Cleary University’s Justine M. Defever recently served as a poetry juror for the 9th annual Poetic Visions of Mackinac art and poetry exhibition, held June 22 at Mission Point Resort’s Center for the Arts. Hosted by the Mackinac Arts Council, the event features visual art and ekphrastic poetry — poems written in response to artwork — created by Mackinac Island Public Schools students and local community members.
As the poetry juror, Defever reviewed submissions across all grade categories and adult entries, selecting winners of the Poetry Award of Excellence. She shared her love for the genre during the event, explaining to the Mackinac Island Town Crier, “Ekphrastic poetry is, as a writer of poetry myself, one of my favorite genres of poetry. It is writing a poem that responds to a piece of artwork and, through that, we see so many new interpretations and details that people notice that maybe the original artist might not have intended.”
Defever also spoke about what makes a poem stand out, emphasizing the power of a strong beginning. “That opening line carries a lot of energy, and that is something that writers will specifically spend quite a bit of time on to really hook a reader,” she said. “The more creative, attention-grabbing that first line is, the more energy, that can really help a piece stand out.”
Reflecting on the event, Defever added, “It was a blast to see the creativity from grades pre-kindergarten all the way through senior year, and the adult works as well. It was a difficult decision for sure, but they were all beautiful and unique in their own way.”
The Poetic Visions of Mackinac exhibition remains on display at the Center for the Arts through August 31.
Read the full Mackinac Island Town Crier article here.
