Where poetry meets art

When the works of two scions of the community like Milford’s Poet Laureate Chuck O’Neil and renown Milford artist Joe Splendora come together, it is a beautiful thing.

The event is called “The Poetry of Place” and it will be held at Forest Hall Studios. The opening is on Saturday, April 12, at 4 p.m. The exhibit will continue until May 3.

Steven Rosado, director of Business Development for Milford Hospitality Group (MHG) which is sponsoring the event said, “Through events such as ‘The poetry of place’, Milford Hospitality seeks to be a conduit for community engagement, bringing people together who might not otherwise gather in the same room.”

Both O’Neil and Splendora have deep roots in Milford. O’Neil and his wife Celeste have lived here for more than 40 years and his passion for Milford is expressed in his work. Many of his poems are about places in Milford.

He views his poems as paintings. “A poem is a piece of art on the wall.”

Splendora was an impressionist painter ((1916-1996) whose vibrant landscapes were loved beyond the confines of Milford. Some of his paintings seemed to have had a mystical effect.

And they are still sought after today. This is his first gallery exhibit in almost a decade.

O’Neil talks about a time before the Historic Preservation Trust of Pike County (HPTPC) was active and the town was a much different place. The HPTPC’s mission was just that — to preserve the antiquity of the town.

O’Neil was, in fact, a past president of this organization and is grateful for what they did to preserve the historic commercial district. In fact, the MEC (Milford Enhancement Committee) grew out of the HPTPC.

The HPTPC and Turano Insurance are the sponsors of this event. There will be a cash bar with local favorite bartender, Bob Grimm and a portion of those proceeds will go to the Greater Pike Foundation. Copies of O’Neil’s fifth book of poetry, “better gods” will be available for sale and he will be signing them around the fireplace.

Proceeds from the sale of this book will also go to the Greater Pike Foundation and he and Celeste will match the proceeds and give them to the Better Pike Foundation, as well.