Check this out, boys and girls… an upcoming exhibit featuring Bull City Press author Ellen C. Bush, managing editor Marielle Prince, and me… plus our pals Henry Kearney and Zena Cardman.

Please consider coming to the reading on April 11, which features me and Ellen.

“The Illustrated Word” at Flanders 311

Raleigh, NC - Flanders 311 will present “The Illustrated Word,” an exhibition that pairs North Carolina writers and printmakers together to produce specially commissioned illustrations. There will be an opening reception on First Friday, April 4, from 6:00-9:00 p.m. This exhibit will run through Wednesday, April 30.

In a study of collaborative creativity, North Carolina authors were invited to compose and submit one-page pieces - either poetry or prose - which were then assigned to printmakers throughout the state to illustrate. Each illustration was conceived and completed for the purpose of this exhibition and will be unavailable for viewing alongside the accompanying text in any other venue.

The printmakers faced the challenge of keeping true to their own individual styles while also complementing the tone of their respective written pieces. To undertake this task, many participants entered into prolonged discussions with one another to comprehend and determine crucial themes and details worth emphasizing from the works. “The Illustrated Word” references the rich literary and artistic traditions of illustration, but it sets itself apart by removing the mass production element common to most efforts.

As an added event to “The Illustrated Word,” a poetry reading will occur on Friday, April 11, at 7:00 p.m. It will feature recitations by Ross White, Jon Leon, Allyssa Wolf, Ellen Bush, David Bradsher, and Eric Amling. All events are free and open to the public.

Selected books and collections by the participating authors will be available for sale on the opening night, at the poetry reading, and throughout the span of the exhibition.

Participating writers include Eric Amling, Jane Andrews, David Bradsher, Ellen C. Bush, Zena Cardman, Joe Fletcher, Henry Kearney, Carrie Knowles, Tom Lisk, Jon Leon, Ruth Moose, Lawrence Naumoff, Ryan Nilsen, Elaine Orr, Marielle Prince, Maria Rouphail, Christopher Salerno, Ross White, and Allyssa Wolf. Participating printmakers include Owen Beckmann, Daniel Chapin, Andy Farkas, Louise Zjawin Francke, John Gall, Annemarie Gugelmann, Judy Jones, Delia Keefe, Carrie Knowles, Michael Meadors, Mary Mendell, Kristianne Ripple, and Lisa Beth Robinson.

Flanders 311 is located in the Martin Street Galleries and Studios on 311 West Martin Street in downtown Raleigh. Regular gallery hours run 11 a.m.- 6 p.m., Tues - Sat. For more information, contact a gallery representative at 919-834-5044 or visit www.flandersartgallery.com.

Image details: John Gall, He Will Make It Grow. Line and stippled etching on zinc with chine colle, 2008, 10.5 x 8″