Poetry Sculpture: Try a New Style!

Summary

Lisa Bolin introduces a unique form of poetry expression called 'poetic sculpture', combining visual art with written words, and encourages others to try this innovative approach.

Abstract

Lisa Bolin, a poet and artist, shares her journey into the world of poetry, which began as a cathartic response to intense emotions and evolved into a daily practice of sharing poems with her muse. Over time, she has expanded her poetic expression to include various forms and mediums, from traditional chapbooks to Instagram-friendly blackout poetry. Bolin's creativity has led her to pioneer a new poetic form she calls 'poetic sculpture,' where she crafts three-dimensional shapes with words cut from pages, merging her love for language with her passion for art and craft. She invites fellow poets and artists to experiment with this form and share their creations with her.

Opinions

Bolin views poetry as a transformative force in her life, emphasizing its role in processing emotions and fostering creativity.
She values the tactile and visual aspects of poetry, as evidenced by her enthusiasm for creating physical manifestations of her work through chapbooks and sculptures.
Bolin is open to and inspired by the work of other artists, such as Christina M. Ward and Trisha Traughber, and is keen on exploring new poetic forms like calligramme poems.
She believes in the power of combining words with visual art to create a more immersive and engaging experience for both the creator and the audience.
Bolin is community-oriented, actively reaching out to fellow poets to collaborate and share ideas, and she encourages a supportive environment for artistic experimentation.

There are so many ways you can write poetry

The Magic Pathway — poetic sculpture (image & words: author)

She sensed the magic pathway that wound inside herself

My poetic journey started in response to some really intense emotions I was feeling. I was compelled to write. I sent poems to my muse every day in an email I called “Your Daily Dose of Poetry.” It was love and the words just came pouring out of me!

Since then, I have written hundreds of poems. In notebooks, on my phone, in Google Docs. Anywhere and everywhere.

I’ve made my own poetry chapbook, thanks to an event hosted by Christina M. Ward 💗. It was a fun and creative way to present my poetry. I wrote about it.

I also started sacrificing books to make poetry!

I decided to try blackout poetry when I started posting my own poetry on Instagram. It’s great for Insta — the images can look great. People come up with all sorts of beautiful drawings and patterns, making poetry from the words they find on that page. Other people’s words.

I Was Ready — blackout poem by Lisa Bolin (image: author)

Gradually life returned Love was enough I was ready.

One day I started cutting up pages and came up with the sculpture shape of the featured photo. I had found the words on a few different pages, using those that spoke to me. I then started twisting the strips I had cut out into shapes, taping them down.

I liked the loops the strips make, the shadows at different angles. I have always enjoyed art and craft, creating different things at different stages in my life (think kids costumes & cubby houses when the kids were little, life drawing & painting classes as a break from full-time mothering). This combines my love of words and for shape and form.

I’ve named this form ‘poetic sculpture’ — maybe it exists elsewhere? I’m not sure. I certainly love book art and sculpture, with folding pages of books, or sewing pages to make bookish sculptures. It’s on my ‘to try’ list. Along with Trisha Traughber’s suggestion of writing a calligramme poem. That is definitely on my ‘to try’ list (it’s getting longer by the day!)

Trying new forms of writing and using the beautiful marriage of words and art can be liberating, refreshing, and invigorating.

How about you try a poetic sculpture? If you do, tag me in it. I’d love to see what you come up with!

Apologies if I’ve missed you ❤ If you think anyone else might enjoy trying this, tag them below!

~thanks for reading~

Lisa writes poetry and other things from her home in Finland. Northern Notes is how you can keep in touch.

Poetry Sculpture: Try a New Style!

There are so many ways you can write poetry

My November Writing Experiment

An alternative NaNoWriMo experiment