During the last decade, Heights Arts Collaborative has made quite an artistic impression on Cleveland Heights. The organization has sponsored myriad programs and events throughout the area, and spearheaded public art projects, such as the colorful tie dye street signs, and sculptural fences and benches on Coventry.
To celebrate Heights Arts' 10th anniversary, Cleveland Heights poet laureate Gail Bellamy conceived Poetography, a project pairing 10 poets with 10 photographers to create works inspired by the Coventry neighborhood. On April 10, photographs from the project will be exhibited at Tommy's Restaurant, while a Poetography book signing with the photographers and poets, and a poetry reading at Mac's Backs Books will take place at 3 pm.
The featured poets include Bellamy, Katie Daley, Sammy Greenspan, Ben Gulyas, Meredith Holmes, Amy Kesegich, Philip Metres, John Panza, Loren Weiss and Jason Floyd Williams. Photographers Herb Ascherman, Jr., David Brichford, Margo Brown, Stephen Cutri, G.M. Donley, Mike Edwards, Lynn Ischay, Nina De Rubertis William Sheck and Michael Weil.
OhioAuthority caught up with Bellamy to ask her about the origins of the project, and the role of Coventry and Cleveland Heights in Cleveland's cultural scene.
OA: What gave rise to the idea for Poetography?
GB: I’ve always loved image-rich poems, and have long been intrigued by the idea that both poets and photographers can work with images, although in different ways. Part of the art is in selecting those images, and deciding how to present them. The project’s name, Poetography, has been swirling around in my mind for several years.
As the current City of Cleveland Heights poet laureate (a program of Heights Arts and Heights Writes), Peggy Spaeth, executive director, and John Panza, board president, of Heights Arts asked me to come up with a community-based poetry project.
Heights Arts, and the Heights Writes committee, facilitated the project. It’s a truly collaborative effort, involving not only Heights Arts and Heights Writes, but also the 10 poets and 10 photographers. Each poet-photographer duo was asked to choose a subject related to the theme of Coventry Village. Each pair agreed on a single subject, and then the individuals approached their chosen topic to create poems or photographs.
The event is part of the celebration of the 10th anniversary of Heights Arts and, appropriately enough, it’s being held on April 10 during National Poetry Month.
OA: What is it, do you think, about Coventry that provides such a rich backdrop for both words and images?
GB: Coventry is an integral part of the personality of Cleveland Heights. The tone of the street is result of the combination of people, businesses, architecture, history, events and activities found in Coventry Village. But above all, the rich backdrop comes from the people who live and work there.
OA: Coventry has changed a great deal over the years - since its 'heyday' 30 or so years ago - do you think it still retains the same 'vibe'?
GB: I think the vibe changes as times change, which is as it should be. Coventry today gives a nod to its own history, but very much reflects the contemporary era. To me, the vibe seems consistent in that it continues to reflect a thriving community of individuals.
OA: Why do neighborhood anchors like Tommy's and Mac's Backs matter so much to a neighborhood like Coventry?
GB: A sense of neighborhood emanates from the people in Coventry Village. Many individuals and businesses make Coventry what it is. The long-term community involvement and enthusiasm of people such as Tommy Fello of Tommy’s, Suzanne DeGaetano of Mac’s Backs and Steve Presser of Big Fun have greatly contributed to the personality of Coventry.
OA: Are the poets and photographers mostly established in the Cleveland/Cleveland Heights area, or will we see some new faces?
GB: I met some of the Poetography participants for the first time at our inaugural meeting, so I’m guessing that most people will see at least one new face in the lineup.
