2008 Woodie Awards
Humble Hurrahs at Emily Dickinson Museum
Kaitlyn Willcoxon
Issue date: 10/2/08 Section: Arts
Despite the dismal weather and the deflated balloons, the celebration of the Emily Dickinson Museum was, as the flyer promised, "Such a Hurrah!" The celebration was in honor of the joining of the Homestead, Emily Dickinson's home, with the Evergreens, her brother, Austin's home, five years ago.
Both homes were open to visitors all day with organized tours at the Evergreens and self-guided tours in the Homestead. The Evergreens was recently opened to the public after a courageous feat of conservation and renovation. The Evergreens was truly a Victorian time capsule; all of the furnishings, even the wallpaper, were originally purchased by Austin Dickinson. After walking through the home, it was eerie re-entering 2008.
Within the Homestead were drafts of Dickinson's poetry, including the challenging poem, "It Sifts through Leaden Sieves," biographies about Emily's close family members and posthumous editors, including a complicated affair between Emily's brother and Emily's editor, and information on the editing process. The highlight of the Homestead was the premiere of a 30-minute film, "The Poet in Her Bedroom" by Ernest Urvater, which used the beauty of the house and historic Amherst as a backdrop for some of Dickinson's poems.
By far the largest accomplishment was the reading of all 1,789 Emily Dickinson poems from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Some with incredible stamina read for hours; others eager for some minor poetic aerobics read one or two poems.
Of course, it would not be a celebration without the delicious cake and ice cream provided by Whole Foods Market and Herrell's Ice Cream. The food was a delightful caloric reward after sweating through several poems and a welcome rest for the intellect after the all-absorbing wonder that comes from Dickinson's works.
Both homes were open to visitors all day with organized tours at the Evergreens and self-guided tours in the Homestead. The Evergreens was recently opened to the public after a courageous feat of conservation and renovation. The Evergreens was truly a Victorian time capsule; all of the furnishings, even the wallpaper, were originally purchased by Austin Dickinson. After walking through the home, it was eerie re-entering 2008.
Within the Homestead were drafts of Dickinson's poetry, including the challenging poem, "It Sifts through Leaden Sieves," biographies about Emily's close family members and posthumous editors, including a complicated affair between Emily's brother and Emily's editor, and information on the editing process. The highlight of the Homestead was the premiere of a 30-minute film, "The Poet in Her Bedroom" by Ernest Urvater, which used the beauty of the house and historic Amherst as a backdrop for some of Dickinson's poems.
By far the largest accomplishment was the reading of all 1,789 Emily Dickinson poems from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Some with incredible stamina read for hours; others eager for some minor poetic aerobics read one or two poems.
Of course, it would not be a celebration without the delicious cake and ice cream provided by Whole Foods Market and Herrell's Ice Cream. The food was a delightful caloric reward after sweating through several poems and a welcome rest for the intellect after the all-absorbing wonder that comes from Dickinson's works.
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