Call for Poet-Artist Collaborations from Workhouse Arts Center

From Marti Kirkpatrick, Manager of Poetic Art
I am the Studio Manager & Exhibition Coordinator for the Lorton Arts Foundation (LAF) at the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton Virginia. The LAF, a grassroots non-profit organization is creating an all inclusive cultural arts center thru a remarkable "adaptive re-use" of the closed D.C. Correctional Facility at the historic Occoquan Workhouse. The grand opening of the first of five phases was celebrated September 2008 with the opening of 7 studio buildings for working artists, a two story gallery building and a building dedicated to the art of movement, "Mind, Body, Spirit".

This fall we will present an exhibition featuring both professional and amateur poets and artists invited to work in collaboration to produce Poetic Art. The work of art will inspire the poet's words, or the poem will inspire the artist's creation. The exhibition will open to the public Oct. 21 - Nov. 20, with an opening reception October 25, 2009 featuring a reading of submitted poetry.

The catalyst for this exhibition is very personal and whole heartily supported by the staff here at the Workhouse. My husband Ed is a photographer; I'm an abstract artist and our son Scott a poet. He performed his slam poetry not only here in Washington and Baltimore, but New York, Boston and Chicago and in 2000 won the DC Slam Poet Championship. After 9/11 and much reflection, Scott joined the Army, and during his second tour in Iraq on August 11, 2007, he and three others were killed while pursuing a sniper.

Before he joined the military the three of us were working on a collaborative exhibition of art and poetry. Of course, when he started soldiering we dropped our plans for the duration. The day before his deployment Scott said that should he not make it home we were to select a charity that helps his brothers in arms so those who wished could make a donation. Following his request we chose The Yellow Ribbon Fund . It was not long after this that I started thinking about a new direction for our art/ poetry collaboration.

Poetic Art is a benefit for Yellow Ribbon Fund which was created in early 2005 to assist our wounded troops from Iraq and Afghanistan, and their families while they recuperate at Walter Reed and the National Naval Medical Center.

A full color show catalog will feature the paired art and poem to be sold as part of the fundraiser. Each participating artist and poet will receive a copy of the Show Catalog. However, none of the proceeds from the sale of the Show Catalog will be paid to the artists/poets.

All work must be for sale. Artists and Poets will retain all copyrights. LAF will take a 50% sales commission from sold work. The artists/poets will establish a single price for their combined work and determine the division between themselves of sales proceeds. Artists/poets are encouraged to donate a part or all of their sales proceeds back to LAF & YRF.

Please email me martikirkpatrick [at] lortonarts [dot] org for more information and a show prospectus.

Thank you,
Marti

Marti Deppa Kirkpatrick
Studio Manager/Exhibition Coordinator
Workhouse Arts Center
9518 Workhouse Way
Lorton, VA 22079
703 584-2946 cell 301 706-6393
http://www.lortonarts.org/ http://workhousearts.org/