$20
Item#: 2013SYR05
11x17-inches, printed on heavy weight (100-pound) Hammermill cover paper. We package each print with a piece of chipboard in a clear plastic sleeve.
You also receive…
An information page with photos of the artist and poet, and hand-written comments from each.
Medium- and large-format posters are available by custom order. Contact us for details.
Tea room; warm, fragrant.
Blossoms in brew open wide
petals, and senses.
My haiku was inspired by the Roji Tea Room in downtown Syracuse. As I entered Roji's on my first visit, I noticed one group at a table animatedly discussing poetry. I felt right at home! Enveloped by their fragrance, I was enchanted by the many kinds of exotic teas, as blossoms spread their petals at the bottom of pretty cups and pebbles danced in glasses of warm tea, daring you to draw them up through your straw!
I am happy to share this experience in my haiku and thrilled that it was chosen for illustration. The Syracuse Poster Project, combining two art forms, has been a wonderful new addition to the culture of our community.
When I initially read the poem, it seemed to describe a calm environment—serenity in Syracuse. I wanted the piece to be more about the mood from the poem rather than a literal place. This particular poem felt warmer, and it described a different aspect of Syracuse that I'm unfamiliar with.
Translating a haiku into a visual image is difficult. During the initial sketch stage, it was challenging to think of visuals that would capture the emotions behind the writer's words. Even with this challenge, it was fun, especially towards the end when I was experimenting with different mediums. From my last semester, it was probably my favorite piece.