Virtual Event via Zoom hosted by Pucker Gallery
Watch Pucker Gallery artist Jim Schantz, world renowned Flutist Paula Robison, and Gallery Owner Bernie Pucker in an Artist Talk and Conversation from Saturday, 17 October 2020. Through Jim's paintings and Paula's music, the three explored Schantz's connection to, representation of, and interest in nature.
This event also features a writing contest! Participants wrote a haiku or other short poem inspired by Schantz's work Misty Morning, Housatonic Bend (JMS748), pictured on page 8 of the catalogue Attentiveness to Nature. The top three haiku or poems were read aloud during the live event, and the winning creation was chosen by Jim Schantz!
Places of the Spirit Submitted Poems
All poem submissions, including the winning poem by Mary Boyle and the second place poems by Kacey Bongarzone and Susan Wittjen, are presented here to showcase the wide breadth of interpretations that were submitted.
Jim Schantz
Misty Morning, Housatonic Bend, 2018
Oil on canvas
48 x 48"
JMS748
Edges will contrast
Water will flood the pathway
Leading to deep breaths.
—Kacey Bongarzone, 2nd place: TIE
Soft shades of dawn’s light
Color my soul so lonely
Yet beauty holds me.
—Mary Boyle, winner
This world once verdant
Engineering overwhelmed
She decides who lives.
—Gaddis Wittjen
Misty morning blue
Always calm, meditative
As tumult threatens.
—Susan Wittjen, 2nd place: TIE
Mountains, river, mist
Cloudy trees and leafy sky
Reflection on the water, isolation of the mind
With hazy sunlight to bring us hope.
COVID will pass, nature will endure.
—Brea Barthel
Ever-growing topiary blurred by mist,
shrouded in shadow
Somber tones ring out across the silent surface of the water
Sunlight cuts across the sky
The morning mist has dissipated.
—Harper Wilkens
Like Buddhist priests bowed down in meditation
Bent under the snow
The April jonquils.
—Sharon Seeche Rich
After the rain
Wet white tabletops
Pale moons afloat
Under Autum leaves.
—Peter Neaman
For days unceasing wind has bent boscage
of ornamental grass in half.
I like to leave these rice-like stalks uncut:
nature’s natural windsock.
Oh the tone, the tone -
the steady hone -
of winter wind that bends boscage
of ornamental grass in half.
—Francis Morrissey
A soft splash of color over pale blue sky
Opens the door to the warm misty day.
—Barry C. Dorn