Nineteen high school students in the North East School of the Arts (NESA) Creative Writing program were chosen to contribute poetry to the literary arts aspect of the McNay Art Museum’s current Robert Indiana: A Legacy of Love exhibit which honors the life and art of the late Pop icon. Each of the student’s poems will be a part of a “poetry bank” that visitors may access by texting a key word as they experience the exhibit. The poetry bank can also be accessed off site for interested patrons that can not visit the exhibit in person.
In September, the McNay Art Museum in collaboration with San Antonio-based writing center Gemini Ink put out a call for submission for micro-poetry and prose which celebrated the life and themes of acclaimed pop artist Robert Indiana. Indiana’s highly original body of work explores the American Identity through the power of abstraction, symbolism, and language. Indiana’s art anticipated the current digital movement using short, text-based bursts of communication in his unique approach to art. The poetry which NESA students, as well as other writers, created, will become a part of the conversation that patrons will see and read as they explore the McNay exhibit.
“It’s been a challenge for students to find their well of creativity this year,” said Amie Charney, NESA Director of Creative Writing. “To have the McNay Art Museum and Gemini Ink, two jewels of the San Antonio arts community, create an opportunity to be inspired by Robert Indiana’s work and submit our own poetry was a tremendous opportunity. My students are beyond thrilled and honored.”
The following NESA Creative Writers work was selected: Kaitlin Arocho, Chelsea Brown, Elizabeth Baseley, Marissa Bazan, Isabel Brown, Leo Callanen, Avery Cansler, Alexander Charney, Keira Clements, Theo Crump, Catherine Day, Joselyn Hofer, Lyda Martin, Amaryllis Martinez, Kailey Monsivais, Paulina Pearson, Andrew Ramon, Ricardo Rodriguez, Belyn Thompson. Also accepted was NESA’s Creative Writing Instructor, Amie Charney.
The exhibit is on view at the McNay Art Museum from October 15, 2020 until January 24, 2021. Patrons can interface with the poetry bank by texting one of these key words: LOVE, AMOR, POP, ART, VOTE, SOLDIER, HOPE, LEGACY to (830) 468-9600.
Three of our NESA Student’s poetry was also featured in a recent issue of The San Antonio Express-News: https://www.expressnews.com/entertainment/arts-culture/article/McNay-Art-Museum-visitors-can-leave-Robert-15694584.php