Creative Resident Michael J. Henry celebrated his six-week residency at PlatteForum with an exhibition of poetry and prose-with the objects that inspired the writing.
A long-time packrat and person known to get lost in nostalgic reverie, Michael has embarked on an exploration of personal ephemera and the power they hold over him, whether they be youthful folly or priceless family heirlooms. "These are the things I've kept in dusty shoeboxes over the years, and have either been embarrassed or afraid to look at them and try to understand why they're so important to me," says Henry. "Some of these things make me incredibly sad, and some just leave me wondering, what is this thing?"
On a more playful note, Michael has embarked on a series of writing workshops with youth from Colfax Community Network, PS 1, and North High, to investigate the small beauties and enigmas of everyday found objects-items one might consider junk-to see what stories and poems they might trigger. Says Henry: The poet William Carlos Williams once wrote "No ideas but in things," and for the longest time I've been trying to fully understand what that means, since many of my teachers considered that a cornerstone of a writer's education." To wit, Michael and the young writers have written about a host of objects-which include things like a pocket watch, dog leash, a miniature replica of Rodin's "The Thinker," and a five-pound dumbbell. Adults who participated in a special Writer's Buzz on December 9 added their poetry to the installation, making the project a multi-generational experience. |
