"Living means grappling with the unexpected. A sudden disruption and change affect what we felt we knew, and it shakes our core. We are left with an altered landscape and sense of loss, tangled in layers of uncertainty and grief."
Reclaiming Space: An Evening of Poetry was held on the second floor of the MSU Union on Feb. 5. The event was hosted by the Department of Art, Art History and Design and The Poetry Room, a local poetry open mic.
The event was held in tandem with the current exhibition at the MSU Union Art Gallery entitled Reclaiming Space: A Collaborative Exhibition. The exhibit invites students to paint, draw, make origami flowers and reclaim a space that many feel was lost after the events that took place on Feb. 13, 2023.
Director of Galleries and Outreach Laurén Gerig felt inspired to create this event after starting her position this past August.
"When I came into this position and I was working at the Union, I felt this visceral response entering this space," Gerig said. "I realized, ‘you’ve thought you dealt with this, but there’s still something there,’ and I thought, 'I’m sure I’m not the only one.'"
Gerig realized that the Union Art Gallery was a prime location for not only a collaborative exhibition, but also a poetry night that could serve as a place of healing. She partnered with her friend Masaki Takahashi, the founder of The Poetry Room, to produce a night of poetry, art and healing that could bring students, faculty and community members together.
"It’s been really powerful and moving to see so many people come together, willing to share their stories and be vulnerable," Gerig said. "This event has been incredibly beautiful, empowering and more than I imagined."
The event featured poems and a musical presentation from students, faculty and community members that volunteered to share. One performance was delivered by neuroscience fourth year Felix Owinga.
Owinga spoke to feeling lost after the events of Feb. 13 and having to reclaim himself. In his poem he said: "I want to let myself drift into the waves, but a lifetime of winds and water has whispered secrets to me... I pop my head out of water and gulp in breaths of fresh air that remind me I’m alive. Wondering if I can teach my old body a new way to live."
Owinga's poem captured the sentiment that transcended the night: reclamation.
Faculty members such as journalism professor Tracy Anderson spoke to the process of healing in her poem "Today."
"Here in this vast body of water, she feels seen, life has been mean, but on the surface, like her reflection, today, she only sees the sun’s gleam," Anderson recited. "From the air to the water, it is a new day today."
Over 16 individuals gave performances that reflected the need for healing spaces and community support. They expressed feelings of sadness, grief, regret, hope and commitment to healing and reclamation.
Journalism and creative writing junior Cassidy Howard gave a performance at the open mic, and afterwards gave insight into the importance of expression in the process of healing.
"I'm a firm believer that the opposite of war isn’t peace, it’s creation," Howard said. "Anytime I have a big feeling, I write about it... a poem is somebody that you can always talk to, and that’s very helpful."
Not only can writing poetry help heal one internally, but sharing that poetry can create a ripple effect wherein one finds they are not alone.
Howard shared a poem at the event in which they drew parallels between MSU students and superheroes, reminding the crowd of the heroes that exist within everyone.
"I never saw Clark Kent find the strength to ask for help, learn to put himself first when the world shows you its worst," Howard said. "We might not feel like that definition of strong, but man, Mr. Incredible couldn’t be Spartan strong if he tried."
After the event, Gerig spoke about the importance of the exhibition and the poetry open mic.
"What this exhibit is doing is allowing people to leave their own mark while becoming a part of this bigger picture," Gerig said. "Every mark that was made on that canvas remains; it remains even if it’s no longer visible. You can still see the vestiges of that history, that belonging; it’s all still there."
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The open mic poetry night was a space for community healing and inner expression. Every voice was met with kindness, and every joke met with laughter. Gerig plans to make Reclaiming Space a yearly event so that more poets and community members can share their art next year.
The Reclaiming Space collaborative exhibition will be available for students to create and collaborate until Feb. 15.
