The Marriage of Poetic Words and Images at Angst Gallery April 2013

Toni Partington and I would like to thank everyone who participated in or supported The Marriage of Poetic Words and Images, our first art show as curators. We are especially grateful to Angst Gallery Director Leah Jackson for entrusting the space to us for National Poetry Month. We encourage the community to send any photos they may have taken of the event so that we can add them to this page or the Facebook photo album:https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.4790349569206.1073741826.1609878790&type=3 . In addition, if any of the writers whose work is featured in the show would like for us to post their pieces here, please send them to christopherjluna@gmail.com.

Marriage 38 gallery

 The Marriage of Poetic Words and Images at Angst Gallery

Marriage 2Work by Olinka Broadfoot, Jolyn Wolfe, Toni Partington, Jim Martin, and DaBat

Marriage 1Work by Olinka Broadfoot, Jolyn Wolfe, Toni Partington, Jim Martin, and DaBat

Marriage 6Work by Olinka Broadfoot, Jolyn Wolfe, Toni Partington, and Jim Martin

Marriage 7 Work by Jolyn Wolfe, Toni Partington, and Jim Martin

Here is the announcement for the show:

The Marriage of Poetic Words and Images

April 5-30 2013

Angst Gallery, Vancouver, WA

1015 Main Street

Curated by Christopher Luna and Toni Partington

Sponsored by Leah Jackson and Printed Matter Vancouver

Opening Reception: 5-9 pm April 5, Angst Gallery

Poetry Reading: 6pm April 27, Niche Wine and Art Bar

Many creative people work in more than one medium. The Marriage of Poetic Words and Images aims to present the unique impact of language and image when melded together in visual art. This will take the form of photographs, painting, sculpture, and mixed media. Some of the work will be inspired by poetry, while other pieces will be visual art that includes text. The show will also include poetry that is presented in a particularly visual way, or is inspired by art. While many of the pieces in the show are the result of collaborations between artists and writers, many of our contributors will be utilizing both language and visual art. The majority of the artists live in Vancouver; however, we will also feature work from artists and writers from Yakima, WA and Portland, OR.  

The show will also feature two poetry readings: throughout the evening of First Friday’s opening reception on April 5, and at Niche Wine and Art Bar (1013 Main Street) on Saturday, April 27. The reading on April 27 will also feature live music and a Q&A with the artists and writers.

The artists and writers who are featured in this show include: Anni Becker, Greg Bee, Olinka Broadfoot, April Bullard, DaBat, Erin Dengerink, Eileen Davis Elliott, John Furniss, Jeremy Gaulke, Leah Jackson, Kelly Keigwin, Christopher Luna, Jim Martin, Toni Partington, Jenney Pauer, Michael Smith, Michele Venclik, and Jolyn Wolfe.

Poets Christopher Luna and Toni Partington are the co-hosts of the popular Ghost Town Poetry Open Mic and co-founders of Printed Matter Vancouver, a local small press and editing service. Their visual art has appeared in Angst Gallery, North Bank Artists Gallery, Gallery 360, Art in the Heart, Multnomah Arts Center, and the Vancouver Community Library.

Visual artist Leah Jackson is the owner of Angst Gallery and Niche Wine and Art Bar.

Marriage 8 Jim MartinWork by Jim Martin

Marriage 5 DaBatWork by DaBat

Marriage 4 Kelly and JenneyArt by Kelly Keigwin, text by Jenney Pauer

Marriage 37 DaBat and KellyWork by DaBat, Kelly Keigwin and Jenney Pauer

Here is our curator’s statement, which was posted in the gallery:

We are very fortunate to be a part of Vancouver’s growing, vibrant arts community. One of the qualities we have noticed about this particular community is that many people work in more than one medium. The Marriage of Poetic Words and Images aims to convey the unique impact that language and image have when presented together in visual art.

The show includes photographs, painting, sculpture, and mixed media. Some of the work is inspired by poetry, while other pieces are visual art that incorporates text in some way. Some pieces feature poetry that is presented in a particularly visual way, or is inspired by art. While many of the pieces in the show are the result of collaborations between artists and writers, many of our contributors utilize both text and visual art.

The essence of combining poetic language with visual image is meant to challenge the brain of the viewer/reader. The brain processes language and visual images differently. The work in this show asks you to integrate the two and by doing so, make them come alive. It is our intentional to provide you with an opportunity that allows you to experience the work emotionally and cognitively at nearly the same time.

The majority of the artists who have contributed to this show live in Vancouver, WA; however, the show also features work from artists and writers from Yakima, WA and Portland, OR. Angst Gallery owner Leah Jackson has been a great supporter of art, poetry, and music in downtown Vancouver for many years, and has supported us as we have evolved as poets, visual artists, and community organizers. Therefore, her gallery is the perfect location for such a show.

Christopher Luna and Toni Partington
Writers/Artists
Editors and Publishers, Printed Matter Vancouver

Marriage 23 Erin and ChristopherArt by Erin Dengerink and Christopher Luna, poem by Christopher Luna

Marriage 24 Erin and ChristopherArt by Erin Dengerink and Christopher Luna, poem by Christopher Luna

Marriage 34 Christopher with Erin triptychChristopher Luna poses in front of his collaboration with Erin Dengerink

Here is the text of the poem that formed the basis of the work seen above:

The Tarot Facilitates a Long-Overdue Goodbye

by Christopher Luna, March 2008

I.

three become one

envision bounty

loose robes fall

among grapes, squash, tomato

there are oranges behind you

and a volcano

connects your genitalia

dig in

and don’t tell me

who my elders ought to be

outdated though my ways may be

they still have potential to bring peace to the valley

rove naked

bang on the wall

between you

and the other half

you are already there

upside down, The Butterfly Queen

disappears into the clouds

you will remember neither

the pattern of her garment

nor the curl of her hair

II.

Bend eternally. Raise a sword. Accept the tongue of the lion you once were. It’s alright to dream of the butterfly you may become. Heart open. Head aflame. The avenging angel spreads its hands, sending six rays of light which pierce the soldiers’ armor. And the hills run red with blood. Raise the glasses you were given. Celebrate the bounty assembled before your feet. Tired—nay, exhausted.

After completion

begin again.

Marriage 25 Michael and EileenMichael Smith’s drawing based on Christopher Luna’s “pavement pastoral”

Art and poetry by Eileen Elliott

Marriage 26 EileenArt and poetry by Eileen Elliott

Marriage 27 AprilArt and poetry by April Bullard

Marriage 28 April“River God” by April Bullard

Marriage 29Work by Jolyn Wolfe, Greg Bee, Olinka Broadfoot, Michele Venclik, Kelly Keigwin,

Christopher Luna, Toni Partington, and Eileen Elliott

Marriage 30 GregWork by Greg Bee

Marriage 31 JolynArt by Jolyn Wolfe, poetry by Percy Bysshe Shelly

Marriage 32Bust of Christopher Luna by Olinka Broadfoot, bird sculpture by Toni Partington

Marriage 33Bust of Christopher Luna by Olinka Broadfoot, bird sculpture by Toni Partington

Marriage 36

Marriage 9Work by Michele Venclik, Kelly Keigwin, Eileen Elliott, Toni Partington, Christopher Luna and Jeremy Gaulke,

Leah Jackson, Anni Becker and John Furniss, and Toni Partington

Marriage 18 Michele and KellyWork by Michele Venclik and Kelly Keigwin

Marriage 19 Michele heartArt and text by Michele Venclik

Marriage 20 Michele and KellyWork by Michele Venclik, Kelly Keigwin, and Eileen Elliott

Marriage 21 Michele and Kelly

Work by Michele Venclik and Kelly Keigwin

Marriage 22

Marriage 13

Marriage 12 EileenPoetry and fabric art by Eileen Elliott

Marriage 11 Anni and JohnArt by Anni Becker and John Furniss

Marriage 14 Leah“What I Tried to Say” by Leah Jackson

Marriage 15 JeremyJeremy Gaulke’s illustration of Christopher Luna’s poem “full text hallucination 102”

fulltexthulJeremy Gaulke’s illustration of Christopher Luna’s poem “full text hallucination 102”

Marriage 16 Toni“Into the Muir Woods” by Toni Partington

Marriage 17 Chris and ToniChristopher Luna’s sketch of poet Dan Raphael in action

and “Into the Muir Woods” by Toni Partington

Marriage 10 BirdSculpture by Toni Partington, based on and featuring text from her poem “Implication”

Marriage 3 Bird ReflectionSculpture by Toni Partington, based on and featuring text from her poem “Implication”

Marriage 39Work by Olinka Broadfoot, Christopher Luna, Toni Partington, Jolyn Wolfe, Jim Martin, and DaBat

I was very moved by the enormous work that Olinka Broadfoot created that was inspired by my poem “sometimes the latticework of the veil”:

Marriage 35 Christopher with Olinka paintingChristopher Luna poses next to Olinka Broadfoot’s work based on “sometimes the latticework of the veil”

sometimes the latticework of the veil

is so perfectly constructed

that it has the appearance of reality

flesh and blood, rather than

a sorry excuse for truth

pastiche of fortune cookie wisdom

ad copy & lines from old movies

stand in for the darkness

which is not evil after all

but the residue of a broken heart

throbbing, sweating

flooding blood-soaked tears

in a melodramatic gush

not to be contained by the

gauzy barrier of our skin

eventually

all

is revealed

we

are

hopelessly

(beautifully)

human

after all

On April 27, some of the artists and writers who participated in the show held a poetry reading at Niche Wine and Art Bar. Here is the announcement for that event, followed by some photos from that night:

6pm

Saturday, April 27

Niche Wine and Art Bar

1013 Main Street

Vancouver, WA

 

A Poetry Reading and Q&A

With artists and writers from

The Marriage of Poetic Words and Images

An art exhibit at Angst Gallery (1015 Main)

Curated by Christopher Luna and Toni Partington

Music by Five Guys Playing Jazz

Exhibit closes Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Sponsored by Leah Jackson and Printed Matter Vancouver

Join us for a reading and Q&A at Niche Wine and Art Bar featuring some of the writers and artists featured in The Marriage of Poetic Words and Images, an exhibit curated by Printed Matter Vancouver founders Toni Partington and Christopher Luna to commemorate National Poetry Month. Confirmed to be in attendance as of this writing: Christopher Luna, Jim Martin, Jenney Pauer, Toni Partington, and Michele Venclik.

Saturday night’s event will be dedicated to our friend Greg Bee, who assists Leah Jackson in numerous ways, has work in the show, and is currently in the ICU. Because flowers are not allowed in the ICU, Leah has set up a station where people can create flowers to be taken to Greg. This will be available until closing time on Saturday. Here is more info: https://www.facebook.com/events/182822975204920/

Many creative people work in more than one medium. The Marriage of Poetic Words and Images aims to present the unique impact of language and image when melded together in visual art. This will take the form of photographs, painting, sculpture, and mixed media. Some of the work will be inspired by poetry, while other pieces will be visual art that includes text. The show will also include poetry that is presented in a particularly visual way, or is inspired by art. While many of the pieces in the show are the result of collaborations between artists and writers, many of our contributors will be utilizing both language and visual art. The majority of the artists live in Vancouver; however, we will also feature work from artists and writers from Yakima, WA and Portland, OR. 

The artists and writers who are featured in this show include: Anni Becker, Greg Bee, Olinka Broadfoot, April Bullard, DaBat, Erin Dengerink, Eileen Davis Elliott, Jeremy Gaulke, Leah Jackson, Kelly Keigwin, Christopher Luna, Jim Martin, Toni Partington, Jenney Pauer, Michael Smith, Michele Venclik, and Jolyn Wolfe.

Christopher at Niche April 27 2013Christopher Luna reads at Niche Wine and Art Bar on April 27, 2013

 DaBat at Niche April 27 2013 1  DaBat reads his poetry at Niche Wine and Art Bar on April 27, 2013

DaBat at Niche April 27 2013 2DaBat reads his poetry at Niche Wine and Art Bar on April 27, 2013

Jim Martin at Niche April 27 2013 1Jim Martin reads his poetry at Niche on April 27, 2013

Jim Martin at Niche April 27 2013 2Jim Martin reads his poetry at Niche on April 27, 2013

Jim Martin at Niche April 27 2013 3Jim Martin reads his poetry at Niche on April 27, 2013

Toni at Niche April 27 2013 1Toni Partington reads her poetry at Niche on April 27, 2013

Toni aty Niche April 27 2013 2Toni Partington reads her poetry at Niche on April 27, 2013

We are also very grateful to Jenney Pauer for reading from her work that evening, and to Leah Jackson, Erin Dengerink, and Michele Venclik for attending the reading. Finally, Toni and Christopher would like to say a big thank you to Leah Jackson for her leadership, and for all that she does for the arts in Vancouver. Thank you for trusting us to curate a show at your gallery, and for supporting our work.

Leah Heidi and Erin at Niche April 27 2013Artist, Angst Gallery Director, and Niche Proprietor Leah Jackson with artists Heidi Morkert and Erin Dengerink

at Niche April 27, 2013


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