re-published for our times

Trespasses – poem-film in English, made in France https://youtu.be/oIOqbPGRfMw

TRESPASSES by Philip Bennetta

(Oradour-sur-Glane, 2012)

the same stone

corner, crossing

well, church, road

overhead the telephone

cables, limp, mute

the stones fall

timbers collapse

piled-up

where they fell

gone now

the scorched stone wails

what is remains

this stone

supporting our gaze

now fallen; gently placed

the stillness, which trespasses

on dark ways

and under glass

beneath comprehension

among fragment, artefact

the melted lenses

in your tiny lunettes…

to help us see

after the eyes burn?

artist book project for 2026 is underway

artists/printmakers invited to collaborate in an artist book project by responding to a poem in a new collection by Philip Bennetta. The poem will literally find them (by random selection) . A good response so far, with an update to follow before the end of August, when the poems will be released…

more details to follow

end-thread

Cutting thread, collecting fragments, leftover pieces, questions that remain, inspired this meditation. It is to do with the art making process, arising in the final stages of the poem ‘Prayer’, prior to its publication. Thirty six poetry pamphlets form this hand-sewn limited edition, resulting in seventy two tail-ends of thread. These are made into a sequence of placed temporary works, photographed individually, and in grids. I tied the fragments to each other, using seventy two knots (see Franciscan Seraphic Rosary and Eastern prayer rope); this endearing soft-sculptural object, its juxtaposition to the poem, invites contemplation…

The music for the film is based on the poet’s response to a bird singing in the garden, while making the work. It is recorded on Celtic bouzouki…

With special thanks to artistic director Susan Bennetta for her critique, wise words and suggestions. This hand-sewn pamphlet is currently available directly from our small press http://www.artistspress.co.uk. Here’s the link to the film, thank you so much for reading its back-story, with all good times…

https://youtu.be/TfnlPa3u_Mk