Notes for the Dictionary Poem Project, Editions I & II

While I’m passionate about all my artwork and writing, the dictionary poems are particularly important to me. In terms of appeal and communication they are accessible, seeming to bridge divisions of class, age and ethnicity. They are available as archival prints sized 17″ x 22″ and in a smaller format as cards 5″ x 7″, all at reasonable cost. The cards are small touchstones people tell me they keep in view on a shelf, a windowsill or a desk. I like that while the cost of a poster may be out of reach for some, the cost of a card is less than a coffee at Starbucks.

The Dictionary Poem Project, Edition I was enthusiastically received in a variety of settings and venues:

1. It was initially exhibited in 2011 at Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville in a show entitled Inclusion curated by the artist Edna Patterson Petty.
2. In 2013 the prints were included in Brave New World: Art of the Book in the Digital Age at the Mitchell Museum, Mt. Vernon, IL curated by Rusty Freeman. The prints book and writers’ block are in the museum’s permanent collection.
3. In 2014 several dictionary poems were selected for an urban poetry walk and installation in St. Louis titled Poetry of the Wild/Fusion curated by international artist Ana Flores.
4. In 2015 MetroArts in Transit’s MetroScapes initiative selected the dictionary poem world peace for display as a large format poster at multiple bus shelters and train stops throughout the Metro area.
5. In 2015 world peace was exhibited at Hoffman Lachance Contemporary, St. Louis in the MetroScapes 2015 exhibit.
6. In 2016 the Dictionary Poem Project received an Artist Support Grant from the Regional Arts Commission, St. Louis.
7. In 2019 the Dictionary Poem Project, Edition II was published in December Magazine.
8. In 2020 the Dictionary Poem Project, Edition I & II was exhibited at the Kranzberg Foundation’s High Low Literary Café. More information about this exhibition can be found at the Kranzberg Arts Foundation website.