When you think of Emily Dickinson, you think “Poetry.”
But walk through the Sawmill River Arts Gallery at the Montague Bookmill, and you’ll find the 19th-century Amherst poet has caused eight gallery members to think “Art.”
The gallery members have created an exhibit, called “Art and Verse,” inspired by the poetry of Dickinson, who lived and wrote in Amherst and is one of the most revered American poets. The exhibition is open through Oct. 16.
“Last year, we enjoyed creating ‘our’ Van Goghs after seeing the Clark Museum’s Van Gogh exhibit,” said gallery artist Louise Minks, “and reflecting on Emily Dickinson’s poetry this year has been a wonderful inspiration and discovery. Some artists have several pieces connected to her poems, often new to us, that both delight and challenge us.”
Members of the cooperative gallery enjoy collective efforts to explore ideas, art expression and creativity and hope these works will engage and delight customers, she said.
The Emily Dickinson Museum in Amherst is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its founding and the 200th anniversary of the building of the Homestead, where Emily Dickinson spent most of her life. Those celebrations gave the artists the idea of creating works connected to Dickinson’s poems.
The gallery and Bookmill are at 440 Greenfield Road, Montague Center.
Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays and noon to 6 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays. For more information, call 413-367-2885 or visit www.sawmillriverarts.com