As an undergraduate at Syracuse University, Eric Darby majored in creative writing, specializing in poetry. The 2010 alumnus, who now lives in San Jose, Calif., always liked the idea of projecting art and poetry into the public space.

‘Any way to really combine art forms and to get poetry out to people instead of having it hidden in a book is great,’he said.

Darby heard about the annual Syracuse Poster Project before he graduated. Intrigued, he decided to submit a poem. It wasn’t chosen then, but this year it was selected to be paired with one of 16 current SU illustration majors’ poster designs. The finished products, which will be revealed Thursday, will be placed in poster kiosks throughout the city for the next year.

By combining work from SU students with creative poems about the Central New York area, the Syracuse Poster Project, which celebrates its 10th year, has remained dedicated to enlivening and enhancing the atmosphere of the city’s downtown area while creating connections among people living in the community.

‘I enjoy working on collaborative projects and any bright colors and art improv downtown,’ Darby said. ‘I’m definitely going to try to make it downtown while I’m back and see the poster.’

Since the project’s first year, it has evolved into a financially viable business that supports itself through selling the posters. Each poster sold has handwritten information about the artist and poet on the back.

‘The project brings together the artist, the poet, the people who purchase the posters and every person who sees the posters through the city,’ Emmons said. ‘It really brings people together.’

Ten years ago,empty poster kiosks lining the downtown Syracuse sidewalks inspired Jim Emmons, founder of the Syracuse Poster Project, to start this collaborative project.

‘Working downtown,I saw those poster panels go in, and I had high hopes for them functioning in a graphically interesting way, the way you go to a large city and you see interesting art and advertising on the sidewalks,’ said Emmons, who was disappointed to see the bare kiosks.

At the time,Emmons was a reporter at The Post-Standard and was looking to transition into a different line of work. The kiosks presented a unique opportunity.

After suggesting different ways to utilize the kiosk space to the Syracuse Downtown Committee, the committee decided to implement Emmons’ proposal of allowing a class of SU illustration students to create posters inspired or complemented by poems written by those in the Syracuse community.

‘It’s a win-win for the university and for the city of Syracuse because these students get the experience of a real-life project and having their work shown to the whole city and even possibly purchased,’ said professor Roger DeMuth, who has been teaching the illustration students involved with the project for the past 10 years.

The Syracuse Poster Project starts its planning phases in early August with an open call to all poets who would like to submit a haiku. Though the poetry aspect of the project is open to anyone, students seldom submit poetry for the contest. Emmons said in most instances,the submitter lives outside of Syracuse but is still an active part of the community. This past year alone, the project received approximately 202 poems from 90 poets.

A selection committee consisting of DeMuth, two representatives from the Syracuse Downtown Committee and a member of the Poster Project Board chooses 16 illustrations, meaning several students’ designs are not chosen.

‘I think it’s a healthy amount of competition that motivates them to work hard on their posters,’ DeMuth said. ‘It’s another aspect that makes it so professional, and I think the students really value and learn from that.’

Emmons decided to use haikus, a form of poetry he said is effective and succinct. Darby agrees it’s the best way to make poetry public and grab people’s attention.

‘Walking down the street, you can really absorb some of the syllables because you’re not going to stop and read a sonnet, you’re not going to stop and read 140 syllables,’ Darby said. ‘But if you’re running someplace and a bright picture attracts your attention and you read a quick poem, even by accident, I think that’s a great thing.’

Once poems are narrowed down,they are presented to DeMuth’s class, and each student selects one out of three poems that inspires him or her the most and creates an illustration for the poster in any medium of choice, from oils and watercolors to digital production. 

Sarah Hudkins, a senior illustration major, chose Darby’s poem referencing carp in Onondaga Lake.

‘I was definitely inspired by my poem because it reminded me of traditional Japanese haikus, but it was very close to Central New York because it’s about Onondaga Lake,’ Hudkins said. ‘I felt like I could create a design that worked well with the words.’

Hudkins said this project, though part of a class, has little to do with grades. Much like the connection created between Darby and Hudkins’ work,the Syracuse Poster Project fosters collaboration among individuals within the Syracuse community and brings the community closer together.

‘Syracuse is a really great city. There’s a lot of history and a lot of cool things going on,’ Hudkins said. ‘I think this is a perfect, great way to get public art into the city and work with other talented artists and also bring the university closer to the city.’

dmodiama@syr.edu

Published on April 13, 2011 at 12:00 pm

Contact Danielle: dmodiama@syr.edu | @daniemarieodie