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 A Poetry+ Poster Program
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What Is Idaho Skylights?
Previously published poems relating to Idaho by Gem State poets have been selected by five jurors for inclusion on a first-of-its-kind poster+ series, Idaho Skylights, which appears on selected Idaho school busses.
We say “first” and “poster+” because this is the first poetry poster program on public school busses in the country of which we know. (Let us know if we've got that wrong!) And the “+”? This is not just another “poetry-in-motion” plot. Our series features live poets and graphic artists riding school busses with their posters.
Sets of posters are sent out in Fall, Winter and Spring. Each set consists of six individual laminated posters with magnetic strips which hold them to bus ceilings and fuse to visually create a skylight, a skylight with six panes. In each pane: an Idaho poem. (A fourth set, consisting of poems and artwork by participating Skylight school students, will be created for next school year.)
Poets and graphic artists who ride Skylights busses discuss their work with students, conducting “moving” workshops, in part with the assistance of Magnetic Poetry, Inc., of Minneapolis, Minnesota who have donated hundreds of magnetic “refrigerator poetry” kits for Idaho students to use as they ride to school!
The rides, incidentally, are what qualify a school district for the Skylights program.
Qualifying school districts all have 1-2 hour-long rides to and from school. However, any school district in Idaho (or anyone, anywhere, for that matter) may visit our web site and download poems and other information.
When the bus arrives at school, the poet or artist may offer, in coordination with a local English or Art teacher, either a group, class, grade or school workshop, reading, or presentation.
In addition to the Department of English at Boise State University, the Idaho Skylights project has been made possible by grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Idaho Commission on the Arts, and Magnetic Poetry, Inc. The Idaho State Department of Education, Pupil Transportation Department has also provided technical advice and expertise.
Who Makes Skylights Possible?
Administration/Coordination
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Cort Conley Literature Director Idaho Commission on the Arts PO Box 83720 Boise, ID 83720-0008 cconley@ica.state.id.us 208-334-2119 |
Rod McKnight Supervisor, Pupil Transportation Idaho Department of Education 650 W. State Street Boise, ID 83720-0027 rmcknigh@sde.state.id.us 208-332-6853 |
Ruth Piispanen Arts Education Director Idaho Commission on the Arts PO Box 83720 Boise, ID 83720-0008 rpiispanen@ica.state.id.us 208-334-2119 |
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Tom Trusky Skylights Project Director Department of English Boise State University Boise, ID 83725 ttrusky@boisestate.edu 208-426-1999 |
John Battalio Idaho Skylights Webmaster Department of English Boise State University Boise, ID 83725 jbattali@boisestate.edu 208-426-3983 |
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