First Thursday’s is now Second Sundays

Featuring poets Charles Rafferty and Barb Jennes.

VSG’s Second Sunday Poetry and Music takes place every 2nd Sunday at the Gallery. Renowned poets and local talents alike will find a platform for their poetry, prose, spoken word, and acoustic performances creating a vibrant atmosphere of creativity and expression. By hosting these events, VSG aims to foster a sense of community and promote the art of poetry in Southbury and beyond. Whether you’re a seasoned poet, an aspiring writer, a storyteller, or simply a lover of the spoken word, mark your calendar for our open mic afternoons.

Barb Jennes, Ridgefield’s poet laureate emerita, channels life’s trials into powerful poetry. Her collection, Blinded Birds, delves into multigenerational struggles with depression and addiction. Drawing from personal experiences, Jennes shares raw, honest verses that resonate with readers, providing solace and hope. Her work not only exposes the impact of hereditary predispositions but also touches on nature and her sister’s battle with aphasia. Barb’s resilience shines through, inspiring those grappling with similar challenges.

Charles Rafferty is an American poet. In 2009 he received a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts.[1] His poetry has appeared in The New Yorker, O: Oprah Magazine, Prairie Schooner, and Ploughshares, among other magazines, websites, and anthologies.[2] He co-directs Albertus Magnus College's MFA in Creative Writing program, and teaches at the Westport Writers’ Workshop.[3] As of 2021, he lives in Sandy Hook, Connecticut.[3] Rafferty had aspired to being a poet since high school.[4] He began writing fiction around his late forties.[4] He views himself as someone who "primarily...writes impressionistic, associative prose poems."[4]

Free and open to the public (Free Will Offering)