The Thing With Feathers

Poetry and Art come together

Like birds of a feather, students, staff, and community members flocked together for “The Thing With Feathers” gallery reception that was held in the South Santiam Hall Gallery on Wednesday, April 6 at noon.

This is the sixth annual Ekphrasis Exhibition celebrating Poetry month, and it continues until April 28.

In the SSH gallery there are 10 featured local artists and 14 poems from students on campus and from the LBCC Poetry Club.

Before stimulating the minds of attendees, the artists and poets were asked to stand near their work. It made for a brief impactful moment watching each person flutter to their positions in the gallery.

Ceph Poklemba started the poetry reading off with his poem titled “Cresting.” He wrote “Cresting” because ospreys are one of his favorite birds. He strayed from his norms of poetry and explored something different with this poem and was inspired with the imagery around the Willamette River.

“It was something simple that I wanted to write as I don't write structured or classically styled poetry often, and had a lot of fun playing around with that and off-rhyme schemes as well,” said Poklemba

One poet, Emily Joliff got creative with her presentation for her poem titled “Birds For Thought.” She fell in love with birds during her time in Robin Havenicks class; this is where she decided to make poems into birds.

“There's a meditation technique when you’re trying to clear your mind, but are struggling with still thinking about a lot of things, you can make your mind a blue sky, and then every thought you have into a bird flying slowly across your sky, and out of the picture, so that you can finally have a peaceful and rested mind,” said Joliff.

Joliff created a bird nest and origami birds from poems and put them on display. She likes to think of words as birds, because they are free and inspiring.

“My reflections cut into folding strips of paper, so that they could be read, but still look like individual little pieces of sticks or draw like a real nest; it was sort of the idea that the finished poems were sitting on their original ideas and thoughts, that the poems sort of "hatched" out of my mind and grew into beautiful things,” said Joliff.

Local artist Kerry Bliss has two photographs on display in the SSH gallery. The story she shared behind the photographs was remarkable and heartbreaking at the same time. The two photographs are called “Crow Funeral I” and “Crow Funeral II.” She described seeing a crow funeral and her experience that day and in that moment. Bliss left the room speechless.

The gallery reception concluded and attendees dispersed. Each artist and poet put together a wonderful collaboration that manifested, “The Thing With Feathers.”

Word Mob

The "Word Mob" was part of National Poetry Month. It was a showcase of poetry from several different poets, including myself. The poetry was filled with deep thought and emotions. I didn't only hear the words, but I felt them too. 

On April 25, 2014 English instructor Jed Wyman reads some of his poetry at the Benton "Word Mob." 

Audience listens on while Conor McCoy plays his guitar at the beginning of the show at the Benton Center.  

Poet Laureate Kiera Lynn skims through her poetry book searching for poems to share at the Benton Center.

 

"Word Mob" at the Benton Center, Linn-Benton

Poet Laureate, Kiera Lynn and musician for the "Word Mob" event, Conor McCoy greet guests and fellow poets while they walk in at the Benton Center. 

Crash and Kiera Lynn show excitement before "Word Mob" begins.

English instructor at the Benton Center, Kasey Johnson reads her poetry to the audience. 

English instructor Jed Wyman reads his poetry to the audience at the Benton Center for the "Word Mob."

Kent Elliott reads his poetry to the audience and glances up to gaze into my camera lens for a quick shot. 

Poetry Reading with Darrell Alejandro Holnes

During Darrell Alejandro Holnes' poetry reading I could feel the emotions. Being a gay male he had struggles that came through in his poetry.

Holnes included musical pieces throughout his poetry reading.

The reading wasn't just a reading, it was a full in-depth understanding of Holnes as a person.

Holnes said, "Sex, love, and death are the three topics written about in poetry."

After his poetry reading Holnes was so kind to answer any questions the audience had.

A few audience members had the chance to photograph Holnes. I was one of the lucky ones to actually take a couple photograph's with Holnes. That was a moment I won't forget.

Photograph's:

Darrell Alejandro Holnes
Photograph by Melissa Jeffers
(Overall)

Darrell Alejandro Holnes
Photograph by Melissa Jeffers
(Medium) 

Tim Black and Darrell Alejandro Holnes
Photograph by Melissa Jeffers
(Close)

Tim Black and Darrell Alejandro Holnes
Photograph by Melissa Jeffers 

Ekphrasis II Exhibit at Linn-Benton

Van Gogh said, "I dream my painting and then I paint my dream."

Rosalie Lingo 

Rosalie Lingo is a 20-year-old student, earning her Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer degree, and she plans to transfer to Oregon State University to get a degree in Graphic Design and/or Applied Visual Arts. 

Lingo said, "I've always been driven to paint, draw, and create art." 

It took her about eighteen months to create this piece. Each of her pieces has anywhere from six to 20 hours of work put into it. Lingo is currently creating a drawing for her art class with Analee Fuentes. She is also creating a new painting for the Student Show. 

Lingo said, "I don't see myself ever not making art...I just can't go long without my sketchbook."

Lingo said, "I don't know where the impulse comes from."

Rosalie Lingo -- My Night Student Smokes on the Break 

To celebrate National Poetry Month, Linn-Benton students and staff are having an exhibit featuring 27 paintings in a variety of media along with the poems that inspired all the artwork. The poetry and art will be on display until May 2.  

SSH Gallery -- Ekphrasis II Exhibit

The SSH gallery is open Monday through Friday from 8-5 pm. There is no charge to view the artwork. However, the artwork is not free. The art on display varies in price. If you would like to get your hands on a piece of art contact the secretary in the SSH, or the NSH building.

On April 15 from 3-4 p.m. a reception and book release was held in the gallery. Poets read from their work, and were available to sign copies of the exhibit catalog.

The theme for the gallery is a response to a poem written by a member of the Linn-Benton poetry club, in commemoration of National Poetry Month. Inspiration for the poems came from the book Ekphrasis.

"Love. It's a tired word, let's change it to passion fruit," New Poem by Dari Lawrie

Kiera Lynn, Linn-Benton's student Poet Laureate, writes: “The art of Ekphrasis is the process of using grand description and rhetoric to represent a work of art. In the case of this project, the poems were created first, leaving the artist to render a visual interpretation from the words upon the page. A picture may be worth a thousand words--but how many pictures are the words worth?”

Caitlin Little is a 19-year-old art major student with the goal of becoming a tattoo artist. Little said, "I was inspired by the poem, words, and the details that the author used." It took her roughly five hours to complete Cold and Lonely In the Street. Little said, "I don't ever plan on not making art." Little is currently creating a piece for the Student Art Exhibit starting April 24. 

"They say I'm too tall to be an astronaut. But I'll keep growing taller and reach the galaxy on my own," Dear Dreamer Part II by Crash. 

All but one artist is a student. Most of the students art was created in Dori Litzer's drawing class; last term.

Litzer created the piece called Apple Picking, and the poetry was created by Robin Havenick, the poetry club adviser.

Kiera Lynn mentions a few of her favorite poems included in the gallery: Chris Riseley's For Artists Who Think It Is Cool To Destroy Books, Karelia Stetz-Waters My Night Student Smokes on the Break, and Josh Lowe's Cold and Lonely In the Street. Lynn said, "None of these three poems are anything like each other, but they all have something that really hooks me." 

Henry David Thoreau said, "This world is but a canvas to our imagination." 

Caitlin Little -- Cold and Lonely In the Street 

Apple Picking --  Artwork was created by Dori Litzer and was inspired by Robin Havenick's poetry.

Cesar Jensen -- New Poem

Claire Denning -- Dear Dreamer 

At a glance box:

Exhibit Coordinator: Rich Bergeman

What: Ekphrasis II Exhibit

Where: SSH Gallery 6500 Pacific Blvd. SW Albany, Oregon 97321

Reception: Tuesday April 15, 2014 from 3-4 p.m.

Phone: 541-917-4247

Email: bergemr@linnbenton.edu

Introducing Mother Daughter Poet Laureates

Attention all poetry buff's, Valley Writers Series hosts poets laureate. Introducing the mother daughter duo, Ruth Krueger and Amy Earls. Come one, come all, and be intrigued with words.

Student poets laureate Ruth Krueger and Amy Earls shared their poetry at the Benton Center on February 12, 2014, and the reading began at 7:30 pm. The reading was held in Natalie Daley’s classroom BC-244. The Valley Writers series was free and open to the public and was sponsored by the English Department.

Krueger was named the fourth poet laureate in 2011 after following her daughter’s footsteps. When asked what inspires you, Krueger said, “Life and nature are one in the same.” Krueger said, "Mary Oliver as her favorite poet." A few poems that were read by Krueger were: "Sailing", "Pretending", and "Slipping." Krueger's poems were about her loss of loved ones. Each poem was filled with emotion and passion. She took the audience on a journey through her eyes.

Krueger was an active member of the poetry club here on campus. The poetry club was created in 2008 by Robin Havenick. Poetry club is a relaxed environment to continue learning skills and learning from others. During the poetry club meetings people take turns reading, praising the poet, and expressing feelings the were evoked from the readings. During the reading, Krueger read from a book called, "Ekphrasis." It had many poems in it, including pictures. Each poem was an inspiration for her own poetry.

Earls, became second poet laureate at Linn Benton Community College in 2009. When asked what inspires you, Earls said, “Nature and having a deep appreciation for music” inspires her poetry. Like her mother, Earls said, "Mary Oliver is my favorite poet." Poems that were read by Earls were: "Prayers to Grass", "Floating Down Rivers", and "Swings." Earls poems were about her own experiences and how she remembered them. Earls poem "Swings" was a reflection of most children's childhoods. You could feel the chains from the swing in your grasp. She took us to that swing set that day with her sister. During Earls reading, she shared her memoir which remains unnamed and referred to as roman number one.

The reading at the Benton Center was Krueger and Earls first reading together. Nevertheless their poetry flowed nicely together. Their poetry expressed loss and love, sadness and triumph. A student from Linn Benton Community College who attended the reading was Rebecca Chandler. Chandler said, “I enjoy poetry because it is beautiful.”

Robin Havenick, Jeff Davis, Jane White, Natalie Daley, Daley's ENG106 class, Earls' husband and daughter Haven attended this special mother daughter reading. Each poem received a great appreciation from the audience. It felt like the poems were alive and we we're along for the ride. The mother daughter duo took turns reading. One poet would read a poem or two and then the other would do that same. It kept the audience engaged. The poets stood behind a music book stand with a  bouquet of flowers to the right.

What is poetry? It is literary work in which special intensity is given to the expressions and ideas by the use of distinctive style and rhythm. The next time you don't have the right words, think about your feelings. Poetry is an outlet for those scattered thoughts in ones mind. Share them in poetic way.

At the end of the readings there was a loud roar of applause for Krueger and Earls. Both poets shared amazing pieces. After the readings questions were asked and answered. Then one final round of applause and the reading was over.

At a glance box:

Who: Ruth Krueger and Amy Earls

What: LBCC Valley Writers Series

Where: Benton Center Room BC-244, 757 NW Polk Ave. Corvallis OR

When: February 12, 2014

Contact: Jane White, ddjane@peak.org

Phone: 541-917-4577