Poetry Select "Winners"

We our proud to announce the winners of our "Poetry Select Award"; Susie Howard won the poetry select and Barry Hellman won our online voters poll. Read more poetry here>>>

Poetry Select Winner

Threads; Inspired by Sean Hurleys "Path to Ruin"

I know this place between rough walls
of toppling bricks burnished by time,
where puddling tears, shining like dew
flow through deserted alleys telling of
our lives, lived here in the laughter
of all poor working girls, wealthy in hopes,
earned through pennies for piecework.

Stitchers and buttonholers, rippers and
hemmers giggling of flirtations with
longshoremen and fools in the streets.

I was one of the many from distant homes,
our mended aches sewn in bleached-clean
cotton by our deft hands, turning fabric to
clothes while our voices lifted in joyful song
carried tenderly in our hearts’ memory and
gay flourishes spoke for our sadness and sighs.

I know this place where mirth was our supper,
where love was our safe shelter, and belief was
suspended by our piecework poverty.

by Susie Howard

Online winner

Madeira; Inspired by Darlou Gams "Early Morning"

Drawn in
by the soft edges,
the half light
of sleep or dream,
I’m looking through
the window
of a hotel
I visited
thirty years ago.
On one side,
the city of Funchal
at dawn—
lights turning off
as if
letting go
one at a time.
On the other,
the landscape
of Madeira
with suspended clouds—
and a hidden road
winding down
the mountain.
It’s 5 AM.
Time to talk
about what has been
ignored:
not the wanting
and striving,
but what to do
with the remaining days.

-by Barry Hellman

Touched by an Artist

First off, "what an amazing painter; William Thomson is truly one of the best American painters alive."

The experience of rifling through over 500 paintings was an experience unto itself. It was the first time in a long while where art moved me in such a way that it gave me goose bumps and put tears to my eyes. (Claudia went with me and both of us had red eyes by the time we were done). It took over 4 hours to go through his entire collection, I could not stop.

Bill Thomson's work creates a multitude of feelings, moods even some harsh realities but what's apparent is the skill of his brush and the use of color. His brush work is flawless using broad and tight strokes, creating soft and sharp edges but they all blend creating a mood in each piece. His color usage is spectacular using mostly earth tones in his pallet. Bill works in all kinds of mediums from acrylic, encaustic, egg tempera, oil to watercolor but somehow they all tie together producing an amazing image.

We are thrilled with the opportunity to add Thomson to our collection.

Represented in collections of; Britain Museum of American Art, Holyoke Museum of Art & History, Mattatuck Museum, DeCordova Museum, Berkshire Museum, and Slater Museum.