I have always been fascinated with the natural overlaps and intersections that occur between different forms of artistic expression, and I believe that all kinds of creative vision inform and nourish other kinds, so I was delighted when my friend, artist Young Hee Sung (Laird Art Gallery) invited me to be the judge for the poetry component of the new exhibition she’s curating, ART MEETS WORD.
My own writing, from poems to stories to novels to screenplays, has been (and continues to be) inspired and influenced by the ideas and feelings expressed by other artists, from painters and sculptors, to choreographers and dancers, to composers and songwriters and singers and musicians, to directors, actors, filmmakers, stage artists, and beyond. Our absorption of, and our emotional and intellectual reactions to, the creations of other people, are among the most important aspects of our collective humanity.
It was a great honour and privilege to experience the diversity of artistic talent in this exhibition, and narrowing down all of the submitted poems to three finalists (and a handful of honourable mentions – I couldn’t help myself!) was extremely difficult. There were many more excellent poems than I could recognize within the context of a judged competition.
And so, ultimately, what matters most is this:
Absorb. Interact. Converse. Relate. Explore.
See. Hear. Listen.
And then, add your own vision to the mosaic. Add your own voice to the chorus. Add your own words to the story.
And we will all move forward together.
Hope to see you at the exhibition! In the meantime, you can check out the artists involved, and their artworks and corresponding poems, here: https://ekphra.com/art-meets-word.php
