Open Mic Night Coming to Valley Art Gallery

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Derby students' poetry published in anthology

Pictured from left, back row: Abby Kiraly, Joe Ferrigno, David Collazo, Danthy Nguyen, Jacob Boyko. 
Front row: Bella Bishop, Lana Drew, Pirnaaz Mekael, Della George, Cayla Cayer-McCarthy, Daemon Clark. / Contributed photo


DERBY - Bradley School third graders wrote Haiku poems that will be published in A Celebration of Poets.
Only selected student entries throughout the U.S. are chosen for publication. The purpose of this contest in is to inspire young writers in their creative abilities.
Joining the ranks of published student writers in this anthology is singer Taylor Swift whose work in fifth grade placed her in the Top 10.


This is a press release from Grade 3 teacher Anna Van Wyck.

Congratulations go out to the students and their teacher!

Poetry reading at Derby gallery draws small but supportive crowd

Jen Mandeville of Seymour reads a poem. Patricia Villers/Register

 
On Saturday my husband and I attended a poetry reading at the Valley Arts Council's Gallery@37 in downtown Derby. It was a success; audience members were supportive of all those who read. I'd venture to say it was the first of what will undoubtedly be a series of readings open to poets and writers of all ages.

I applaud those brave souls who shared their work.

I happened to be at the impromptu planning session for the gallery's first poetry reading back on April 20. I was there to take a photo of two of the arts council members, President Rich DiCarlo and gallery administrator BillieJo Scharfenberg, sitting in the near-darkness. The gallery's electricity had been turned off because the non-profit organization couldn't afford to pay the bill. The story appeared in the paper, and the power returned a few days later. I'm happy to report that the arts council received some generous donations from the community to boost its coffers.

Saturday's poetry reading featured Seymour High School senior Jen Mandeville. She had read some of her heart-wrenching poetry to a few of us gathered there that April Friday. That's when the idea for the poetry reading was conceived.

Jen is a talented young woman. She writes from the heart and listeners can feel her pain through her words.


I admire anyone who can not only pen a poem, but who can also get up in front of a group and read it aloud.  
Kudos to all those who did just that Saturday night. I'm looking forward to the next poetry reading, and I'll be sure to give people plenty of notice about when it's scheduled. Stay tuned.

Enlightenment found in the near-darkness

The Valley Arts Council's Gallery@37, at 37 Elizabeth St., Derby. Patricia Villers/Register 


Sometimes it helps to be in the right place in the right time.

That's what happened to me late Friday afternoon when I stopped in the Valley Arts Council's Gallery@37 at 37 Elizabeth St., Derby to take a photo of two board members sitting in the near-darkness.
The only light was natural light coming through the storefront windows. I had written a story about the lack of electricity earlier in the day. It was dark because the arts council, which relies heavily on state funding, couldn't afford to pay the electric bill.

When I arrived, an impromptu poetry reading had just started. A teen-ager read her poems that were filled with raw emotion. In one she talked about her late mother, who died 11 years ago, and what she would have liked to tell her.
Two of the women listening to her got tears in their eyes.

She also wrote about her bout with depression, and about a relationship that didn't work out.

I found out later the talented poet was Jen Mandeville, 17, a senior at Seymour High School.

After she read her poems, several council members there discussed holding a public poetry reading. Minutes later they decided to hold the first such event at 7 p.m. May 19.

The council has put out a "call to poets" for that night.  

As we sat in the late afternoon shadows listening to Jen, one person said the young poet had truly "enlightened" those of us gathered in the gallery without lights.

And I wholeheartedly agree.