Art in the Stacks: Image Inspired Writing

The Friends of the Vineyard Haven Public Library are pleased to present an exhibit featuring haiku and other poetry from the Martha's Vineyard Poets' Collective, accompanied by the images that inspired each of the poems. The exhibit will be on display during regular library hours through the month of January. At 7pm on Tuesday, January 14th, members of the Collective will read their image-inspired writing in a public program at the library. A reception will follow the readings.

The MV Poets' Collective is a diverse and creative group of individuals with experience in the expressive arts, writing, teaching, business, local government, and publishing. The MVPC has been meeting for three years and is fortunate to have Jill Jupen as their workshop leader. Jill has an MFA in poetry from Warren Wilson College, and Vermont poet Hayden Carruth was her mentor. Well known journalist and essayist, Ted Hoagland, also joins the sessions.

The exhibit features work from Ellie Bates, Tom Durawa, Liz Fauteux, Madeline Fisher, Jill Jupen, Don McLagan, Andrea Quigley, Annette Sandrock, and honorary member Ted Hoagland. Annette, Don, Ellie and Liz took their own photographs to accompany their haiku. Madeline used her original Chinese brushstroke painting. Andrea's haiku is inspired by Jenik Munafo's painting, used with her gracious permission.

The poems have recently been published in a chapbook funded through a grant from the MV Center for the Visual Arts (MVCVA). Copies of the chapbook are available to borrow from local libraries.

"Art in the Stacks" is an initiative of the Friends of the Library to provide artists an opportunity to show their work, and for library patrons to enjoy art throughout the year.