Haiku-Art Exhibit to Capture the Moments of Your Life

Charlotte Digregorio’s haiku exhibit at the Wellness Center of Northwest Community Healthcare isn’t just for poetry lovers, but for anyone who delights in art combined with the written word. Digregorio believes that people who don’t normally read poetry are drawn to it when they read haiku combined with art. The exhibit, free and open to the public, is co-sponsored by the Northwest Cultural Council, and runs from Sunday, April 2 through Saturday, July 1 at the center, 800 W. Central Rd., Arlington Heights.

“Haiku are short and capture the moments of our lives,” Digregorio says. “They are healing thoughts, because in reading them, we realize that others feel and experience life as we do. They can be written about anything, are insightful, and often help us through challenging times,” Digregorio adds.

Haiku are written in 56 languages by about 40 million people, and are becoming a fad worldwide, Digregorio says. She believes that the Wellness Center is a good venue for her illustrated poems evoking a gamut of emotions, “helping us all to put our daily lives into perspective.”

Digregorio of Winnetka is an award-winning “People’s Poet,” who attempts to reach those of all ages and backgrounds, working to make poetry more visible as a mainstream art. The author of Haiku and Senryu: A Simple Guide for All and five other award-winning books, she has won 41 poetry awards and was nominated for a Pushcart Prize. Her poetry often appears on public transit, at restaurants, botanic gardens, in banks, stores, museums, and in library exhibits.

The author’s haiku are primarily illustrated by Chicago artists, including Lidia Rozmus who creates sumi-e (black ink paintings). Other paintings and graphics were commissioned by sponsoring organizations of competitions that Digregorio won.

Digregorio gives poetry workshops, speaks nationally at writer’s conferences, is a writer-in-residence at universities, and she hosted her own radio poetry program. She served as an executive officer of the Haiku Society of America, and blogs “The Daily Haiku” at www.charlottedigregorio.wordpress.com.

The author’s exhibit is one of many year ‘round shows that the NWCC co- sponsors at various northwest suburban venues. They include sculptures, textiles, portraits, and landscapes using oil and watercolors.

The NWCC of Barrington is a non-profit organization. It supports and promotes the work of area visual artists and poets, offering exhibitions, co-sponsored by businesses, convention and visitors’ bureaus and libraries; “Kids Meet Art”™ programs to support art in the schools; and art competitions to stimulate, promote, and encourage artists.

For more information about NWCC exhibits, call 847-382-6922.