Saturday, June 9, 2018 at Caldwell Arts Council in Lenoir, NC. It was the first foray of the newly formed Art of Poetry Catawba Valley. 15 poets participated in the event.  Subscribe and stay posted for our next tour melding poetry with art.

KITES
by Carly Schwartz
after Ginger Owen-Murakami and Vickie Van Ameyden

Gentle entanglements of
delicately strewn
spider-like string
respites on a smooth
reflective surface

Spectral shadows revealed
cast by translucent kites
strung with chaotic care

Captured snapshots suspended
between ceiling and floor
between white and black
between life and death

Each silken strand
connecting lives connecting 
generations of memories
held onto by a singular child
whose entity is absent

Pronounced by her little
pristine white dress 
delicately stitched 
by loving hands
whereupon
dreams were dashed 

A youthful departure
preordained to endure
among ephemeral
moments where
Her kite soars

Many thanks to Lindsay Barrick and the Caldwell Arts Council for hosting us. Thankful for all who came!

Melissa Hager's "Love Is" after Sarah Jayne Kennedy

LOVE IS...  by Melissa Hager after Two of Us by Sarah Jayne Kennedy Drawing a line in the sand to judge who's i...