Poetry Night at The Artists’ House

Lory’s love of poetry began early. Growing up on Toronto Island, her mother Joan—who recently celebrated her 94th birthday—was a passionate reader and read to her every day. One of her favourite books was A Child's Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson, a treasured copy that Lory still owns today. Joan also encouraged her daughter's creative efforts and proudly displayed Lory's first published poem from Grade 2—a small piece of writing that somehow survived the decades and remains tucked away among family treasures.

Although visual art became her primary creative language, poetry never completely disappeared. Over the years, Lory has occasionally paired poems with her artwork, exploring the connection between image and word, and continues to be fascinated by the challenge of expressing ideas through both.

Her relationship with poetry deepened during her years producing Artfest Kingston. When poet Bruce Kauffman suggested creating a Poetry Tent at the festival, Lory immediately embraced the idea. The tent quickly became one of the event's most beloved features and continues to be part of the festival today.

Years later, when Kate Russell, Collingwood's Poet Laureate, suggested hosting a monthly Poetry Night at The Artists' House, Lory was equally enthusiastic. What began as an experiment has grown into a cherished community gathering, now entering its fourth year.

For Lory, poetry is a unique experience. It is not simply something to read, but something to hear. She loves the way words can wash over an audience, with a particular phrase or image suddenly landing in the heart or mind and resonating deeply. There is something magical about hearing poetry spoken aloud—something that creates a different connection than reading words silently on a page.

She is delighted to host this month's Poetry Night and looks forward to sharing an evening of words, stories, questions, and conversation with the community.