Turn on the Lights

Turn on the Lights

How do you

turn on the lights?

Your stage is

the canvas.

You portray

the actors with

brush and paint.

How do you

captivate the

audience,

shine the

spotlight in

the right place?

Make us stop,

examine and

applaud, not

caring that

so much is

still in the dark.

Where do you place the spotlight? How do you draw the audience in?

Links

American Epics: Thomas Hart Benton and Hollywood

Academy of American Poets Poem-A-Day

Author Page

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Hide and Seek

Hide and Seek

1,2,3,4,5

Settled in my hiding place

6,7,8,9,10

Been there for years

11,12,13,14,15

Haven’t let anyone find me

16,17,18,19,20

Time to seek myself

Links

Donald J. Hall Sculpture Park

Johnson County Library Poem-A-Day Program

Academy of American Poets Poem-A-Day

Wordsmith Studio

Author Page

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Frozen in Time

Frozen in Time

Frozen in time--

the day I

last saw you,

speaking eloquently

to so many friends.

Laughing and smiling.

Looking healthy, not

months away from

the final slide.

The years add up,

but I still

see you clearly.

Frozen in time.

Frozen in my mind.

Thanks to Dana Dampier for this week's Wordsmith  Studio Creative Prompt-Frozen. The prompt is posted each Thursday. Last Thursday, I went to the Donald J. Hall Sculpture Park on the grounds of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. It is one of my favorite places to write and take photographs. I took several pictures of the ice in the pool that is part of the sculpture One Sun/34 Moons by Walter De Maria. When I got home, I checked the prompt and knew I had a choice of several photos. I started working on the poem a little later.

Links

ARTSPEAK RADIO presents

Author Page

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Stained Glass

Stained Glass

Pieces of color

melded together

to form the whole.

Eye-catching

anytime, but

never more than

when the sunlight

streams through.

Fragile beauty

whose loss

 would be

shattering.

I had been looking at some stained glass at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. A few days later, I took some pictures of this butterfly. As I was going through the photographs, it occurred to me that the butterfly looked like it was made out of stained glass. These events inspired the poem.

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Labyrinth

Glass Labyrinth by Robert Morris

Labyrinth

Trying to

find my way out.

I focus on the path

that lies before me.

My steps are

cautious,

unsteady.

What if I

quicken my pace

and smash

into the glass?

I need to look

at the highest point

for guidance

and believe.

This is an Ekphrastic poem, a poem inspired by visual art. The sculpture Glass Labyrinth by Robert Morris was the source of inspiration. It was commissioned in honor of the 25th Anniversary of the Donald J. Hall Sculpture Park.

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Tired

I saw this week's Wordsmith Studio Creative Prompt-Tired, which was provided by Rebecca Barray, when it was posted last Thursday. It just so happened that I was attending an event at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art that evening. I took my camera along in case I had time to go to the Donald J. Hall Sculpture Park after the presentation was finished.

When I got to the park, daylight was waning, but the moon was bright. The downward curve of so many branches in this tree gave me the sense that they were tired at the end of another windy day. I hope they had a restful night.

What do you think of when you hear the word tired? Let us know by commenting on the blog post for this prompt.

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Benched

Benched

Sit with me.

Close your eyes,

stare into space or

take a look

around this place.

Take a break

to catch your breath

or to deliberate on

what to do next.

Take your time.

I’m doing fine.

I’m strong enough

to support you

until you’re ready

to move on.

Thanks to Carol Early Cooney for this week's Wordsmith Studio Creative Prompt. If you have a special bench in your life, share a link to your thoughts about it in the comments on the blog post.

Related Link-Where do you Like to Write?

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Support

 

 

I went to one of my favorite places, the Sculpture Park at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, to take pictures that would represent this week's Wordsmith Studio Creative Prompt-Support. I knew there were a variety of physical examples of support in the park. As I walked around, I was reminded that this has become a place from which I draw support for my art and my well-being.

 

I took about a dozen pictures in search of one to use in this post. They included the columns that are part of the Nelson-Atkins Building, parts of various sculptures and even some fencing near the Bloch Building. I settled on the above stairway because it shows two forms of support. One is the structural support that holds up the railings. The other is the railings themselves, which give support to those who need or choose to use them to go up and down the stairs.

 

Thanks to Rebecca Barray for this week's prompt. Where do you find support?

 

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Mighty

 

 

This week's Wordsmith Studio Creative Prompt is Mighty.  I chose to photograph the original building of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art for my interpretation of the prompt.

 

The building itself is certainly a mighty structure, but I also chose the museum because of the art it houses and the opportunities it provides to all of its visitors. This building and the newer Bloch Building, opened in 2007, house outstanding permanent collections and are continually stops for some of the best traveling exhibits available. In addition, the museum has excellent programs that emphasize education and participation for all ages. I think the Nelson-Atkins does a mighty fine job in its commitment "to engage, educate and serve the community."

 

What does the word mighty bring to mind for you? Tell us in words or images by providing a link in the comments on the prompt post. Thanks to Rebecca Barray for this week's prompt.

 

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Where Do You Like To Write?

 

 

My favorite place to write is the Donald J. Hall Sculpture Park at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. There are several reasons I enjoy  writing here.

 

1. I like to write in the presence of other art. That is an energy-infusing environment for me. I may write about a piece of art I see or I may write about something else. Either way, being in the presence of art facilitates my writing process.

 

2. I like to go for walks outside. There are many options here. You may walk right up to various sculptures or simply pass by. You may stay at ground level or climb up a little bit. I like to bring my camera and take some photographs in addition to writing. 

 

3. There are plenty of places to sit. Benches may be found throughout the park. You may bring a blanket, your own chair or simply sit on the ground.

 

4. Going to the park makes me feel like I've taken a little getaway, whether I spend an hour or an entire afternoon.

 

Where is your favorite place to write? What qualities draw you to this place?

 

Related Post-The Lost Wax Process

 

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