I Am Art (In Memory of Vincent Ferrini)

I am art
my living
this process
this body of work

the walk
on mud-lined paths
under cottonwoods and among willows
armed and embracing

the waking
after dreams escaping
the dawn drenched in
heart wrenching
color
that has no name

The drafting
of words upon words
upon words
and the light from
the window
prancing across the page
that evokes

the sleep
the resting on comfortable beds
the redressing of wounds
from reckless seething battle
the soft light of the moon
not even stirring the dark corner
where I lie
but inventing story
the whole while

the voyage beyond
the tiny yard and house
the pushing off from shore
the dark clouds and the rain
pouring into a leaky boat

The new land with lamp posts for trees
ancient marble and stone for grass
under my feet
the bright umbrellas chasing away grey
and the map to home
lying in among
tourists souvenirs stored in a tray

-- Ellen A. Wilkin

About the Collaboration

Julie: It was a pleasure to collaborate with Ellen, we had a great conversation and found we had a few things in common. Relating to the natural world, I hooked into the Cottonwood, one of my holiest of  trees! It was a joy to paint "Bark of the Cottonwood" and make a new friend.

Ellen: We started from a common idea. We met to throw out ideas and we found common ground. Themes came up: the idea of art and creation and of artists and creators and how there are labels: she is a painter, he is a poet, she is a sculptor. Oh, and that person over there is NOT singer or a dancer or an illustrator. And we talked about how these conventions, these slots we put people in can stunt our growth as artists and can be harmful to the formation of the artist. We are creators of anything and everything.

Just before Julie contacted me about ArtSpeak, I had came across the poet Vincent Ferrini and I was caught by how he referred to himself as "the living poem."  "I am the poem, the work of art, the art of living."  And I thought he had something there. After Julie and my conversations about art, it all seemed to come to "We are the creation." It just all morphed together and I channeled something that became the poem, I am Art. And that is why the poem is dedicated to the memory of Vincent Ferrini. He was, in effect, part of the collaboration. I not only became friends with a new creative person in my community, I found a connection with a poet from another part of the country who is no longer with us, but whose legacy is rippling on through time and space.

Note: The art and poem pairing is on display at along with other visual and spoken word artists through end of May 2018 at  First Congregational Church 1128 Pine St, Boulder, CO 80302 Phone: (303) 442-1787