Jan Napier
CREATIVE CONNECTIONS: ART MEETS POETRY
"Six strawberries set sail," is the opening line of poet Peter Rondell's response to the artwork by Darren Towie. This delightfully whimsical painting, along with fifty-seven of its fellows, was displayed at the Creative Connections exhibition held at Perth Town Hall in Perth, Australia, from August 29th to September 12th 2014.
Outside the glass doors, the day may have been chill and grey, but inside was all warmth and brightness. Canvases writ in bold splashy hues, yellow, reds, blues, and oranges predominating, welcomed visitors, and redirected their attention from the humdrum and mundane, to the realms of fun and fantasy.
Creative Connections is a partnership between the local literary community, and the various disability services. It occurred as a result of a conversation between a disability worker, and the mother of a differently-abled child, Maureen Sexton. Sexton is a member of WA Poets Inc, (www.wapoets.net.au) and one of the main co-ordinators of the 2005 Spring Poetry Festival.
Stylistically, the artworks in the exhibition were wide-ranging. Numerous genres and forms are represented. They range from the naïve, and primitive, as seen in Paul Wright's appropriately titled "Colours",
Acrylic on canvas
60 x 55x
Ink print
43 x 54
Particularly impressive are Clinton Carter's technically-oriented monochrome images.
Ink print
57 x 47
Many canvases have a surreal quality, as typified by Michael Sinclair's untitled piece.
Acryllic on canvas
25 x 20
With its torn page presentation and the dark, somewhat menacing quality of the painting, the observers are constrained only by the limits of their own vision.
Mention must be made too of Ric Sullivan's fascinating collage of metallic elements.
Mixed Media on board
52 x 50
It is, as poet Kevin Gillam writes, reminiscent of:
the day
awaiting assembly.
The calibre of works exhibited was surprisingly high. Traditional techniques are beyond the physical limitations of most participants, and the end results not deliberately sought. Artists sometimes used mirrors to see their canvas, or apply pigments with mouths, or feet. A number used novel methods such as water balloons filled with paint. This striving towards statement by individuals with severe disabilities was aided by dedicated staff, carers, and family members, who assist in transferring intentions to canvas.
Gary De Piazzi, a poet, and co-coordinator of Creative Connections, collects all the artworks, then takes on the additional role of photographer as he commits the images to digital format. Subsequently, Val Neubecker, another poet and committee member, distributes the prints to random poets. The writes have a standing invitation to meet the artists at their various places of residence. Happily, some of the WAPI scribes do take the opportunity to acquaint themselves with their artistic counterparts. Otherwise, contributors come together at the exhibition launch, or during the exhibition.
Some of Perth's most notable poets have embraced this initiative. Poems prompted by the paintings, vary from Tineke Van der Eecken's lyrical
Universe
back stroke in coal water
spray aqua bubbles around
moons of mercury
written to Janelle McMahon's untitled entry, to the quirky, and humorous.
Acrylic on paper
38 x 30
Their contribution greatly aids in furthering the artists'; voice, and easing access to the wider community.
My own experience with Creative Connections began in 2008. A fellow poet, and close friend, Sue Clennell, informed me of the upcoming exhibition. My initial reaction was that this was a great way to help a mostly unheard, sub societal group to initiate a dialogue within the civic arena.
When I agreed to donate some poetry, my name was forwarded to the organisers. They then sent a random selection of images with which to work. Potted biographies of the artists, highlighting their hobbies, are included in the package. Poets are encouraged to pen stanzas centred on one or more of the interests so expressed.
Occasionally, a painter will title his or her piece, and then a direction is available to the writer. This happened with Chris Reynold"s picture "Fireworks," the first of three artworks selected for me in 2014.
Fireworks
acrylic on leather
68 x 79
All I had to do was follow the lead given me.
Fireworks
At Apogee
Skyrockets crack
Stars fizz like pop bottles
Gold red green
Flower into fountains.
We watch a river
Soften their fall
Quench their fire.
The second piece was Owen Nylander"s untitled acrylic on wood. It is presented in triptych format, and offset by a handsome black surround. Amongst the data relating to this artwork, was the fact that Owen was very proud of the frame. He picked it out himself. At the time, I had been studying the very clear division of short stories into beginnings, middles, and ends. The strands of colour, and trio of settings, gelled with my reading, and a small free form verse was born.
See strands of a story
Split into beginnings
Middles ends.
Ideas and inspirations
Are neatly outlined
In black and white.
My ultimate poem was written to Jeff Loh"s bright and breezy work.
acrylic on paper
52 x 52
Those two very apposite words just popped into my head when I first saw the painting. An element of fun seemed to be indicated, and the more I looked at it, the more I thought of a line of washing unpegged by a mischievous wind.
The wind has stolen my washing!
Taken off with Mary"s knickers
splatted Rob"s jeans into a puddle
unpegged mum"s petticoats
spread sheets and towels
all over the lawn and left
one lonely sock
just hanging.
What a dirty trick!
Over the last seven years, I have been pleasantly, and consistently surprised by the high standard of the individual pieces displayed. I expect to remain excited, and amazed, by the raw talent shown by the participating artists for the duration of my association with Creative Connections.
Creative Connections was inaugurated in 2007. The number of contributors has grown each year. In its inaugural year, twenty six artists took part, and seventeen poets. This year fifty-three artists, were involved, with forty-four poets donating their services.