The Kalamazoo Institute of Arts has an amazing exhibit — Lorna Simpson. Above is one of my favorites in the exhibit inspiring a poem. As Barbara Guest, Frank O’Hara, and Kenneth Koch showed us eloquently during the New York School movement in the 1950s, art and poetry are inherently related. Kinsman if you will … their efficiency of image and emotion. So run, don’t walk to this exhibit.
The KIA and this exhibit will be a part of the August 3rd Art Hop in Kalamazoo. I will be one of the feature poets reading poems at the KIA that evening inspired by Simpson’s work. I have several drafts of several poems right now … mostly about wigs, hair, and sexual perversions (and I say “perversions” in the nicest way). The August Art Hop performance will be 6-8 with poetry and music. I am only one feature … there are some great poets reading as well and a wonderful band called The Movement (Fire’s house band as a matter of fact). I think I will have more musings on this later …
Lorna … Lorna … Lorna … get thee to the KIA (especially on August 3rd).
