Art and poetry blend at Arran Open Studios
As part of this year’s Arran Open Studios there was a taster exhibition in the VisitScotland office which took the form of a cross-art collaboration between poets and makers.
This exhibition was very well received and inspired many positive comments in the visitors’ book accompanying the show.
Seven artists/makers took part with seven of practicing local poets. Each poet was asked to produce a poem to respond to one art work.
The results were and are reflective and thought-provoking. But for one poet, David Underdown of Corrie, one poem was not enough – he came at the painting Nasturtium by Josephine Broekhuizen of Lamlash, time and time again, each time entering and leaving the painting via fresh linguistic and musical avenues.
His poem Fallen Leaves led to a whole pamphlet, or chapbook, as they are known, of poems based on Josephine’s painting.
During the Arran Open Studios, these chapbooks (limited edition of 100), were distributed via donation of £2 at the Whiterock studio of Josephine and at the VisitScotland office where the exhibition was housed.
There are still some 50 copies available from David or from The Book and Card Shop, Brodick and the Rock Pool in Corrie. Josephine’s painting has since gone on to be one of her several representing The McGill Duncan Gallery in Castle Douglas.