The beauty of nature has always been extoled by poets and artists. In Elizabeth Cunningham’s new poetry collection, both are on full display.
Elizabeth presents her book Look to this Day, Poems for Doris McCarthy, on Saturday, April 26 at 7pm at the Nelson Public Library.
Elizabeth’s reading is accompanied by a digital presentation of many of the beautiful images reproduced in the book: the paintings of celebrated Canadian landscape painter Doris McCarthy, which served to inspire Elizabeth’s poems, as has the life of McCarthy itself.
“She was able to transform her love of nature into compelling art, which describes her connection to both the vast landscapes and the fine details of the natural world that fascinated her,” says Elizabeth.
Through her book, Elizabeth has created a compelling poetic profile of an artist who devoted her life to understanding and representing the natural world.
“Her enduring zest for life, persistence in times of trouble, and dedication to her work, so clearly apparent in her memoirs, is remarkable. All of these qualities and characteristics in Doris have been very inspiring to me, both as a writer and in the way I would like to live my life.”
For both artists, nature and landscape are defining themes. Elizabeth’s love of nature led her to the Kootenays—the mountains and rivers, flora and fauna—and these find a special place in her poetry. Doris McCarthy, a student of Group of Seven members Arthur Lismer and J.E.H. MacDonald in Toronto in the 1920s, put her own unique stamp on Canadian landscape painting.
The event also does double duty, celebrating National Poetry Month and Nelson’s celebration of Earth Week. It promises to be an irresistible combination for anyone who loves poetry, art, and the wild natural world around us.
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