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eye the beholder

JC Olsthoorn

“eye the beholder” is a mixed media digitally manipulated project that presents visual experiences through layering.

The layered pieces are composed of both opaques and transparencies, colours, blacks, whites and greys.

The result is a visual experience that explores the depth of perception, vision and the reflections of what we see and want to see as our mind plays tricks on us often blocking out what is really there.

last reading - JC Osthoorn
last reading

for John, the hipster of Joy Street

I

its cover seems a palimpsest
with tiny rips and tears
peeling back the new image
peering into the whirlpool
no work is ever finished

it is too painful to think so deeply
self-inflicted pressure
forged
transubstantiated into poetry

II

not a question of gay or straight
how we, humanly, are attracted to
and moved by one another
how we know another as being here too

III

cultural icons
died young
quit smoking
moved to the suburbs

IV

the crumpled scrap
one incarnation of an idea
self-effacing to the point
of almost erasing

words as intercessors
between the tumult
life
love
lonely interior world of poetry
reliquaries and
holy cards and
prayers

V

lasting bridges
built with words
on poems – secular prayers
breach the divide

in many ways the foundation
whenever he starts to stray

[Note: The basis for “last reading” is an image of John Wieners at his last known poetry reading.]
others - JC Osthoorn
others
run or dye - JC Osthoorn
run or dye
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JC Olsthoorn

JC Olsthoorn spends time at the Domaine Marée Estate near Otter Lake, Québec, doing stuff involving raw poetry, coarse art and scratch cooking. His poetry has been published, artwork exhibited and cooking eaten and enjoyed. JC's artwork can be found at: olsthoorn.ca.

Author: JC Olsthoorn Tags: digital art, John Wieners, mixed-media, poetry Category: Poetry, Visual Art and Visual Poetry December 23, 2016

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Comments

  1. Tarun Khaling says

    January 1, 2017 at 7:28 pm

    I loved the images and simple words but meaningful.

    Reply
  2. Susan Jephcott says

    December 28, 2016 at 2:15 pm

    Hey John this is neat work….good on ya….love the images and simplicity of words!Susan

    Reply

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Empty Mirror

Established in 2000 and edited by Denise Enck, Empty Mirror is an online literary magazine that publishes new work each Friday.

Each week EM features several poems each by one or two poets; reviews; critical essays; visual art; and personal essays.

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