This week I am #beingmamére in New Orleans. My grandson, Thomas, is in first grade, and I have the duty of getting him to school on time and picking him up. What should I do with the time in between?
Yesterday I had tea with my cousin who teaches architecture at Tulane. He suggested that I visit the Ogden Museum to see a new show of contemporary Louisiana artists. Amazingly, traffic was minimal, so I was able to get there and park without too much anxiety. I also lucked out that the museum is free to Louisiana residents on Thursdays. Meant to be.
I happened upon a photograph by Jennifer Graycheck. Hey, I know her! She lives in New Iberia and teaches art at the school where my girls went. She also has an amazing sunflower farm with her husband who is a landscape architect. She took my author photos! And here she was in a juried show at the Ogden. What an amazing accomplishment!
As a poet, I was attracted to the artists’ statements. For today’s Poetry Friday, I am sharing an art piece called “Flamingos” alongside a found poem from the artist statement. And her name is Margaret!
Like flamingos,
girls embody grace
in uncertainty—
Flood water
a landscape of disaster,
gold emergency
sealed in physical
figures.
Margaret Simon, found poem
Lovely and sensitive found poem Margaret, and what a rich museum visit you had! Thanks for sharing the handsome art and your poem!
Thank you for taking us along on your wonderful outing, Margaret! So much talent all around. I adore found poetry; thanks for sharing yours, full of the tension of girls growing up.
Wow, Margaret, what serendipity found as you have the days with your grandson. finding the Ogden & the Lucious found poem with the art. I imagine you were thrilled to read & see that one, “like flamingos”! Have a nice weekend!
You wove this post together beautifully, Margaret. A delight from top to bottom. xo
The words you found possess a natural grace, Margaret. Great bit of weaving.
What a lovely way to spend a day – – in an art museum, where you discover that in the immensity of the universe, a friend’s art is there in all the beauty. The found poem is a joy – – I’ve received some in the postcard exchange that remind me so much of this one, with its collage and mail feel. Thank you for sharing your walk through the museum with us.
What a fun museum visit! Love the flamingos poem and the happy pic of you with your friend’s photograph. 🙂
I’m glad you enjoyed your time at the museum, Margaret. Artist’s statements are hard to write – both my husband and I have had to write them to describe our history, craft, and inspirations. Sometimes they have word limitations too – which makes them all the more difficult. When we visited the art shows this summer where my husband was a admitted as a juried artist – we spent time reading the artist statements. There is quite a variety as you can imagine! Enjoy your grandson.
I love that you’re still junk-journaling your summer! You inspire me!! And how fun that you found a friend at a faraway museum!
Margaret, your junk-journeling is filled with what you saw and what you offered us. The artwork by another Margaret is so vivid and the opening lines of your found poem an interesting arrangement of words. The grace of a flamingo, kept me looking into the painting. Have a wonderful school year as Thomas’ companion and driver. Enjoy “beingmamére”!
What a lovely way to spend that day, Margaret. I hope it’s been a wonderful week!
Found poems! Love that! I read today how important it is to go to galleries and sit quietly with art. How it affects your cortisol levels immediately and the effect lasts for a long time. Time to go to a museum!