Posts Tagged ‘poetry’
“The Shape of a Man”
Art exhibit and chapbook release
Mad Art Gallery2727 So. 12th St., St. Louis
7-11 p.m. January 6, 2012 New work by Amy VanDonsel
Poetry chapbook by Chris King Poetry performance with musical guests
Additional art by:
Oscar Alvarez, Kevin Belford,
the late Hunter Brumfield, Ron Buechele,
Jon Cournoyer, Dr. Andrew Dykeman,
Fred Friction, Matt Fuller,
Robert Goetz, Chris King,
Noah Kirby, B.J. Vogt.
Potluck provided by men who cook.
Also, one exemplary man – Hap Phillips – will be exhibited.
Amy VanDonsel and Chris King collaborate on and co-curate a small group show, the first in a projected annual exhibit series exploring the shapes that men and women are in.
“The Shape of a Man” opens Friday, January 6, 2012, at Mad Art Gallery, 2727 So. 12th Street, with a reception from 7-11 p.m. “The Shape of a Man,” explores the shapes men are in through a creative conversation between a woman and a man working in a variety of media (with help from their man friends, living and dead).
Amy VanDonsel will show new mixed media, paintings and installation, and Chris King will release a chapbook, The Shape of a Man, and perform poems from it with Fred Friction, Roy Gokenbach and Josh Weinstein.
The exhibit also will feature visual art by Oscar Alvarez, Kevin Belford, the late Hunter Brumfield, Ron Buechele, Jon Cournoyer, Dr. Andrew Dykeman, Fred Friction, Matt Fuller, Robert Goetz, Chris King, Noah Kirby and B.J. Vogt. A potluck will be provided by the men artists and other men who cook. Also, one exemplary man – one Hap Phillips – will be exhibited in his natural, fabricated habitat.
Amy VanDonsel creates mixed media paintings on canvas or panels and installations with paper, tape, string and found items. Her work examines textual communication and the processing of information through abstracted and figurative imagery, and combines research interests in literature and technology with handmade visual representations. She is the Director of Marketing and Development for Saint Louis City Open Studio and Gallery; plans arts and charitable events; and serves on the board of directors for non-profit Poetry Scores.
Chris King has been recasting his old, bad poems into the 7/11 form innovated by Quincy Troupe, alternating lines with 7 and 11 syllables and alternating stanzas with 7 and 11 lines, with results he likes enough to publish. The Shape of a Man (Intagliata Imprints) compiles his more manly 7/11s. As an “artist,” he sketches people and then has the subject sign the sketch, or makes paintings on vinyl records based on his sketchbook. He will perform his poetry with musical guests through Noah Kirby’s sculpture With Solid Stance and Stable Sound.
VanDonsel and King have previously collaborated on projects for the non-profits Poetry Scores and Saint Louis City Open Studio and Gallery. They also happen to share a birthday. VanDonsel/King plan to continue the “Shape of a Wo/Man” project with a follow-up exhibit, “The Shape of a Woman,” in January 2013 at Mad Art Gallery, then continue the themed project with future group collaborations.
What: Visual Art Exhibit Opening and Chapbook Release, with accompanying performances
When: Friday, January 6, 2012, 7-11 p.m.
Where: Mad Art Gallery, 2727 S. 12th Street, St. Louis, MO 63118
Who: Presented by Amy VanDonsel and Chris King, also featuring Oscar Alvarez, Kevin Belford, the late Hunter Brumfield III, Ron Buechele, Jon Cournoyer, Dr. Andrew Dykeman, Fred Friction, Matt Fuller, Robert Goetz, Roy Gokenbach, Chris King, Noah Kirby, Hap Phillips, B.J. Vogt and Josh Weinstein.
Cost: Free and open to the public with cash bar
CONTACT:
Amy VanDonselavd@amyvandonsel.com
(314) 265-7836
www.amyvandonsel.com Chris King
brodog@hotmail.com
314-265-1435
www.confluencecity.blogspot.com Mad Art Gallery
2727 S. 12th Street
St. Louis, MO 63118
Phone 314.771.8230
info@madart.com
www.madart.com
On Consistency
Video Caption: I like this experimental film inspired by the Harlem Shakes song “Sunlight.” “I had a coat of many colors, sold it off online.”
“The other terror that scares us from self-trust is our consistency; a reverence for our past act or word, because the eyes of others have no other data for computing our orbit than our past acts, and we are loath to disappoint them.
But why should you keep your head over your shoulder? Why drag about this corpse of your memory, lest you contradict somewhat you have stated in this or that public place? Suppose you should contradict yourself; what then? It seems to be a rule of wisdom never to rely on your memory alone, scarcely even in acts of pure memory, but to bring the past for judgment into the thousand-eyed present, and live ever in a new day. In your metaphysics you have denied personality to the Deity: yet when the devout motions of the soul come, yield to them heart and life, though they should clothe God with shape and color. Leave your theory, as Joseph his coat in the hand of the harlot, and flee.
A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines. With consistency a great soul has simply nothing to do. He may as well concern himself with his shadow on the wall. Speak what you think now in hard words, and to-morrow speak what to-morrow thinks in hard words again, though it contradict every thing you said to-day. — ‘Ah, so you shall be sure to be misunderstood.’ — Is it so bad, then, to be misunderstood?”
- Emerson, Self-Reliance (full text here)
“He’s always operated
on the notion that what’s outside makes or breaks a person
in this world. What’s inside may be an entirely different story,
and even that one changes a little every time it’s told.”
That’s from the “Jack Ruby’s America,” by David Clewell, current poet laureate for the state of Missouri. I’ve read it several times because it’s the selection for this year’s Poetry Scores Art Invitational. And it’s stunning, and with teeth. Those lines aren’t what I chose to title my piece, but they were certainly in the running.
You can read more about Poetry Scores and the art invitational via their blog. The event this year is November 12 at Mad Art Gallery. I think I always rather have a soft spot for it because it marks my birthday?
