Though April might be more commonly known as a month of rain, a local studio is celebrating the month’s other claim to fame.
In honor of National Poetry Month, ARTS/West, 132 W. State St., is presenting “A Trio of Poets,” a poetry reading along with a poetry-inspired art exhibit.
The first poet, Becca J.R. Lachman, an Ohio University professor of creative writing, began writing lyrics, which she said eventually turned to poetry.
“I was a musician first, and the power of singing and the power of feeling words in your mouth drew me towards lyrics,” Lachman said. “When I was a freshman in college, I decided that I could write differently and write poems.”
Lachman said she chose many of her poems for the reading because of the special ties they have to Athens.
Carrie Oeding, a Marshall University professor of poetry, will read pieces from her new book, Our List of Solutions.
“I pick poems that will work well to be read out loud and engage an audience who, of course, don't have the poems in front of them,” Oeding said. “But when I write, I write poems to be read on the page first, and I work to make a book of poetry that's really a collection, a world in itself.”
Oeding said the reading has a special connection for her because her husband, Kent Shaw, an assistant professor at West Virgina State University, is also performing at the reading.
Shaw is the final poet in the reading. In addition to participating in readings with his wife, he is also a nationally acclaimed poet and author. His recent poems have appeared or are forthcoming in The Believer, Boston Review, Ploughshares, Denver Quarterly and H.O.W. Journal, according to a news release by ARTS/West.
Along with the poetry reading, there will be an art exhibit titled “Another Language Altogether,” created by the students of Molly Schoenhoff, a resident artist at the University of Dayton. Schoenhoff challenged her students to create art pieces based on the poetry of Wendy McVicker.
“I wanted the students to experience a connection to the material,” Schoenhoff said. “I valued the experience of cooperation that the project elicited, as many students in art and design are often trained to be competitive with their peers.”
If You Go
What: A Trio of Poets
When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday
Where: ARTS/West, 132 W. State St.
Admission: Free
ks574510@ohiou.edu
