In memory of National Poetry Month In April, West Hollywood Gateway will unveil an innovative poetry initiative, including electronic billboards showcasing the work of the five West Hollywood Poet Laureates.
Starting April 1, 2024, the electronic billboard located at Santa Monica Boulevard and La Brea Avenue inside the West Hollywood Gate will transform into a canvas for poetic expression. This captivating endeavor will feature verses and images from all five of West Hollywood's celebrated Poet Laureates, providing passersby with moments of reflection, inspiration and connection.
“Through these projects, I have met individuals who have been moved to tears, who have incorporated our poetry into their wedding vows, who have deepened their civic pride, who have been inspired to start writing their own poems, and who have formed meaningful connections with strangers, all of it,” said Mike Chee, arts coordinator for the city. West Hollywood: “Thanks to the power of poetry.”
Kim Dower, West Hollywood's second poet laureate and author of I Wore This Dress Today for You, Mom, expressed gratitude for the role of poetry in everyday life, saying, “Thank you to poetry for helping us get through our days. Thank you to West Hollywood for shining a light on it.” On poet laureates!
Conceived by West Hollywood's first poet laureate, Stephen Raines, the project aims to bring poetry to unexpected places and engage the community in the power of language and creativity. “Poems are posted on the New York subway, so it seems appropriate for the L.A. car culture to have poetry on billboards,” Rains said. “The West Hollywood gateway is where we shop and socialize, and April will be a place for casual poetry consumption.”
Keonte Vinson, Real Estate Associate at West Hollywood Gateway, stressed the importance of honoring National Poetry Month and WEHO Poet Laureates’ contribution to this art, saying: “West Hollywood Gateway is one of the pillars of culture and society. Therefore, we are proud to honor National Poetry Month this year, as we celebrate “With the art of literary and expressive creativity.”
The billboards capture the essence of West Hollywood's vibrant cultural scene, inviting viewers to pause, reflect, and connect with their surroundings. Charles Flowers, author of “A Thought of Him” and poet laureate from 2018 to 2020, expressed his appreciation for incorporating poetry into unexpected spaces, saying: “I love when poetry surprises us by appearing in unexpected places.”
Gene Cheng, the current Poet Laureate, highlighted the importance of engaging people in poetry at West Hollywood Gateway, saying: “Welcoming people to our busy eastern border of West Hollywood Gateway is a very important step to engage people in poetry – to share a moment of reflection as people pass by.”
Since inaugurating its first City Poet Laureate in 2014, the City of West Hollywood has recognized the transformative impact of poetry in the local community. Brian Sonia Wallace, a former poet laureate, shared his thoughts on his tenure, saying: “This award has been a privilege, an honor and a calling card.”
Throughout the month of April, residents and visitors are encouraged to explore the gateway to West Hollywood and experience the poetic legacy entrusted to the care of the city's esteemed poets.
To view the poem click on the link below:
https://www.stevenreigns.com/appearances/2024/3/22/billboard-up-on-labrea-and-santa-monica
