Nine poets, nine artists

(L-R) Writer Brian Flack, artist Alice Mennacher and poet JC Sulzenko at South Bay. Mennacher and Sulzenko are co-curators of the Ekphrasis project. Flack co-ordinated the production of the chapbook.

What can happen when words meet images

What happens when you put a poet together with artist? What kinetic spark or conflagration might result? These were some of the questions posed by the creators of Blizzmax’s lastest show entitled Ekphrasis, opening in July at the South Bay gallery.

Poet JC Sulzenko had seen the successful merging of poetry and art done elsewhere. She wanted to know what might emerge in the rich creative context of Prince Edward County of a similar mixing of talents, interests and pursuits. She knew many writers in this community, and sought out Alice Mennacher to work with her on the project—to help identify visual artists willing to immerse themselves into this experimental project.

There was no shortage of folks willing to participate. Sulzenko and Mennacher had already decided to limit the project to nine artists and nine poets. So they began creating lists. Matching artist to poet—poet to artist. Surprisingly, given their different backgrounds and experience in the County and beyond, their lists looked similar.

At this point, it is necessary to explain how the project worked. Much of the organization described above happened last September. From their respective lists, Mennacher and Sulzenko began to match artist to poet. They did this guided only by their own sensibilities— there was no discussion with the participating artists and poets. The result was an arranged marriage of sorts.

When they were done, they had nine pairings of poet and artist. Then came the interesting bit.

Each artist was presented with an original poem from which to craft a new original visual work. The poets in turn were presented with an original artworks including mixed media, sculpture and photography, and tasked to create a poem. Each was free to interpret the assignment in their own way. But each new work was to be inspired, driven and motivated by the work of the other in this constructed creative partnership.

They had two months to create.

Poet and writer Brian Flack had Rhonda Nolan’s painting called Walking home from Allen’s sitting in his studio for much of the two months. Perched on the wall opposite his desk, it became part of his routine to sit and consider the work—often walking away and coming back to see it as something else, or notice a detail he had previously overlooked.

Eventually a contemplation of the bleak late-night wintry streetscape emerged. He calls the poem Leaving Allen’s Past Closing Time.

The entire show comprises 36 works—18 works of art and 18 corresponding poems. Half are inspired, half are inspiration. Each will be on display at Blizzmax from July 2 to 24.

Complementing the gallery show, a chapbook has been created, composed of full-colour reproductions of the work—art on one page, poem on the facing page. It will serve as a lasting document of this unique and collaborative experiment in County art.

Visit blizzmax.com for a list of participating artists and poets.