“Haiku Art/Art Haiku” opens November 12th at the Lincoln Art Institute

[October 31, 2015]    LINCOLN - For their November art exhibit, Logan County Arts has collaborated with haiku poetry expert Lee Gurga, who has published several haiku books and is former editor of the journal, Modern Haiku.

Using the theme “Haiku Art/Art Haiku”, LCA artists have used a haiku poem as inspiration for an art piece or used an artwork as inspiration to write a haiku. The inspiring haiku or artwork may be a creation of the artists themselves or chosen from previous works of other artists. The show will open with a reception from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, November 12 at the Lincoln Art Institute, 112 S. McLean St, Lincoln, next to the Post Office.

So they could better understand the haiku tradition, LCA invited Gurga to give a presentation on the haiku form at the Art Institute. Gurga explained that key features of haiku are a brief form, a seasonal or nature reference and an intimate or poignant image of human nature or emotions. He stressed that the frequent association of haiku in English with a rigid 5-7-5 syllable format is a misconception. A haiku poem is distinguished by its content. In English, seventeen syllables is not a requirement; in fact, most English language haiku consist of fewer syllables.

A haiku reminds us how connections between the natural world and everyday objects or happenings can reveal profound insights into our human condition. Not surprisingly, the form has inspired a wide variety of creations by artists participating in the show. Rob Swofford based his evening landscape on Gurga’s haiku, “last bale of hay/ we sit down on it/ and watch the moon”. Gurga himself will present a poem card with graphical elements. While some participating artists will include both original haiku and art, others will link original art with contemporary or classical haiku poetry.

In addition to Swofford and Gurga, artists participating in the show include Cheryl Spove, Tony Shuff, Moses Pinkerton, Pam Moriearty, Jason Hoffman, Sheralyn Bolton, and others. After the opening weekend, the show will be available for viewing until December 12 by chance or appointment. Visitors may ring the doorbell, and if curator Moses Pinkerton is available he will open the gallery. For an appointment, people may call Pinkerton at 217-651-8355.

Also available at the “Haiku” opening will be information on the Logan County Arts Exhibit Calendar for 2016.

[Pamela Moriearty]