Poem: Early Fall

Through the Persimmon Leaves - Stephen Berry

 

Early Fall

The persimmons are harvested.
Ruddle leaves mingle with myrtle hue.
Mount Diablo huddles distant,
encircled in jade and blue.

This enchanted portal,
dozy warm delicious,
brings to mind honeyed birdsong,
amidst pollen-laden bombilation in
rosemary and sage.

Below, discordant rage
of highway hum.
The cacophony
we humans stage,
I choose to ignore.


Becky Bishop White
©2022 

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The Benicia First Tuesday Poets’ Group and members of Benicia Literary Arts have written ekphrastic poems about paintings from our show, Watercolor - A Happy Medium.

Ekphrastic poems are vivid verbal descriptions of a work of art. Fifteen different poets each came to the aRt Cottage to pick one pieces from each of the 15 artists in the show. We'll be sharing the poetry here on the blog over the next several days - enjoy!

Poem: Signs

Brittany Patterns - Juanita Hagberg

Signs

Water finds its own path, snaking through soil and reeds
to pattern land with runnels and shift the shore
with ebb and flow, fresh and salt meeting in marshes,
those intertidal habitats that crucible life.

The world shows water where to flow, gravity, moon,
and centrifugal force its guideposts. Rain falls, a brook
ripples round rocks or tumbles down steep scarps
in a roar. Misty plumes rise like hot-air balloons.

Oceans rise and fall, high tide, low tide, neap tide,
slack water, currents swirling where they will.
Water tunes to the world, follows the path
that serves it best.

I follow arrows on the trail, hiking up the hill as the creek
tumbles down, seeking the crest and the source
of the water. When I reach a fork with no arrow,
I listen to the water and know which to take.


Aline Soules
©2022

••••••••••

The Benicia First Tuesday Poets’ Group and members of Benicia Literary Arts have written ekphrastic poems about paintings from our show, Watercolor - A Happy Medium.

Ekphrastic poems are vivid verbal descriptions of a work of art. Fifteen different poets each came to the aRt Cottage to pick one pieces from each of the 15 artists in the show. We'll be sharing the poetry here on the blog over the next several days - enjoy!

Poem: From the Shadow of my Lover

Dreaming of a Jaguar - Bonnie Fry

From the Shadow of My Lover

When I sleep, my lover’s shadow reveals his power. 

With hundreds of eyes he sees what danger lurks.    

When I sleep, his protection covers like a blanket.      

He slips silently through city or country jungle

To drink from the emerging fresh fountain of magic water.

From his underworld kingdom he carries dreams of riches.  

No one else sees such a treasure hidden or suspects it.

When I sleep, he shows me riches, how to claim them,

Make them visible, tangible, audible, and spendable,

Make them palpable in the waking world we share.

Aikya Param

© 2022

••••••••••

The Benicia First Tuesday Poets’ Group and members of Benicia Literary Arts have written ekphrastic poems about paintings from our show, Watercolor - A Happy Medium.

Ekphrastic poems are vivid verbal descriptions of a work of art. Fifteen different poets each came to the aRt Cottage to pick one pieces from each of the 15 artists in the show. We'll be sharing the poetry here on the blog over the next several days - enjoy!

A gallery filled with watercolor!

 

Our show for March and April features stunning watercolor work from these fifteen talented artists:

• Ruth Beeve
• Stephen Berry
• Bonnie Fry
• Juanita Hagberg
• Fiona M. Hughes
• Iretta Hunter
• Samantha McNally
• Ruth Miller
• Craig Moline
• Cindy Skyker
• Linda Sutton
• Barbara Tapp
• Sal Valencia
• Lorraine Wells
• Leslie Wilson

Juanita Hagberg

Leslie Wilson

Ruth Miller

Visit Samantha McNally's website (show curator) to see more. 

Visit soon to enjoy the show and cast your vote in our People's Choice Award!

Got gifts?

 

Our little gift shop in the tiny house behind the gallery is filled with wonderful art and fabulous handmade items - you're sure to find the perfect gift for any occasion. 

So many unique and affordable ideas from local artists! Skip the department store and bring home something truly one-of-a-kind, made with love and creative passion - like a painting, a journal, a ceramic vase, a cute critter, sparkly earrings and so much more.

Happy New Year!

 

Nora Krauss

Members of the Lamorinda Arts Alliance are filling the gallery with their work for January and February with a theme of New Beginnings.  

The show runs from January 5th through February 25th. Join us on Saturday, January 8th for the Artist Reception, 2-4pm. 

Ruth Stanton

Gene Gracey

Shop 'til you drop!

Our 10th Annual Holiday Boutique is filled with so much delight! Cute crochet, cool ceramics, playful paintings, jammin' jewelry and more. Nothing is better than a gift from the heart of an artist who created it with love.

Original art and handmade wares from more than 25 local artists are ready and waiting for you to enjoy - bring a snack and a friend to sit on the patio for a chat. Being surrounded by creativity is good for the soul!