I’m excited to let folks know about some new fine art prints that TLP now has to offer. On numerous trips to Camden, N.J., to work on the new Turtle Light Press book, Nick Virgilio: A Life in Haiku, I snapped photos of the area and now have turned them into digital paintings, each one accompanied by a different haiku and reproduced in a haiga — a Japanese print that combines images and haiku. To see what these new prints look like, you can go to this new link on the Turtle Light Press website store by clicking here.
These haiga have been made over the past year and a half but only now have been completed and made available to the public in the form of fine art prints. They were first introduced at the annual Virgilio birthday commemoration, which is held each summer by Virgilio’s grave in Camden, which is one of the poorest cities in the U.S. It gives me a lot of pleasure, then, to be able to turn some of the places that I saw in Camden into art and to help improve the image of the city.
For now, you can choose from one of five images about lilies, bridges, walking, baseball and diners. More fine art prints will be made available through the coming year. They can be purchased in a variety of sizes, either by themselves, matted or framed. Free shipping is provided in the States; please inquire about shipping charges for Canada or special delivery.
In addition, I am working on a limited edition of a series of black and white fine art prints based on Virgilio’s poems about the death of his youngest brother, Larry, in the Vietnam war. Once the images are ready, I hope to be able to have a gallery show in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War commemorations, either in Washington, D.C. or Camden.
By combining Virgilio’s haiku with images of the city where he lived, these images and haiku are made even more memorable. I hope folks will enjoy them and, if they feel so inclined, will help spread the word to haiku friends and family, either through social media or an old-fashioned phone call. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at: rick@turtlelightpress.com
