ART inspired by travel to the American West

See America Singing 1

See America Singing 2

See America Singing 3

See America Singing 4

See America Singing 5

See America Singing 

Walt Whitman is easily one of America’s most well-known poets. His collection, Leaves of Grass, was published in eight editions during his life, each with revisions and an expanded set of poems that celebrated American democracy, individualism, and life, and connected individuals to each other and to nature.

The philosophy of ut pictura poesis (“as is painting so is poetry”) shaped how Whitman thought about art. He imagined visual artworks as being poems themselves and imagined his own poems as paintings. Whitman worked to capture the vividness of visual art in language, and he mimicked the mental and emotional stimulation of an exhibition space in his organization of Leaves of Grass. In both individual poems, like “Pictures,” and longer projects, like “Song of Myself,” Whitman juxtaposes brief depictions of contemporary, historical, and imaginary scenes, resembling the tightly packed spaces of large nineteenth-century exhibitions.

Walt Whitman’s investment in the art world and desire to merge visual art and poetry changed both genres of art, giving permission to artists to explore new expressions of personal and American identities. He continues to be an influence, encouraging us to connect with ourselves and the world around us.

In honor of Walt Whitman's 200th anniversary, I created this series of “visual poetry” inspired by the beauty of the American West. I am greatly concerned about the future of our national parks under the present administration. There is no regard for preservation and maintaining natural beauty for future generations. Instead, corporate greed encourages drilling and ruining the landscapes. I titled these works See America Singing.

Six of these works on paper will be included in an exhibit Voyages by Road and Sea, coming to the Free Library of Philadelphia’s West Gallery in October. This exhibition, organized in honor of the bicentennials of both Walt Whitman and Herman Melville, explores the idea of voyaging as a pathway to self-discovery. Highlighting collections held at the Free Library of Philadelphia and partner institutions, it will pair rare books, photographs, and historical artifacts with artworks by modern-day Philadelphia-area residents who find inspiration in Whitman’s and Melville’s writings.