The BYU Museum of Art held a Poetry Jam featuring student-written poems inspired by the museum’s "Crossing the Divide" exhibit on Thursday, Nov. 21.
With student poets from all majors and stages in their college careers, the event showcased the museum’s newly acquired exhibit that encapsulates the culture of American art. Eight students presented their poems live at the museum, standing in front of the piece they wrote their poem about. Those in attendance traveled throughout the exhibit to hear each student recite their original work.
The museum had held a poetry contest in early November, to which students submitted their poems about a specific piece they chose from the exhibit. The museum’s jury reviewed the submissions and chose eight to be read or recited at the poetry jam. The winners were Sydney Williams, Paige Winegar Fetzer, Elias Tucker, Santi Hulse, Zane Jeffrey Zaitzeff, Lydia McElroy, George Dibble and Samuel Rather.
“It was a lot of fun, there were way more people than I expected,” graduate student Paige Winegar Fetzer reflected. “The whole gallery was full.”
Fetzer is studying to earn a master's degree in creative writing. Her poem, titled “Gifford’s Prayer,” captured the beauty of Sanford Robinson Gifford’s painting titled "Lake Scene."
Senior Sydney Williams kicked off the evening with her poem titled, “Squinting in a Misty Forest.” She gained inspiration for her poem with George Inness’ painting, "November Montclair."
“I found this painting and I kind of just stared at it,” Williams said as she described the process of drafting her poem.
Feelings such as loneliness and regret filled her mind as she assessed the painting.
“I kind of thought about ... in my life, what pulls me out of that,” Williams expressed.
The way she overcomes dark feelings is when people call her name, Williams said. In symbolism of this, she used her name as the last line of her poem.
“I’m hoping that it gives hope to the person who is feeling lost or feeling regretful or not sure what direction to go,” Williams said. “Life is meant to be with other people, and it’s all gonna work out.”
While Williams originally intended her poem to allude to Christ calling her name, she later realized that it could be anyone who calls one's name to pull them out of darkness. It could be a family member, friend or other loved one, she said.
Mark and Lauren Ellison, both religion professors at BYU, attended the poetry jam in support of Williams. Last year, they visited the BYU Jerusalem Center with Williams, where Williams and other students founded a poetry club.
“When they started, she had never written any poetry,” Mark Ellison highlighted. “And now, look ... We are her fans.”
Family members and friends of all eight poets filled the museum with enthusiasm and passion.
The "Forgotten Man" by Maynard Dixon, "Navajo Lands" by Carl Oscar Borg and "To Them of the Last Wagon" by Lynn Fausett are among the pieces featured in the exhibit. Each of these pieces pay homage to the diverse and captivating culture that defines America.