Poster Image

Old woman dressed in black holding an American flag standing in front of the red building of Harriet May Mills Art and Home Center in syracuse

$20

Item#: 2021SYR15

Purchase Details

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.

Poem Inspiration Location

Old Woman, Straight Stride

poster information

Description

Old woman, straight stride
Mouth set, umbrella held tall
'Gainst soft spring drizzle.

The woman in my haiku, has a rich and vibrant story, one I'd like to hear. She and her bright umbrella catch my eye, her step is determined. A woman that knows what she wants and where she is going. A woman that has walked this way many a time. She has journeyed through valleys, mountains, and she is courageous.

I love to watch people and wonder. I love how God has manifested His glory in the world around us. His handiwork so complex, yet simply beautiful. God softens and brightens everything, clarifying meaning, purpose and truth.

So much to draw upon, including my work as a visiting nurse. I traveled city streets and country roads, being with people in their most intimate struggles and celebrating their achievements. Poetry is my way of giving voice and a picture to those experiences.

I chose to depict Harriet May Mills, prominent leader in the women's suffrage movement, born in Syracuse in 1857. As the backdrop, I featured the Harriet May Mills Art and Home Center, a permanent structure at the Fairgrounds that opened in 1934. The font I chose is called “Keep on Truckin,” which I thought was fitting given the circumstances of our present political climate. My hope is to pay homage to a true American hero by adding a touch of whimsy to an overly political time.

I gathered historical photos to use as visual reference and then assembled a digital collage with multiple layers of drawing and painting. I am grateful to be participating in the Poster Project for my third year!