(Note: Non-affiliated links)
For the first time, the Ingersoll Cheese and Agricultural Museum held a Cheese and Verse Poetry Night on Thursday March 14, 2024. Museum Manager, Stephanie Conron, was surprised but pleased with the turn out of over 50 people who attended.
The museum was transformed into an ambient subdued lighting, strung throughout the entranceway, all the way to the back of the museum with the soothing sounds from Brian singing and playing his acoustic guitar. An enticing table of various delectable cheeses, crackers and jams, provided by The Wine & Cellar Cheese shop, met visitors, where beverages, alcohol and a delicious raspberry drink was served.
The museum was transformed into an ambient subdued lighting, strung throughout the entranceway, all the way to the back of the museum with the soothing sounds from Brian singing and playing his acoustic guitar. An enticing table of various delectable cheeses, crackers and jams, provided by The Wine & Cellar Cheese shop, met visitors, where beverages, alcohol and a delicious raspberry drink was served.
charcuterie from The Wine & Cellar Cheese shop
The exhibit, poetry, consisted of pieces of paper with words and illustrations on them, strung along on string and wires hanging down from the ceiling. It created a warm and inviting atmosphere. To set the stage for the poetry readings and open mic, local Poet, Shelby Marie, created personalized poems which she typed out on her vintage Underwood typewriter.
Local Poet Shelby Marie
A staff member read a poem Shelby wrote about her almost one year old son which was read during the open mic portion of the event.
Ingersoll Mayor, Brian Petrie, opened the evening with a brief welcome. Well known multitalented artist, Duane Kumal-Thomas, the highlight of the show, read his poem which accompanies his art insulation in town of train tracks coming out of the earth, located across from Dollarama.
Ingersoll Mayor, Brian Petrie, opened the evening with a brief welcome. Well known multitalented artist, Duane Kumal-Thomas, the highlight of the show, read his poem which accompanies his art insulation in town of train tracks coming out of the earth, located across from Dollarama.
Duane Kumal-Thomas's art instillation
Duane read a second poem. His baritone voice and words captivated the audience, and he received a warm applause. Volunteer Don sang a few country tunes while playing his guitar. New Ingersoll residents, Barbara Blower and her husband, a professional photographer who took pictures throughout the evening, read her poem. Barbara later returned to read two more of her poems, one a tribute to her three daughters.
Manager Stephanie threatened the audience she would continue to read poems by James McIntyre to encourage them to sign up to participate in the open mic. McIntyre was a Ingersoll resident who wrote hundreds of poems, all about cheese, was known as the "world's worst poet". After the reading, audience participated in the open mic. Cassandra read a poem, not her own but one she loves on trees and someone else read a poem about nature.
Afterwards, Duane returned to the stage to read one of his works in progress, a poem about Christopher Columbus. Aside from volunteers, one on sound, staff members from the museum also participated in the open mic, like Collections Coordinator Dorothy and Museum Programmer Kealy. Brain played a few selections of 90s music to an enthusiastic crowd.
Manager Stephanie threatened the audience she would continue to read poems by James McIntyre to encourage them to sign up to participate in the open mic. McIntyre was a Ingersoll resident who wrote hundreds of poems, all about cheese, was known as the "world's worst poet". After the reading, audience participated in the open mic. Cassandra read a poem, not her own but one she loves on trees and someone else read a poem about nature.
Afterwards, Duane returned to the stage to read one of his works in progress, a poem about Christopher Columbus. Aside from volunteers, one on sound, staff members from the museum also participated in the open mic, like Collections Coordinator Dorothy and Museum Programmer Kealy. Brain played a few selections of 90s music to an enthusiastic crowd.
Brain was an engaging entertainer
Stephanie read a poem not from James McIntyre but from his daughter Kate Macintyre, who unlike her father, wrote good poetry. Stephanie explained how Kate lived an unconventional life for a woman of her times, divorced three times, never had children, she wrote non-conformist topics. While the museum had Kate’s “Girls Don’t” poem on display, Stephanie read the poem “Boy’s Don’t”.
James Macintyre's daughter, Kate Macintyre
Duane’s last poem for the evening consisted of one he read when he spoke at the launch of his art installation at the Ingersoll Library last year. A poem I thoroughly enjoyed which he remembered. Duane explained how his perception was changed a few years ago after reading Joyce Pettigrew’s book, A Safe Haven: The Story of the Black Settlers of Oxford County. He also mentioned his experience giving a presentation of his poems and Black History at Woodingford Lodge recently.
An elderly woman accompanied him on the elector at the nursing home. After his presentation, Duane showed the video clip “The Last Stop - Ingersoll,” where Joyce is also featured. It was a surreal moment when Duan found out the woman in the elevator and present for his talk was no other than Joyce Pettigrew herself.
An elderly woman accompanied him on the elector at the nursing home. After his presentation, Duane showed the video clip “The Last Stop - Ingersoll,” where Joyce is also featured. It was a surreal moment when Duan found out the woman in the elevator and present for his talk was no other than Joyce Pettigrew herself.
Multitalented artist, Duane Kumal-Thomas reading his poem
Duane incorporated titles of several Negro Spirituals into his last poem like "Wade in the Water Children" and "Follow the Drinking Gourd". Duane received a round of applause after his reading.
Since there was only one person signed up to participate in open mic, Stephanie read a poem McIntyre wrote for a friend that rhymed with Wiggles, his friend’s last name. According to Stephanie, McIntyre was famous for sitting at the back of the tavern writing on pieces of paper.
Volunteer Don returned to the stage to perform a few more songs. Stephanie followed by saying despite making fun of James McIntyre’s poor poems, if it was not for him tonight’s event would not occur. As a tribute, she read the poem “Ode to James McIntyre” by Shirley Lovell, the Ingersoll Cheese and Agricultural Museum’s first curator who was also a poet.
Since there was only one person signed up to participate in open mic, Stephanie read a poem McIntyre wrote for a friend that rhymed with Wiggles, his friend’s last name. According to Stephanie, McIntyre was famous for sitting at the back of the tavern writing on pieces of paper.
Volunteer Don returned to the stage to perform a few more songs. Stephanie followed by saying despite making fun of James McIntyre’s poor poems, if it was not for him tonight’s event would not occur. As a tribute, she read the poem “Ode to James McIntyre” by Shirley Lovell, the Ingersoll Cheese and Agricultural Museum’s first curator who was also a poet.
Appropriately, the last song Brain performed for the evening was “Closing Time”. Stephanie mentioned it was a successful evening with Ingersoll residents and surrounding area, coming out to support. She also gave a heartfelt thanks to both the volunteers and her staff for their help.
A delightful evening was had by all. Brain stated he was having fun. Hopefully, the Cheese and Verse Poetry Night will become an annual event at the Ingersoll Cheese and Agricultural Museum. I definitely will look forward in attending this event again; an opportunity to listen to talented local poets.
A delightful evening was had by all. Brain stated he was having fun. Hopefully, the Cheese and Verse Poetry Night will become an annual event at the Ingersoll Cheese and Agricultural Museum. I definitely will look forward in attending this event again; an opportunity to listen to talented local poets.
Gallery of pictures taken at the the Cheese and Verse Poetry Night
(Photos by Heather A. Rennalls)
Quote: "... Grant has here a famous work Devoted to the cure of pork, For dairymen find it doth pay To fatten pigs upon the whey, For there is money raising grease As well as in the making cheese." ~ James McIntyre's poem “Hints to Cheesemakers”
Quote: "... Grant has here a famous work Devoted to the cure of pork, For dairymen find it doth pay To fatten pigs upon the whey, For there is money raising grease As well as in the making cheese." ~ James McIntyre's poem “Hints to Cheesemakers”
RSS Feed
