Does art matter? It is easy to view art as a luxury or a pastime, but it is actually a fundamental bridge between our inner experiences and the outside world. When asked Does art matter ?  Catherine Brookes, of the National Endowment of the Arts answered:   “The arts matter because art is meant to move people either on an intellectual or emotional level. Whether this is a book that stays with you days later, or a performance that moves you spiritually or a song that makes y

freepik In a culture that often treats wellness as something to optimize, track, or purchase, creativity offers a quieter and more human path. Draw ing, writing, crafting, designing, or simply making something with your hands is not just a hobby—it can be a powerful wellness practice that supports mental, emotional, and physical health in a world that often seems chaotic. According to research psychologist Cathy Malchiodi Phd, LPCC,  “making art … may be as important to your

Zen living is an ancient Buddhist-inspired philosophy focused on bringing balance, harmony, and mindfulness into daily life through simplicity and minimalism. It promotes reducing stress and finding peace by living in the present moment, decluttering spaces, and accepting life as it is, often incorporating meditation,, nature, and wabi-sabi aesthetics.  Wabi-sabi is a Japanese aesthetic and philosophical worldview that finds beauty in imperfection, transience, and natural sim

If you search various online dictionaries for the meaning of the word lauraete , you will find variations of: a person who is honored with an award for outstanding creative or intellectual achievement . Some will mention, as in Nobel laureate or poet laureate.   Laureate is derived from the ancient Greeks’ use of crowns of laurels as a sign of distinction, honor, or merit. The leaves of the “Laurus” plant/tree were associated with divine inspiration. These trees were also ass

Like traditional poetry, prose poetry makes use or metaphors, symbols, imagery, and figures of speech. Unlike traditional poetry, prose poetry does not utilize stanzas or line breaks. Prose poems read like poetry but look like prose, having a narrative paragraph structure. Like verse, prose poetry has a poetic quality, often making use of repetition, rhythm, alliteration, allusion, and other poetic devices.   Campbell McGrath, an American poet born in 1962, wrote a prose poem

Molten Muse , my poetry chapbook contains 25 poems written over the past couple of years. It is being published by Clare Songbirds Publishing House of Auburn, New York. It is available now for presale. It will be "officially" launched on February 23, 2023. Several of the poems, such as "Moon Rabbit," have been previously published. Some of them, like "Hangin' with Goya," will be published for the first time in this chapbook. Here is the link for preordering Molten Muse:...

Merriam Webster defines  chapbook  as a small book containing ballads, poems, tales, or tracts . The first known use of the word chapbook  was in 1775. The word derives from the Old English for trade . These small books, or pamphlets, were sold by traveling peddlers known as chapmen. These peddlers carried their books from town to town, selling them for twopence or threepence. The books were inexpensive and widely sold, mostly to people who could not afford books. These were

Ekphrastic poetry highlights a (usually well-known) work of art. “Ekphrastic” derives from the Greek word for description​​.  Ekphrastic poetry can describe, explore, or expand on the content or subject of an art piece. A famous example of this genre of poetry is “ Ode on a Grecian urn ” by John Keats (1795-1821).  In this work, Keats speculates on the identity of the lovers who appear to dance and play music, simultaneously frozen in time and in perpetual motion: What men or

Talking River Review is published by Lewis and Clark College located in Lewiston, Idaho. TRR has published 4 of my poems in issue #55. Thank you to the editors for including me in this beautiful journal.

My poetry chapbook, Molten Muse, is in editing stage at the publisheer.

Did you know you can look for my art (paintings) at https://saatchiart.com/kennethjohnsonart

Alizarin Crimson is a poem based on memories of painting with my Grammy as a child. It is published Last Stanza Poetry Journal #15 --...

Advance praise for Molten Muse, my new poetry chapbook to be published by Clare Songbirds Publishing House, Auburn NY.