“November”
Collaborators’ Q&A
What made you think of Broadsided for this poem?
Poet Jennifer Franklin: Broadsides are among my favorite art forms so I try to follow all the presses that are interested in printing them. You have published so many poets I admire.
What inspires you in this poem? What drew you to it?
Artist Cheryl Gross: I liked the description of the doll heads and the fact that the store will soon be out of business. Gave me a dose of reality.
Describe your dream “Vectorization”—where, in your wildest dreams, would you most like to see this broadside posted in the world?
Artist Cheryl Gross: Berlin and Death Valley.
Poet Jennifer Franklin: In Providence, particularly on the Brown campus where part of this poem takes place. Outside as many hospitals and theatres as possible. My friend is traveling to Greece this summer. Maybe he will post one there.
What did you think an artist would pick up on from your poem? Did the visual artist refract any element of the poem that made you see the poem differently?
Poet Jennifer Franklin: I guessed that doctor’s offices, the field, and/or the doll heads might show up in the artwork. I loved the juxtaposition of the first image of the broken TV with the last image of the doll heads piled in the glass vase.
Have you ever written work that has been inspired by visual art? What was that experience like for you? Why were you inspired to do so?
Poet Jennifer Franklin: Yes; about a third of my poems are ekphrastic. It’s the kind of poetry I have written the longest and is closest to my heart.
If this broadside were a type of weather, what would it be?
Artist Cheryl Gross: Late fall, cold but not too cold.
Poet Jennifer Franklin: Definitely fall—a crisp November day on the east coast.
Read any good books lately?
Artist Cheryl Gross: Reading it now… The Resurrectionist by E.B. Hudspeth.
Poet Jennifer Franklin: Kontemporary Amerikan Poetry by John Murillo, Descent by Lauren Russell, and frank: sonnets by Diane Seuss.
Seen any good art lately?
Artist Cheryl Gross: Julie Mehretu at the Whitney. The popup show June 4th at NOW Project Space, Jersey City.
Poet Jennifer Franklin: Lucy Raven’s Ready Mix at Dia Chelsea, and Alex Da Corte’s Big Bird Installation on the roof garden of the Met.
