Artists and writers create one of a kind show

WORDS and Visions, a unique exhibition of thirteen artists’ interpretation of poetry by thirteen wordsmiths is Creswick’s contribution to the Words in Winter annual literary and arts festival.

The show, on display in the café 84 on Albert, is a mix of photographs, paintings and textiles hung alongside each individual poem.

Earl Ingleby, artist and event organiser, said this year the Words and Visions exhibition looks to combine the visual and the literary arts through the intertextuality of inspiration between the verbal and the visual.

“The writers were asked to come up with a poem on any theme they chose, which was then the inspiration for the artist to create a visual interpretation of the work,” Mr Ingleby said.

“We matched the artists with the writers very democratically, we pulled names our of a hat and the artists then had one month to complete their work.”

Mr Ingleby said those who attend opening night on Tuesday, 6 August can look forward to hearing each of the writers recite their poems.

Creswick artist Dianne Lehne described the concept of creating her art from the words in the poem written by Janet Bruce as astounding.

Ms Lehne said she didn’t know the writer personally, so it was a test working with words from a woman she had never met.

“I had to read the poem, absorb it into my system and soul, think about it, then try and translate it out into a vision,” she said.

“As a visual person with a lot of instincts I didn’t find the task too challenging, whatever comes out sometimes I just can’t stop, and this time I had to tune into another person’s words.”

Janet Bruce, a woman who claims she “dabbles in writing”, said the poem which Ms Lehne worked from was only the second one she’s ever written.

“It is a very visual piece of work about the view from the deck of my house that I created for a poetry competition,” she said.

“I live in Mollongghip with huge views that go off to the Pyrenees region and on that particular day there had been a thunderstorm, and the rain and the light coming through the clouds was the inspiration for that poem.”

Kirstie and Brad Coulter, owners of 84 on Albert, said proceeds from the sale of any of the artwork will be donated to Shannon’s Bridge, a charity helping patients and families with palliative care support.

“We try to support the local arts community as much as we can, we have some originals on the walls at the moment so we are excited to be involved in the festival,” Ms Coulter said.

The official opening of the exhibition is on Tuesday, 6 August from 6 to 8pm, with dinner bookings available by calling 5377 1340.

Words and Visions is a free event at 84 Albert Street, Creswick, showing from Wednesday, 7 August to Sunday, 26 August. The café is open Wednesday to Sunday from 12 to 8pm and on Thursday 9am to 8pm.