Celebrate Romance

Celebrate Romance
Friday, February 4, 7-8:30PM
Poetry Reading and Book Signing
Pietro DiGiorgio will read from his new book of poetry "Songs for My Love"

Poet Pietro Di Giorgio, 80, of Wyandotte will read from his new chapbook, “Songs for My Love,” during a special celebration of romance. Di Giorgio grew up in Dearborn, and taught English, literature and theater arts until he retired in 1988. He is a former president of the Dearborn Writers Guild, a member of the Downriver Poets and Playwrights. His work has been widely published. . The poetry in the book is for his wife, artist Sharlet DiGiorgio, who helped design the chapbook, which is published by Pietro’s small company, Poplar Press. The book can be purchased for $10, and the author will sign copies during the event. The poems are unabashedly romantic — “songs to the beauty of her essential soul,” he writes in a short introduction. In addition to the poetry reading, live music will be provided by Joe Yankee and Friends.

A drummer since childhood, Joe Yankee has worked many different venues and genres from playing in a rock and roll band he formed with brothers Steve and Jim in the late 60s-70s, to playing and singing in a dance band, to performing symphonic and liturgical music. But Joe's musical passion for most of his adult life has been in jazz, particularly straight ahead jazz and the cool sounds of Bill Evans, Kenny Burrell and early Miles Davis. Joe continues to expand his music knowledge and skills, and has recently begun private study with guitarist John Hall, with whom he often joins in performing for the Downriver arts community. He live in Allen Park with his very talented and beautiful wife, artist Martine MacDonald.

The celebration continues Saturday, February 5, 11:00AM-3:00PM Trunk Show and Lino-cut Demonstration featuring handmade cards and prints by John Benson, jewelry by Lisa Ackley, relief sculpture and jewelry by Elroy Grandy, and Pietro DiGiorgio will sign his latest poetry books, "Eloise" and "Songs for My Love".

John Benson finds inspiration from the ancient manuscripts of Western Europe and Ethiopia. From these and other sources he has developed his own vocabulary of meaningful designs - endless line of Celtic crosses, Ethiopian protective images, and Norse narrative figures. John also creates work in a more naturalistic manner in other seasonal and general images.

Elroy Grandy creates handmade relief sculptures and ceramic jewelry. He is currently Biddle Gallery's artist-in-residence.

Lisa Ackley is compelled to make things she can’t find. She's spent most of her life creating art and small treasures for friends and family, usually clever and always with a sense of humor. Lisa earned a BFA in sculpture from the University of Houston and Masters in Art Education at Wayne State University in Detroit. Lisa's designs are hand-drawn originals, inspired by Loteria (bingo) images from Mexico. Each polystyrene charm is hand crafted (no two are exactly alike), signed and dated, then sealed for protection. Glass beads and jewelry findings complete the look. The Loteria-Style is all about color and looking at words and objects in new ways; the fun part, of course, is matching them up into pairs/groups that mean something to the wearer and expresses the wearer’s individual personality.



Biddle Gallery
2840 Biddle Avenue
Wyandotte, MI 48192
www.biddlegallery.com