Poetry Downtown a project in collaboration with Downtown Saskatoon launches
The Poetry Downtown project features poems from six local poets displayed on the 3rd Avenue poster directories between 19th Street and 23nd Street in Downtown Saskatoon. The theme of the project is Reconciliation.
Launched at the beginning of October, the project will be on display until May 31, 2023. A Call for Submissions was issued in July of 2022. Selected poets and their poem titles are: Robert Benz: The Colour of Sky, Lisa Bird-Wilson: Beside a Residential School, Lauren Klassen: O’ Canada, Mika Lafond: Unapologetic, Jada Morin: it’s always so sad to see, and Jenny Ryan: Sask..
The goals of the project are:
- to enhance and move forward with Reconciliation
- to provide opportunities for artistic expression in the city centre
- to inspire the public through poetry
- to connect the work of local poets to the community
Poetry Downtown was inspired by a challenge from Parliamentary Poet Laureate of Canada Louise Halfe encouraging municipalities to bring poetry to public places.
“In order to walk or run we must first learn to crawl. It is often the first step toward growth. In Cree, pimitācimo, is in itself a loaded word with multiple beginnings. However, simply translated, it means: we crawl into life with our stories,” explains Halfe.
“Art uses our physicality, spirituality, intellect and emotionality to bring forth our visions. It is expressed through literature in poetry, drama, theatre, dance, music, song and paintings. It is never stagnant. All these enhance and challenge our perspectives, they guide us into the inner center of our being, invite us to grow. These are the visions drawn from the artisan well of the artist. In essence we are all artist. It is simply expressed in multiple ways in all disciplines.”
The public is encouraged to walk along 3rd Avenue and reflect on the poetry. The Poetry Downtown project is a partnership with Downtown Saskatoon.
For more information please visit saskatoon.ca/artsandculture.