Poetry Comes to Middle Street
The haiku poem, a gift from 17th century Japan, joins the visual arts at Middle Street Gallery in Sperryville through March 26, according to Gary Anthes, who writes:
Haiku, or “one-breath poems,” are simple yet elegant observations about nature, or man’s place in it. Some of the three-line poems have been written by Japanese masters, and some have been created by gallery members, but all will accompany the artists’ paintings, sculptures, photographs and multimedia works.
For example, Ann Currie’s watercolor of a graceful flowering plant reveals a butterfly cocoon hidden among green leaves and purple flowers. It is flanked by her haiku: chrysalis hanging butterfly in creation metamorphosis
Phyllis Northup’s watercolor of Jordan Pond at Acadia National Park is joined by her three-line observation: the pond is at peace rocks rest in shallow water mountains standing guard
And Jo Levine’s somber gray photograph of a line of trees above the ruin of an old dock on a salt marsh offers this poetic comment: trees watch the water while soft clouds float above them … quiet afternoon
There will be an opening reception at the gallery on Saturday, March 11 from
3 to 5p.m. The public is invited to come and see recent works and read haiku by some 20 artists from Rappahannock County and nearby areas.
The gallery is now located above the Before & After espresso bar and wine cafe at 31 Main St. in Sperryville. Winter hours (through March) are Fri.Sun. 10am to 4pm. For more information, visit www. middlestreetgallery.org.