Another World

“This must be another world.”  These opening lines of Hannah Christensen’s poem introduce us to Another World, an extraordinary book of poetry and art by young people, ages 7 to 16, from The Poetry Studio. The Poetry Studio, founded in 1995 by Ann Gengarelly, is indeed “another world” that inspires imagination and discovery. According to prizewinning poet/professor, Bruce Smith: "The students’ poems. . . are cracks in the construction, cures for the hurt, color for the bleakness, and challenges to the system.  These poems of love and rage are counterforces to unfeeling and silence. They are maps to be consulted when navigating the world. . ." The unfettered imagination of the poets is also represented in their compelling drawings and the artful presentation of their writing.

Another World is a testament to the wisdom and insight, the joy and compassion expressed by these young poets and artists.

Ann Gengarelly of Marlboro, Vermont

Ann Gengarelly, since 1980, has been a poet-in-the schools throughout Southeastern Vermont and neighboring Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Ann has taught poetry workshops on the Navajo Nation and was the head teacher for the Head Start Program in New Haven, CT. Also a classroom teacher for many years, Ann brings a wealth of expertise to her work as a poet-teacher. Ann holds an MA degree from Goddard College in creativity and education with an emphasis on poetry-in-the schools. In 1988 she received an honorary Doctorate for Teaching Excellence from Marlboro College. Ann is Director of The Poetry Studio in Marlboro, Vermont, where, she offers after-school programs for students from kindergarten to 6 th grade. The Studio also runs summer workshops for students (ages 7-17) that feature poetry, art and bookmaking. Since 2002, Ann has taught adult creative writing classes there as well. For seven years Ann was a Faculty Associate at Hampshire College and has been a consultant for the Integrated Day Program at the University of Massachusetts. She has designed and presented professional development workshops for teachers at Lesley University, Bank Street College and the Antioch, NE, Graduate School of Education.

Tony Gengarelly

Tony Gengarelly, Ph.D., is Professor Emeritus of art history and museum studies at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. Since 1999 he has taught art and bookmaking for The Poetry Studio’s summer workshops. He has written and published on a variety of subjects, including Early American Modernism, Native American painting and Outsider Art. Most noteworthy are articles for the Mind’s Eye and Folk Art Messenger; also publications on American poster art, Maurice Prendergast, and artists on the autism spectrum.  He has edited and written two books on the art of Jessica Park (Exploring Nirvana, MCLA 2008; A World Transformed, MCLA 2014).  Tony has curated individually or produced with his students over 40 exhibitions. Some of these have been featured at the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, Williams College Museum of Art and the Brattleboro Museum and Art Center. For the past fifteen years he has been the Director of the Jessica Park Project, an educational and professional program at MCLA (www.mcla.edu/JessicaPark).