the York Poetry ApartMent Project
The York Poetry Apartment & Zine Project is a physical installation located in Downtown Hamilton that displays a new poem and new artwork each season. Each season’s poetry and artwork will also be published in the form of an illustrated art book, which you can pick up for free at the HPL Central Branch or the Hamilton Farmers Market.
On this website, you can view the project, see the behind-the-scenes process of creating it, and participate in shaping the next season’s poem, book, and display!
This project was made possible by the City of Hamilton’s Downtown Hamilton Creative Placemaking Grant.
About the Installation
The York Poetry Apartment sculpture was designed and fabricated by artist Ashley Feldman, with help from Dave Hind. It’s located in the butterfly garden at York Blvd. and James St. N., right across the street from the Hamilton Farmers Market.
It’s built to look like a tiny apartment building. In the windows, you can read excerpts from this season’s local poem and see some of the season’s artwork.
About the Poetry
Each season, the York Poetry Apartment will feature a new poem written by Lishai Peel. This season’s poem is inspired by the Hamilton Farmers Market, based on interviews with ______, ______, and ________.
Include the poem, a recording of Lishai reading it, and an annotated/hyperlinked text where people can explore how it was written.
About the Zines
Each season’s poem is used to inspire artwork, and the poetry and art are published together in a book. The artwork and book design were created by artist Sara Mann. You can read the book here or pick up a physical copy for free at the HPL Central Branch or at the Hamilton Farmers Market (while supplies last).
Participate!
Write in to suggest a new topic for next season’s poem, or to offer other feedback!
For example:
What stands out to you about this season’s display?
What do you think about when you read the poem or walk by?
What topics would you like to see addressed in a future edition of the project?
Are there people you’d like to see interviewed, or businesses in Downtown Hamilton that you’d like to see written about?
behind-the-scenes photos
