MANASSAS — Write by the Rails (WbtR), the Prince William Chapter of the Virginia Writer’s Club, is pleased to announce the launch of an area-wide poetry installation entitled “Poems Around Town.”
The brainchild of WbtR vice president Jan Rayl, the arts initiative is meant to encourage residents and visitors to “stop and read a piece of literary art they might not otherwise even glance at, something short that will get them thinking in a different way.”
According to Gotthardt, “It works very simply. We create and print a design with a member’s poem on standard size paper. Each poem is put in a clear stand or frame for placement wherever the hosting organization would like. The more visible, the better.”
Graphic designer and WbtR member Victor Rook created simple templates for participating members’ poems, carefully designed so as not to detract from the power of the words.
Gotthardt said the poems are family friendly. “There is no cost to the location owner, and we will advertise on social media, on websites and in local publications where people can find these exhibits once they are installed. Promotion of the hosting organization will remain active as long as the installation remains visible there.”
Five locations in the Manassas area have already agreed to participate. Gotthardt said she would like to see 50 locations in Manassas, Manassas Park, and Prince William County become installation hosts.
For more details and to become an installation host, email WbtR president Katherine Gotthardt. For more information on Write by the Rails, visit online.
Photo: Write by the Rails Facebook page
