Last Saturday was Siamese Sisters: A Poetry and Art Show. It was an event my sister and I have been planning for a year, writing poems (me) and creating art (her). Saturday afternoon it all came together.

She and her husband arrived Thursday night. We stayed up late talking and the next morning my sister and I were up early, hitting the trail for a walk. Later we headed to the Renwick Gallery to see the Wonder exhibit. If you haven’t gone to the exhibit yet be sure to visit it soon, it’s leaving May 8th and it is absolutely amazing and worth seeing. I really wanted to take my  brother-in-law to this exhibit because he’s an entomologist and Jennifer Angus’ art features insects. I knew he’d love it.

We wandered through the gallery, taking in each artist’s interpretation of wonder. As predicted, my brother-in-law spent the most time in what I called the bug room. I was just outside the bug room when my sister came rushing out. “Courtney, you have to see this!” I followed her in and was amazed at what I saw.

Included in Angus’ insect room was a unique dresser with small dioramas featuring insects; it looked like a doll house but instead of little people there were bugs: bugs serving their families dinner, bugs in the bedroom, and then, the diorama my sister wanted me to see – an insect studying a book…that featured a Siamese twin skeleton! But not just any Siamese twin skeleton, the same Siamese twin skeleton that graces the cover of my chapbook!

Wonder exhibit

Wonder exhibit

 

If this wasn’t a sign the show was going to be amazing then nothing was!

Friday night Kirsten and I headed to the studio to be interviewed (podcast forthcoming!) and hang the remainder of the artwork.

Ready for our show!

Ready for our show!

 

Saturday morning dawned bright and my sister and I went for an easy run before heading to Studio Pause. Everything was in place – the artwork and corresponding poems were up on the walls and the books were lined up. Kirsten and I were ready for our show!

Sitting pretty

Sitting pretty

 

The show was good, I explained the idea behind the project and then I read some poems. Kirsten explained the process of her artwork and then we answered questions.

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I sold a bunch of books and Kirsten sold almost all her canvases and a bunch of prints. If you didn’t get a book you can still get one – $10 if you’re local, $12 if I have to mail you the book. We were both very pleased with the turnout at the event and with the entire process. We’re even talking about doing another show together!

Siamese Sisters: the painting and the poem

Siamese Sisters: the painting and the poem