ARTiFACTORY 2025- Part 1 & 2 Saturday, March 15, 2025

Join the Benzie Area Historical Society Museum and the Oliver Arts Center as they open ARTiFACTORY 2025, the place where poetry meets history. Through the power of poetry, we will explore history and find meaning as we uncover new personal truths. Register for a short class on the basics of how to write a poem at the Oliver Art Center (March 15 morning), then head over to the Benzie Area Historical Society Museum to explore the exhibits (March 15 afternoon). After a brief tour, choose an artifact that calls to you and that matters to you. You will start writing your poem inspired by your selected artifact. After the museum session, you will have a few days to finish your poem. Your original poem will be published in a chapbook, and you will be invited to read your poem at a reception (April 26) at the Oliver Art Center when the poetry exhibition is launched. ARTiFACTORY 2025 offers an inclusive platform for poets of all ages in our community to have an opportunity to have their poems published and to read their work at the opening reception.

The cost for the poetry class, handouts, National Poetry Month poster, museum tour, one chapbook, and reception is $ 25.00. There is no cost for those under 18.

For more information and to register, call the Oliver Arts Center at 231-352-4151.

Details:

Part 1 Activity: Basic poetry writing class

Date: Saturday, March 15, 2025

Time: 9:30 am to 11:30 am

Location: Oliver Art Center, Frankfort

Part 2 Activity: Museum tour, start writing a poem

Date: Saturday, March 15, 2025

Time: 12:30 pm to 3:00 pm

Location: Benzie Area Historical Society Museum, Benzonia

Part 3 Activity: Poems due by email (director@oliverart.org) to the Oliver Art Center on April 16, 2025

Part 4 Activity: Exhibit launch, reception, reading of poetry

Date: Saturday, April 26, 2025 (April is National Poetry Month)

Time: 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm

Location: Oliver Art Center, Frankfort

Instructor bio:

Steven Wade Veatch is an accomplished poet whose work resonates deeply with the landscapes and histories that shaped him. Born with a storyteller’s heart and an adventurer’s spirit, Veatch listened to tales of the Colorado mountains, mining camps, and the rugged beauty of the West from his grandfather—a key influence in his creative life.

Drawing inspiration from nature’s intricate patterns and the mysteries of the Earth, Veatch’s poetry weaves together themes of time, geology, and the human spirit. His verses are a testament to his intimate connection with the natural world, where each line evokes a sense of wonder and reverence for the landscapes he explores. Veatch’s poetic voice is equally informed by his academic pursuits. A scholar of Earth sciences, he bridges the gap between science and art, using his poetry to interpret and celebrate the world’s geological and ecological marvels. This unique perspective allows him to capture the essence of places like Colorado’s goldfields or Michigan’s Sleeping Bear Dunes with unmatched depth and clarity.

Throughout his career, Veatch has contributed to many publications, blending his passion for poetry with his background as an educator, scientist, and historian. Some of his poetry has appeared in Kansas City Voices, Colorado Life, and Deposits Magazine, among others. Whether he is recounting the past lives of ancient rocks or meditating on the quiet beauty of a sunset, his work invites readers to see the natural world with fresh eyes.

Steven Wade Veatch’s poetry is not just a reflection of his personal journey but a call to honor and preserve the Earth’s fragile beauty. His words inspire others to listen more closely to the whispers of the wind, the stories of the stones, and the timeless rhythms of the Earth.

Veatch holds a Master of Arts degree in management from Webster University and a Master of Science degree in Earth science from Emporia State University. Veatch is a member of Michigan Writers and the Poetry Society of Michigan. He lives with his wife near Kingsley, MI.