Wimberley Arts, the organization behind many of Wimberley’s art and cultural projects, has a new initiative. Citizen-generated haiku, a type of Japanese poetry, will be stamped into the town’s sidewalks to encourage pedestrians to stop and read their message. As more and more of the haiku show up around town, the organization hopes that it will become a signature part of the city that will capture peoples’ attention and spread the word about Wimberley and its focus on the arts.
Haiku are traditionally three lines long and have a total of 17 syllables, with a five-seven-five pattern of syllables across the lines. Mostly unrhymed and written in the present tense, classic haiku often focuses on nature and strives to evoke natural imagery. While haiku can be written on many themes, including love, it emphasizes simplicity, intensity, and the directness of expression.
Pedestrians may have noticed the haiku already stamped in sidewalks near the new crosswalk on Old Kyle Road. As the stamped haiku begin to weather from the elements, each poem will become more prominent. Artists from Wimberley Arts will paint borders around each one, in keeping with the theme of each haiku, to make them stand out and further encourage pedestrians to stop and read.
The Wimberley Arts organization advances artistic expression on four conceptual pillars — the visual, performing, literary and culinary arts. Their programs include Storyfest, Stars Over Wimberley, Bootiful Boots, Public Art mural projects, the Gallery Trail and the upcoming Art Crawl. They applied for and achieved Wimberley’s designations as a Music Friendly and Film Friendly city. Since 2015, the Texas Commission on the Arts has formally designated the city’s arts venues as a Texas Cultural District. This year the cultural district was greatly expanded from the area near the Square to encompass organizations from Jacob’s Well to the Junction.
At the August 15 city council meeting, Leanne Kirby, Wimberley Tourism Director, made a presentation and received approval from the council for a mural at the Old Kyle Road crosswalk.
Crosswalk art is designed to encourage pedestrians to cross the street where it’s safe and to provide an interactive work of art.
The mural design is in keeping with the important theme of water. It includes details that relate specifically to Wimberley: a rubber duck, that acknowledges the annual Wimberley Emergency Medical Service’s duck race fundraiser at Waters Point; a river turtle, a symbol of the new Wimberley Arts initiative, the “Art Crawl;” and a floating ticket, that recognizes theatrical performances at The Wimberley Players.
To learn more about the upcoming Gallery Trail and Art Crawl that begins September 5, go to gallerytrail.com/ artcrawl. To learn more about Wimberley Arts go to wimberleyarts. org.
A Haiku poem consists of three lines. The first line contains five syllables; the second line contains seven syllables; and the third line contains five.
Hill Country haiku Phase One winners were Tom Wiley, d.r. Jones, Suzanne Oliver and Jan Fitzhugh.
Clear streams slowly flow Cypress trees carve rocky paths Scenes in paradise - Tom Wiley
water, wind, trees, hills art and nature dwell in peace music fills the air - d.r. jones
Bluebonnets and hills The cool springs and cypress trees Treasures of our town - Suzanne Oliver
Leaves rustle softly As the peaceful river rolls Feel the calm embrace - Jan Fitzhugh
