shop online at www.missourivalleyshopper.com Multimedia Man March 14, 2017 • Page 13 Writer Talks Poetry, Filmmaking, Race Cars Ahead Of Mount Marty College Appearance BY ROB NIELSEN rob.nielsen@yankton.net Some writers can say they’ve seen their works published. Some writers can say they’ve seen their published works translated to film. Some writers can say their published works are featured on a race car. Detroit native, writer and filmmaker Jim Daniels is able to claim all three feats. Daniels is set to appear at Mount Marty College (MMC) Marian Auditorium March 14 at 7 p.m. as part of the Great Plains Writers’ Tour. Ahead of his MMC appearance next week, Daniels spoke with the Press & Dakotan about writing and his experience translating it to visual mediums Jim Daniels (Courtesy photo) WRITING Daniels said much of his written work has focused on Detroit, the Midwest and the lives and experiences of the working class. Currently teaching in the creative writing program at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Daniels said difficulties with pronunciation that lead him to take ELC classes in his youth were a catalyst for his writing career. “I kind of developed a personality of not talking or not saying things aloud that I was thinking, and writing them down as a way to express them in a way where other people couldn’t make fun of me,” Daniels said. “Once I corrected my speech problem … it became an outlet for me that I continued to explore.” He added that poetry may not have been the most popular thing in his old school, but his teachers encouraged him. “I had a couple high school teachers who really encouraged me to continue on with my writing,” he said. “I went to a high school where it wasn’t exactly a wise thing to tell people you were writing poetry, and I was kind of doing it in private. These teachers encouraged me to keep at it, and I kind of got hooked on it.” Today, Daniels has published 15 books of poetry and five books of short fiction. FILMMAKING Daniels said his introduction to film came about thanks to a local filmmaker. “I’ve always kind of been a film buff,” he said. “There’s a filmmaker here in Pittsburgh named Tony Buba who is pretty well known and successful as a documentary filmmaker. A lot of his work is focused on his hometown of Braddock, which is a small steel town close to Pittsburgh. He was interested in making a fictional film, and his wife had given him a book of my poems. Because he came from a family of steel workers and I came from a family of auto workers, we definitely had similar backgrounds. He sent a note or a phone call, and he said, ‘I really like these poems. Do you have something you might be able to turn into a film?’” His first film was 1994’s “No Pets” — a short story about a factory worker forced to give his dog away. Daniels said it’s always an interesting experience to see his works translated by others in a visual medium. “I sit in on the auditions for the cast, and somebody can read what I wrote and I’ll say, ‘Man, who wrote that? That’s just horrible.’ And then somebody else can read it and I’ll say, ‘Wow! That sounds great!’” He said. “When I give a poetry reading, I’m reading my own work, but when I’m sitting in a dark theater watching a film, somebody else is reading my words. Occasionally, I cringe and I’m glad the lights are off — it really varies. It’s really exciting because the script is kind of like the skeleton, and everything else puts on the flesh and blood. When you see flesh and blood on your skeleton and it’s recognizable, it’s rewarding and it’s very exciting.” Another Medium While Daniels — like many authors and poets — has seen his stories visually represented on screen, one unusual visual representation has stood out: His poem, “Factory Love,” adorns the roof of a race car. “I got an email out of the blue from this guy who races cars and builds race cars, and it’s the passion of his life,” he said. “He was writing to get permission to reprint the poem on the roof of a car. … He said his motivation was his community of car guys (who) are in love with their machines, and the poem ‘Factory Love’ is a love poem that a worker writes to his machine. They related to that, so he thought it would be a cool idea to put the poem on his car.” He added that it was exciting to see his poetry in an unusual place. “I was thrilled because one of the things to me as a writer is my poems are pretty clear and straightforward,” he said. “I try to get my poetry in unexpected places — not just in a poetry book, but in newspapers, on a sign, on the bus or wherever. Having one on the roof of a race car was more exciting to me than getting published in any literary journal anywhere.” Daniels said he hasn’t had a chance to see the car in person yet. PLANTING A FLAG Daniels said he plans to present a short film of his as well as samplings of some of his work. “Even though some of the work I’m going to read will have to do with Detroit, I’m hoping that it applies to anyone who lives anywhere in terms of how we interact with each other as human beings,” he said. “I’m looking forward to coming out there. I’ve never been in the state of South Dakota before, so I’ll be putting my flag in the ground there.” Follow @RobNielsenPandD on Twitter. Exhibit By David Kahle Open At MMC’s Bede Art Gallery Now through March 23, the Bede Art Gallery at Mount Marty College presents a fine arts exhibition entitled “Symphonic Colours Simply Created” by David Kahle, Associate Professor of Art at Mount Marty College and Bede Art Gallery Director. The public is invited to a reception and gallery talk with the artist on March 23 from 2-4 p.m. Kahle’s exhibit primarily features oil paintings. The MMC professor also experiments with sculpture and photography. “While technically workCOURTESY IMAGE “Self Portrait,” painted with oils on wood, is one of artist David Kahle’s works that ing in any artistic medium, are on display in his “Symphonic Colours Simply Created” exhibit at Bede Art Galchallenging myself has always been a priority. Sym- lery on the Mount Marty College campus through March 23. bolically and iconographically, I like to create allegorical the interaction of form and compositions,” said Kahle. color in relationship to sen“In creating a work of art, sibility, we as humans relate. I use the repose of my For children’s developbrush, scientific theory, and ment, there is nothing more experimentation to create important, for this should what I feel are intellectually enhance confidence in our developed artworks.” humanities.” One of Kahle’s technical Kahle’s “Symphonic and creative influences is Colours Simply Created” and the French artist Francois all exhibits at the Bede Art Boucher (1705-1770), who is Gallery are free and open to said to have been inspired the public Monday through for his palette by observing iridescent colours from deli- Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The gallery is located at cate sea shells and precious 1105 W. Eighth St. in Yankstones placed on top of a ton, on MMC’s campus, just mirrored table. Kahle views art as reveal- off of the Marian Auditorium lobby. ing and engaging the human For more information experience, stimulating the on the Bede Art Gallery, senses and imagination, visit https://www.mtmc.edu/ and as highly important in academics/arts/visual-art/ today’s classroom. bede-art-gallery/. To learn “The confluence of more about MMC’s fine arts creativity helps many on degree programs and cura sociological, cultural, 309 W. 11th St., Yankton • 605-668-2168 riculum, call 605-668-1545 or physiological and cognitive www.tkplaceyankton.com visit mtmc.edu/arts. levels,” he says. “Through eling? Remod 3 Complete ORLE Kitchen Displays FA S Priced Below Cost! Hurry In! Over 95 Years In Business Serving... 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