Across Currents

Across Currents
Robert Chapla — artist
Sherry Sheehan — poet

book notice by Ed Dewke

FlakeHQ's poet laureate Sherry Sheehan (known here as Sherry S. or Sherry from Crockett) joins artist Robert Chapla in publishing their first book of poems and visual art — or what Sherry refers to as "ekphrastic poetry." There are 29 art/poetry combos in their book titled Across Currents.

If you are a "word person," like me, you will enjoy Across Currents because the poems pull you into the paintings; they illustrate a way to look at the images and draw meaning (or at least message) out of them. We experienced this in Sherry and Robert's contribution to FlakeHQ, "Alternative Paths," which interprets a painting of cows on a sun-colored plain as an expression of life with psoriasis. (Across Currents isn't about psoriasis.)

If you are a "visual person," I think you will enjoy Across Currents because it shows, in often surprising ways, how poetry can add to an appreciation of fine art (in this case, mostly paintings).

Viewing/reading Robert and Sherry's compilation made me think back to my art appreciation class in high school (1967). While slides of famous paintings and sculpture illuminated our otherwise darkened classroom, the voice of our barely-visible teacher droned on about the "significance" of this and that visible in the work or somehow associated with the work. If only Sherry S. had been there! My own appreciation would have been significantly improved had those works we examined been "interpreted" through the fine words, consistent wit, and often amusing interpretations she would have brought to class.

If you enjoyed "Alternative Paths," you will enjoy Across Currents. To get a copy, email Sherry at [email protected]. The book is selling for $15 + postage/handling; however, Sherry says she will sell the book to FlakeHQ.com readers for a flat $15 — no additional postage and handling. -Ed

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