WESTFIELD-A reception is slated June 9 at Blue Umbrella Books on Main Street to unveil the winners of Westfield’s inaugural Images and Words Poetry Contest conducted during National Poetry Month in April.
Andrea Bruno, owner of the Blended Vintage Marketplace which served as Station #5 along the Westfield Poetry Trail, admires “Newton’s Apples” by local artist Anusha Sekhar. (Photo courtesy of Richard Cowles Photography).
“This was our first attempt at introducing a formal poetry contest to the community,” said Bill Westerlind, president of ArtWorks of Westfield, Inc., adding the organization worked collaboratively with Blue Umbrella Books. “The poems were amazing, so many talented and extraordinarily expressive writers out there.”
The 3 p.m. reception is free and open to the public and light refreshments will be served.
During April, poets and writers were invited to compose a poem that best reflected their emotional response to pieces of art work donated by local artists and displayed in six stations along the Westfield Poetry Trail in downtown Westfield. Businesses that showcased the art work included Blue Umbrella Books, Circuit Coffee, Two Rivers Burrito, Mama Cakes, Blended Vintage Marketplace and Skyline Trading Company.
“The contributing artists reviewed the poems submitted for their work and selected the winning poems, said Westerlind. “The poets will be revealed and their poems will be read aloud at the reception.”
The winning poets will keep the art work, according to Westerlind.
“While the majority of the poems were penned by Westfield residents, many were written by authors from the surrounding communities of Feeding Hills, Chicopee, Belchertown, even Knoxville, TN,” said Westerlind.
In addition to the poetry readings and art display, the reception will also feature a “poetry write-in.”
Ted and Jessica Dobek, owners of Circuit Coffee, view “Too much for a haiku” by local visual poet Denise Fontaine-Pincince. (Photo courtesy of Richard Cowles Photography).
“An additional piece of art work will be on display at the reception,” said Westerlind. “Attendees will be invited to write a poem about the piece and the artist will select the winning poem during the reception. The poet will win the art work.”
The poets and artists will meet each other for the first time at the reception to read the poems, talk about the art work and share the creative process that resulted in their poetry.
“Folks are encouraged to arrive early to speak with the poets and artists, browse the book store and visit some of the participating merchants after the event,” said Westerlind.
National Poetry Month, inaugurated by the Academy of American Poets in 1996, is the largest literary celebration in the world, according to Westerlind.
Russell Atwood at Blue Umbrella Books takes in “Butterfly with Daisy” by Westfield photographer Christopher Lyons. (Photo courtesy of Richard Cowles Photography).
“Tens of millions of readers, students, K-12 teachers, librarians, booksellers, literary events curators, publishers, bloggers, and, of course, poets mark poetry’s important place in our culture and our lives,” said Westerlind.
