Collaborators’ Q&A: Why did this piece of art resonate for you or seem like it would give you an avenue into writing about Typhoon Haiyan? Poet Matthew Caretti: Empathy. Humans are hard-wired to respond when we see others in distress. I connected immediately with the man in Cheryl’s drawing—the anguish of his posture, the troubled prayers of his hands.
Artist Cheryl Gross has an MFA in New Forms from Pratt. Poet Matthew Caretti is influenced in equal parts by his study of German language and literature, by his Zen training in the East, and by the approach of the Beat writers.
NOTE: Inspired by Carrier’s Addresses and a deep commitment to public art, the HYIR is a special feature that debuted at Broadsided in 2010. Four artists created work in response to an event that, for them, dominated a season of the past year. We placed an open call for submissions of haiku that did the same. The art and the poems selected as finalists were posted online, and we asked you to vote on the winning combinations.
Writer Matthew Caretti currently teaches English and directs the Writing Center at a college preparatory school in Pennsylvania. Artist Løchlann Jain is a professional anthropologist. Writer Sarah Martinez-Helfman has lived in four countries and considers herself a world citizen; her simple mission in life is to leave the world better than she found it—especially for vulnerable children. Writer Renee Lacroix is an ever-hopeful poet living in the Buffalo, NY area. Artist Cheryl Gross has an MFA in New Forms from Pratt. Writer Cynthia Gallaher, a Chicago-based poet and writer, is author of three full poetry collections, two chapbooks, and has been a writing workshop leader for more than 15 years. Artist Sarah Van Sanden lives in Seattle, where she takes every opportunity to relish in urban nature.
