Expressions: Art & Verse

Saturday, February 15, 2020, the ACA hosted “Expressions: Art and Verse”,  a collaborative visual art exhibit and ekphrastic poetry event between the Artists’ Association of Elk Grove Village (AAEGV) and the Illinois State Poetry Society (ISPS). The Poetry Foundation defines an ekphrastic poem as a vivid description of a scene or, more commonly, a work of art. Through the imaginative act of narrating and reflecting on the “action” of a painting or sculpture, the poet may amplify and expand its meaning. The art and poetry exhibit opened on Wednesday, February 12, 2020 and featured 27 works of art by the AAEGV. The poets of the ISPS composed poems about each piece and they were displayed with each of the artworks. The exhibit continues on display at the ACA Gallery through March 13, 2020.
 
On Saturday, February 15, 2020, from 2 to 5 pm, Addison Center for the Arts hosted a public artist/poet reception featuring a poetry recital in the studio theater. During this event, the images of the artwork were projected on stage as the poets recited their poems. This was a free event to meet and chat with the artists and poets.
 
The Artists’ Association of Elk Grove Village (AAEGV.org) is celebrated their 50th anniversary in 2020. They are a community of fine artists who welcome art enthusiasts and artists of every level and media. They meet monthly with a demo by a well-known Chicagoland artist. They exhibit 10 months per year in Elk Grove Village and surrounding communities. 
 
AAEGV exhibiting artists in “Expressions: Art and Verse” were the following:
Salvador Barrocas, Cheryl Calderon, Diane Danese, Lori Gragnani, Darlene Greaves, Bob Marino Bardelli, John Franklin, Tammy Haman, Annette Perone Leiber, Mary Kay McMahon, Jerell Meyer, Jack Mitchell, Rita Molepske, Marlie Morin, Peggy Mulcahy,
Corinne Murphy, Robert Packheiser, Laurie Perkins, Irene Peterson, Tara Riley, Tom Rybarczyk, Sandy Schmidt, Lynnea Semansko, Terri Sullivan Victory, Tom Warnke, Jill Hunt-Wesseler, Jean Yang, and Gloria Zucaro.
 
“The Expressions: Arts and Verse exhibit is exciting for the Artists’ Association of Elk Grove Village. It is our first time to be on exhibit in Addison and working with the Illinois State Poetry Society. The ISPS will be interpreting each work of art in verse, and reciting it at the reception. A true collaboration of the arts!”
 
--Irene Peterson, AAEGV President
 
The poets of the Illinois State Poetry Society creating ekphrastic poems for “Expressions: Art and Verse” are the following:
Diane Lotko Baker, Bakul Banerjee, Carole Bolinsky, Mary Beth Bretzlauf, Patrice Boyer Claeys, Gail Denham, Idella Pearl Edwards, Michael Escoubas, Mike Freveletti, Gail Goepfert, Mark Hudson, Kate Hutchinson, Rafael Lantigua Medina, Lennart Lundh, Wilda Morris, Susan T. Moss, Donna O’Shaughnessey, Kathleen Robinson, Ricky Sadler, Marie Samuel, Judith Tullis, Maggie Kennedy, and Curt Vevang.
 
Susan Moss, ISPS President about “Expressions: Art and Verse”:
 
“Illinois State Poetry Society is honored to be sharing the Expressions Show with the Artists’ Association of Elk Grove Village. In the early 1970s, ISPS began as a single chapter and  became a charter member of the National Federation of State Poetry Societies in 1991. Presently, there are seven chapters throughout the state, and all are committed to creating and promoting poetry in all its forms. ISPS appreciates the opportunity to blend art and poetry that results in a collaboration of these artistic forms in order to present a greater expressive whole.”