SLIGO – A new collection of photographs and poetry created by a Sligo man was released last week, shining a light on the people and places in rural Appalachia, including the Western Pennsylvania region.
Greg Clary’s new book, “The Vandalia In Me: A Photo-Poetry Collection from Appalachia” was published Oct. 25 by Meraki Press, and a book launch party will be held tomorrow, Nov. 1, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Watershed Books and Literary Arts Center in Brookville.
Clary explained the book title’s use of “Vandalia,” noting that the word was coined by Benjamin Franklin to describe a proposed new colony that would have extended from Fort Pitt in what is now Pittsburgh, through much of what is now West Virginia and beyond to the west.
He said that it harkens back to when “everything west of the Allegheny Mountains was wild.”
Although he has lived in Clarion County for much of his life, Clary said his roots in growing up in southern West Virginia remain strong
Born and raised in Turkey Creek, W.Va., Clary said he went on to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Marshall University, before moving on to Kent State in Ohio where he received his doctorate.
He joined the Clarion University faculty in 1981, spending about 19 years as director of student support services before moving into teaching special education and rehabilitative services.
He retired from the university in 2017, and began to pursue his interests in writing and photography.
“I didn’t really start writing poetry until I retired,” he said, noting that he attended a writing workshop in Pittsburgh that set him on the path.
Clary said he began working with the Watershed Journal and Bookstore in Jefferson County, having various photos published.
In 2000, he published a book alongside a local poet, with his photographs being featured. He also had his work showcased in exhibitions at Clarion University’s art gallery, the Red Brick Gallery in Foxburg and other locations.
“It’s been kind of fun to do,” he said.
On the poetry side, Clary said the first poem he had published was in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette.
His poetry, Clary explained, is “mainly observational,” looking at people, events and local places around him.
“When it works, it helps me discover some hidden truths,” he said, referring to the poetry as a “catalyst for self reflection.”
Clary admitted that photography is his first love, and that he has more experience in that medium.
“Photography comes easier to me,” he said.
According to a press release for the new book, Clary’s “poems and photographs are rooted in the author’s personal experiences and observations of the Appalachia he loves and the people and events he has encountered along the way.”
“These images and words share the common theme of seeking beauty among the ordinary and infusing them with respect and significance,” the release continues.
Author Philip Terman, who will be on hand at Friday’s book launch in Brookville, said that “Clary is the Whitman of West Virginia, honing the laborers, the precious encounters, the deeper wisdoms. He understands intimately that life itself is about poetry.”
Dave Newman, local author, also may be in attendance at the Brookville event. He wrote about Clary’s book: “I’ve never seen working-class folks and the places they go to save themselves photographed with such honesty. The shots of even the most rundown bars are filled with the brightness of dreams and possibility. I’ve never seen anyone photograph an American flag … with more meaning and compassion.”
For those unable to make the book launch, Clary’s new collection can be purchased on Amazon and through Barnes and Noble. For more information, visit www.merakipress.org.
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