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Celebrating 16 Years as Barrington’s Signature Magazine
Celebrating 16 Years as Barrington’s Signature Magazine
Barrington’s White House Cultural Director Rollin Potter and his team have established this historic venue as a premier destination for regional performances and art gatherings. Going into 2021, most events will still be live-streamed, and you will receive your link before the event takes place. Go to barringtonswhitehouse.com/events for all the details and the many cultural events that are scheduled. Here are just a few of the exciting events:
In September 2020, Barrington Cultural Commission’s “Paint the Town Barrington” Plein Air outdoor painting event attracted artists who painted a scene within the Village. The First-Place winner was Michael Latala, whose art studio is located in Arlington Heights, Illinois. Latala was chosen from 17 contestants who participated. The juror was Nancie King Mertz, Master and Eminent Pastelist and co-owner of ArtDeTriumph and Artful Framer Studios in Chicago. Latala was awarded $500 and asked to produce a live painting in Memorial Park on September 11, 2021, to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attack on the United States. Pictured are Michael Latala and Nancie King Mertz.
Over the past 16 months I’ve spent more time writing. More time researching and exploring the ways we, as humans, maintain our healthy attitudes, our emotional health, and what encourages us to explore the world beyond our favorite chair or back patio.
So, I decided rather than write my findings, why not try to write poetry to both explore and explain what I heard, felt, and saw these past years?
“Somewhere Past Gum Creek: Poems, Prose, Perspectives” (Eyecatcher Press 2020), is my debut book of poetry and 12th book overall since 1996. This contemporary collection of poems, by far the most personal and vulnerable book I have tackled, explores themes around nature, relationships, life goals, adventure into the great wide open, gratitude, and life meanings. The book is live on Kindle now and also features 70 pictures of paintings, sculptures, drawings, and photography I’ve created over the past few years as another way to reinforce the poems’ themes and sensory experiences.
What we believe to be a unique aspect of this book is the bonus section that shares the neuroscience research behind poetry’s powerful and known efficacy to enhance our overall well-being. It’s not a fluke we feel better reading any poetry—as there is a positive physiological change that occurs in our bodies as a result of poetry. For these reasons, the plan is to introduce the book into the corporate and health care worlds as an additional tool for leaders to enhance the overall health of their workforce, as well as to encourage health care companies to find more ways to introduce the poetic word into the workplace with any books of poetry. Even 100 years ago, doctors were using poetry as a holistic tool for calming patients and encouraging stress and depression reduction. There are even more benefits around creativity, problem-solving, and increased empathy.
For insight to the book’s content, free samples, visit russriendeau.com or Kindle to order this book. Custom orders for physical copies are also available for corporations.
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