(DUBLIN, CA) Over a year ago I was approached by the City of Dublin, in my role as Poet Laureate, to create captions for six sculptures (to be created by artist Adan Romo) capturing the history of Dublin, California for our Heritage Park and Museums. I used the prose poetry form and crafted the stanzas to work as individual captions, and when read together, as a single poem. Finally seeing the beautiful sculptures (“Ripples of Time”), and my words permanently stamped in medal, was a thrill. I encourage Dublin residents and visitors to stop by the Heritage Park and Museums to enjoy this new installation, and everything else the park has to offer.
The sculptures can be enjoyed in any order, but I recommend doing so in this order:
Listen | Dream | Imagine | Rise | Read | Remember by james c. morehead Listen for creeks that once ran unheeded by concrete and steel, for the light footsteps of Seunen, Souyen, and Pelnen as the sun sleeps over mountain passes. Dream of the Gold Rush, jeans stiff with Sierra mud, separating gold from ore. Dream of land purchased from Amador, a home raised from redwood, Douglas fir, and pine. Imagine the air tinted with sweat and sparks as a blacksmith’s hammer forms a horseshoe from forge-fired iron bars. For there is horse-powered work to be done. Rise before dawn in near darkness. The fields awaken, waiting to be tilled by draft horses, plows pulled through soil and clay, seeds burrowed to fuel Fall’s harvest. Read from dog-eared books, letterpressed and bound by hand, while quietly seated in neat rows, Murray’s school bell still ringing for all Dublin’s children to hear. Remember their names carved in weathered stone, of Fallon, Murray, Donlon, Dougherty, Kolb, and more. Pioneers all, still and resting, forever calling Dublin home. (captions for six “Ripples of Time” sculptures by Adan Romo for the City of Dublin Heritage Park and Museums)
And for those who are curious but can’t make it to Dublin, California in person, here is a video I created including me reciting the captions:
About Dublin Heritage Park and Museums
Dublin Heritage Park and Museums is a 10-acre park with historic buildings, lawns, Pioneer Cemetery, and picnic areas. The park is designed to maintain and tell the history of Dublin. The park is open to the public during daylight hours.
About Artist Adan Romo
After studying under his father Jesus Romo from the age of 10, Adan attended the University of California at Berkeley where he received a BA in Art History with a focus on Renaissance sculpture. In 2001 Adan was named a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar, giving him the opportunity to study in Italy under Mirio Viviani, marble artisan for Henry Moore, Mitoraj and Botero, and to attend the Academy of Art in Rome. Needless to say it proved to be a transformative year and upon his return was accepted to the San Francisco Art Institute where he received an MFA in Sculpture and Installation Art. From an early age Adan has received many major national commissions, ranging from artwork for civic buildings and religious institutions, to designing memorials for veterans. In addition to creating public works of art, Adan is also the Chair of the Visual Arts at St. Francis High School where he teaches sculpture, art history and digital film.
About Poet James Morehead
James Morehead is the Poet Laureate of Dublin, California, host of the Viewless Wings Poetry Podcast, and has published several collections of poetry including “canvas”, “portraits of red and gray”, and “The Plague Doctor.” James’ poem “tethered” was transformed into an award-winning hand drawn animated short film, “gallery” was set to music for baritone and piano, and his poems have appeared in the Ignatian Literary Magazine, Beyond Words Literary Magazine, 2nd Place – Oprelle Oxbow Poetry Contest 2022, Citron Review, Prometheus Dreaming, Cathexis Northwest Press, and other publications.
“James Morehead’s imagery is vivid, spare and elemental, and it is consistently chosen and arranged to achieve intensely poetic effects. The rhythmic control is impeccable.” – Carmine Di Biase, Distinguished Professor of English, Emeritus – Jacksonville State University
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