A selection of the poetry by Sharon Mendelson can be read in this collection of her work. Beautifully presented as an art portfolio, “from Walking” combines Mendelson’s powerful photographs of nature with words gathered while afeild. These written works came unbidden as Mendelson explored the wild, and through that quiet practice came closer to the spirit behind the place.
“from Walking”, hand constructed by the artist, contains a dozen of her poems and twelve paired photographs, often captured where the poem’s inspiration can be found. Each page of poetry, three poems presented in the triptych form, with an enlarged drop capital and printed on vellum, nestles over a threesome of Mendelson’s imagery. The photographs are printed on the same high quality paper Mendelson employs for her larger framed images and could be considered as frame-able. The photography, poetry and dedication pages are collected in a handsome cover that cleverly folds around the contents, protecting them is a self contained fashion.
A sample poem of “from Walking”:
A Marvel
A marvel in hue
born of my unembraced father
and the old hard edges of my mother’s earth,
your beauty astounds me.
I trust your wisdom of circumstance,
your memory of all.
Fragmented, shamelessly shaped,
your peace with gravity
your certainty of place
inspire me.
I see the crash of two worlds
form beauty in one.
With gratitude I take you to heart.