CONNECTING ART AND POETRY enhances both.
Crossings at Carnegie, housed in a former Carnegie library, is a privately-owned cultural, visual and performing arts center in Zumbrota. I love the rural atmosphere with the hardware story and grain elevator just down the street. Minnesota Prairie Roots file photo 2012.
And I am pleased, for the second time, to have my poetry selected for inclusion in an annual poet-artist collaboration at Crossings at Carnegie in Zumbrota.
Lilacs, up close. Minnesota Prairie Roots file photo.
A juried artist will create a work of art based on my poem, “Lilacs,” one of 26 poems chosen from among more than 200 submissions for inclusion in Poet Artist Collaboration XIII.
Lucky thirteen. I’ve written poetry long enough, though, to understand that winning has nothing to do with luck, but rather with skill. Writing poetry is hard work. But when you nail a poem, like I did with “Lilacs,” it’s worth every minute anguishing over a word or a line.
“It was exciting to receive the outpouring of exceptional work from so many talented poets for this collaboration,” writes Marie Garvin of Crossings in an email. “Jurists told us they (the poems) were a pleasure to read, and selecting those to be included was a difficult task.”
The poems paired with art will go on display in April, National Poetry Month, at the Zumbrota gallery and gift shop. Poets will read their poems and artists will briefly discuss their artwork during a reception set for 6:30 p.m. Saturday, May 10.
Connie Ludwig, right, and I pose for a photo after a 90-minute presentation in which poets read their poems and artists talked about how their art was inspired by the poem. Note Connie’s “Pantry Jewels” painting just above my head to the left. Minnesota Prairie Roots file photo 2012.
Two years ago, my poem was selected for Poet Artist Collaboration XI. Goodhue artist Connie Ludwig created a watercolor, “Pantry Jewels,” inspired by my poem, “Her Treasure.” (You can read about that by clicking here.)
That earlier poem and “Lilacs” draw on childhood memories from my native southwestern Minnesota, a major influence in my writing.
Plenty of lilacs to gather in the spring. Minnesota Prairie Roots file photo.
This marks the second time “Lilacs” has been recognized. This past summer, judges chose “Lilacs” as a Work of Merit in the 2013 Northwoods Art & Book Festival in Hackensack. Says Northwoods Arts Council Poetry Event Chair, poet and blogger Sue Ready “…we all see your work as creative and poetic that engages the reader.”
Sue is right. I always attempt to connect to the reader, whether through imagery, sensory words, emotions and more. Poetry should be an experience.
You can read “Lilacs” by clicking here.
I am grateful for this latest opportunity to share my poetry. And to have an artist find inspiration in my words and create a work of art pleases me even more.
© Copyright 2014 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
Love the contest concept. Congratulations on this recent accomplishment. Lovely poetry.
Thank you, Dan. Check out Crossings’ Poetography XI contest this summer in which photos inspire poems. I just became aware of this competition. You, being the extremely talented photographer that you are, should consider entering.
Lilacs…….my absolute #1 fave flower!! It harolds the promise of new growth, a fresh/new growing season, summer warmth, robins singing in the early morning dews. Sigh……..I am so ready!!!! Have marked my calendar for May 10th. We’ll see. Congrats and hugs always…………………
Oh, Doreen, so sweet to think that you’ve marked your calendar. Lilacs are among my favorite flowers, too, for the exact reasons you mention.
When my eldest was confirmed, the lilacs were in full bloom. This was the first Sunday in May. We filled our garage, where guests were seated for a family dinner in her honor, with many bouquets of lilacs. The flowers transformed our garage in scent and beauty.
Huge “sigh”………………..
It is a great match—art + poetry = fabulousness. Congrats on another great “win” and a way to get your poetry out in the public eye. You should be very proud.
Thank you, Beth Ann. This good news of winning in this contest was most welcome. Crossings is a fabulous arts center and the poets and artists I’ve met there a fun bunch with whom to mingle and celebrate the visual and literary arts.
What a wonderful accomplishment for you! Plus, I love the lilacs -one of my favorites also! Very happy for you. Stay warm – we too are cold but not near as cold as you all!
Thank you. The sun is shining and that takes the edge (mentally speaking) off the cold.
How Exciting – Beautiful Post – love the captures as well as your poem – Congrats:) Happy Weekend Indeed!!!
Yes, it is exciting. I can’t wait to see who “my artist” is and what he/she creates.
Congratulations, Audrey! What a wonderful way to have your work honored – to have an artist create a piece inspired by it. Hope the lilacs are blooming fabulously on May 10 in Zumbrota!
Thank you, Kathleen. I expect the lilacs will be in bloom at Crossings at Carnegie on May 10, perhaps inside and outside both.
Congratulations! That’s fantastic!
Thank you. I’m always honored to have my work accepted in a competition.
The lilacs are so pretty and they look very ‘Spring’. I admire you for writing poetry because yes, it’s very, very difficult. Congrats on having your poem selected. What an honour. Do you get nervous doing the readings? I would be! xx
Thank you, Charlie.
The first time I read at the Crossings event, I was very nervous. I expect I will be again this time, somewhat. Last year another poet and I presented on poetry at our local public library. I practiced and practiced and I found that really helped. That presentation was for more than an hour. This reading will be brief. Brevity helps. Less time in front of an audience in a theatre. I view it as sort of a performance, not that I like to perform, but “rehearsing” is the key to calming most of the jitters.
I remember this poem from your posting before, I read it again and liked it all the more. Congratulations Audrey, your poetry is beautiful!
Ah, thank you kindly, Jackie.
Congratulations! I enjoy your daily writings and photos. You are a very talented person. Thank you for sharing.
That is so sweet of you to say. Thank you and thank you for being among my readers.
[…] artist would present a suitable visual to couple with it. You may read her “announcement” post here. The really neat thing about this was that I had not actually met her “in real life” so I was […]