Ekphrastic Folk Art 3

 

 What Happens When Folk Art Gets Ekphrastic?

To find out, I invited several writers (including a junior poetess)  to mix it up; to play with the above folkloric image. Using their literary talents, they did just that. Jumping right into the challenge, they created inspiring storylines and conversations.

But, before I show you the results,  here are brief explanations of what ekphrastic and folk art are.

 What is Folk Art?

Folk art, in general – art made by folk - is “decorative” art applied to functional (everyday) items. Popular examples include weather vanes, Dutch hexagons, furniture, quilts, and hand painted plates. 

What is Ekphrastic?

Ekphrastic is a term that describes the practice of using words to comment on a piece of visual art (i.e, painting, photograph, sculpture) and has been around since ancient times. For example, in The Iliad, Homer provides a lengthy, discursive account of the elaborate scenes embossed on the shield of Achilles. 

The word ekphrasis is a combination of two Greek words: ex (out) and phrazein (to point out, explain).

 Now, onto the excellent and innovative poetry and flash fiction

 of Jerome Berglund, Marcelle Newbold, Mathilda, Antionette Vella Payne

Observances  

crashing waves 
ornamental
molding

transparent flare
that space beyond
a rising sun

 

donor organs
eden recreated
from carnage

 

rose filter
one viewing option
if you lean in

 

recessed in frame
detailed panels
enwreathe threshold

Jerome Berglund has worked as everything from dishwasher to paralegal, night watchman to assembler of heart valves. His full-length poetry collections 'Bathtub Poems' and 'Funny Pages' were just released by Setu and Meat For Tea press, and a mixed media chapbook showcasing his photography is available now from Yavanika.    X: @BerglundJerome 

https://flowersunmedia.wixsite.com/jbphotography/post/haiku-senryu-and-haiga-publications

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When Art Was Easy 

Twin doors.
Easements. 
For ingress & egress.
Magical space where usefulness 
Merges with aesthetic sensibility.
Beauty in the eye to the hand of the artist.
Painted cornflower blue with a bit of
Green garland &ared orange bursts— 
Detailed flowers backed by special powers.  
Woody Guthrie sang resistance songs 
between these blue doors.
Ingress & egress of community.

Salt-of-the-earth, brazen old men,
Strong women, young families & singles too.
Trans & drag, immigrants, indigenous,  
Poor & affluent, Black, Brown, Asian, White.
Laughing & singing between these 
doors where folk art extends her hand &
Woody Guthrie strums his guitar, singing 
songs for generations; cross bar to fascism.

 
Antoinette Vella Payne's debut poetry collection is 'That’s What Happens When You Live on Haight Street'. She hosts the monthly 1428 Poets Group open mic. Her work has appeared in the “Haight Ashbury Literary Journal", “Dime Piece” (World Stage Press) and elsewhere.     fb:  antoinette.payne.5

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A few small requests

apple tree breeze me fruit

small hard sharp

drench my trug with night scent

forget me nots

settle a pitcher ice-cold

to preserve

paint me your love

permit the light.

 

Marcelle Newbold’s writing explores place and inheritance. Bridport Prize shortlisted, her poems have been published by Propel, Ink Sweat & Tears, Black Bough Poetry, Maytree Press, Indigo Dreams and others. Marcelle lives in Wales, where she trained as an architect. 

X/ig:@marcellenewbold  marcellenewbold.co.uk  

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Junior poetess Matilda wrote her piece at a shared poetry table in her family home where a candle is lit to welcome in the spirits of poetry.

Thank You All! 

image:  https://www.flickr.com/photos/wonderlane/5670385128/