Elizabeth Kerlikowske, whose writing and perspective on poetry I deeply respect and admire, asked me to write an ekphrastic poem for the Equinox exhibit opening at Ninth Wave Studio in Kalamazoo, MI. I consider myself someone who doesn't know much about art, and I didn't want to take on this task because I didn't want to fail at it. I told myself that this is the exact kind of thing I should say yes to, even though I would have been much more comfortable claiming that I was "too busy" to write for the project. In my typical nail-biting, sweaty, and heart-racing fashion I wrote, edited, begged my teacher and peers for their input, and finally submitted my work: a poem called "Siren Song."
I went to the studio to record my reading of the poem in front of the art that inspired it (Equanimity by Courtney S. Nelson) and I met Linda Rzoska, the artist who owns the studio and curated the Equinox exhibit, along with contributing her own artwork to it.
After we recorded, Linda gave me a tour of the exhibit, the gallery, and her studio. I may not know anything about artistic techniques, mediums, or art history, but I now know how it feels to stand in front of a piece of art, wishing I could crawl inside every work that Linda created so that I could sit by the root systems in the shadow of those trees. I have never given myself much opportunity to experience awe in front of artwork, and I've certainly never felt the pull of a work of art like I did in front of Linda's trees.
Thankfully, I have learned to respond to my intermittent anxiety with trust that it is, in some cases, pointing me in the right direction, reminding me to show up with curiosity about what might be waiting when I say yes.
Take a moment to view Linda's work at www.lindarzoskaart.com and the Virtual gallery of the Equinox exhibit with its art and ekphrastic poetry here: https://www.nwsvirtualgallery.com/copy-of-current-exhibition
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