The last installation in Empty Room at 13th and Webster (the Saddle Creek complex) is up and running with only a couple weeks left of poetry readings and chair building. Poet Matt Mason collaborated with furniture makers Peter Cales and Doug Kiser to create ORGANISM: A Festival of Words & Building.
Dominating the room is Peter and Doug’s “Organic Chair,” an L-shaped wooden couch (no pillows) that is being constructed from a random selection of boards and chair parts. The walls are lined with 8 1/2 x 11 sheets of paper displaying the poems that Matt and others have made a part of the space.
A photo of the chair from Oraganism’s Facebook page:
Poetry readings and slams led by Matt (schedule) take place at the same time as Peter and Doug’ construction, two very opposite activities that the three say create a unique experience when performed together. In addition, concerts, workshops, and other events take place throughout the week.
Community participation is essential to the success of ORGANISM. For the latest updates, visit their Facebook page: facebook.com/organismemptyroom. All events are free and open to the public, but small donations are encouraged — the majority of proceeds will be donated to local charities and used to support visiting poets.
The installation, and Empty Room, will celebrate its last day on Saturday, November 28 with a final poetry slam and the auction of the Organic Chair, a portion of the proceeds will also be donated to a local charity.
ORGANISM is the final of six month-long projects to be featured in the retail bay located on the ground level of the 22 Floors development. According to Empty Room’s website, Bluestone Development, Secret Penguin, and What Cheer created Empty Room to give a place to “artists, entrepreneurs, thinkers, environmentalists, teachers, etcetera who are interested in sharing creative ideas with the Omaha community. Rent Free.”
Earlier this week, the poetry side of the project received a great writeup by John Keenan in the Omaha World Herald: Poetry, seven nights a week.
Check out my interview with Peter, Matt, and Doug to hear more about the story behind ORGANISM and where they might take it in the months to come.
