Collaborators’ Q&A This poem was chosen in response to Jennifer Bevill’s artwork, “Undersea”—can you talk about the experience of finding words that were in conversation with the image? What leapt out first from the art? A particular image? A mood? A line? Poet Sheila Kelly: What leapt out first was the gridwork which read as a kind of wire cage; it felt scary and threatening. The filigreed vine motif captivated me, too, because it had …
Collaborators’ Q&A This poem was chosen in response to Jennifer Bevill’s artwork, “Undersea”—can you talk about the experience of finding words that were in conversation with the image? What leapt out first from the art? A particular image? A mood? A line? Poet Maureen Seaton: When I first approached Jennifer Bevill’s assemblage, I fully intended to write something new. I love responding to visual art and I was looking forward to the exercise and the …
Why this poem? An answer by artist Jenny Bevill: Not surprisingly with Dickinson, it’s a sad story. My mom died in May after a short but intense and completely unexpected battle with cancer. I’d been trying to write thank you notes to all the people who helped us out during her illness but I just hadn’t been able to do it. I was overwhelmed with not knowing how to express my feelings. Then I read …
Collaborators’ Q&A What did you think an artist would pick up on from your poem? Poet Benjamin Grossberg: “Wandering” is a list of objects, and objects transformed. I expected the artist to pick up on that, and I think she did—transforming a map/letter into a rocket ship. She applies my simile to a new object. What inspires you in this poem? Artist Jennifer Bevill: Ever since the original “Star Wars” movie came out and I saw it …