P.S. – Post Script Poems for New West – a River Market Arts program in collaboration with Tenth to the Fraser

Seek the child’s yellow-chinned delight at the buttercups in the grass – Briana

wistful summer sunset pumpkin faces kissed smooth by river wind dancing laughing -Jen

wild blackberries turn my tongue blue; sandcastles big enough for me and you -mica

Dreams of friends and fireflies whispering long into the night. -Mark

Your every breath a poem, your every laugh a song, oh my summer love – Briana

Mark Shieh, owner of the River Market in New Westminster, is one cool cat. I met him at a meeting of the Quayside Community Board shortly after my daughter was born last fall, and the more I get to know him the more excited I get about what the market will have to offer when its metamorphosis is complete.

Mark’s ambition goes far beyond selling bread and bok choy.  His market is to be a place of culture and community, a place of inspiration. River Market‘s grocer may not officially open its doors until September, but the team behind the market’s renaissance is already reaching out to the New Westminster community through a simple contest in collaboration with Tenth to the Fraser called P.S. New West.

It’s a collection of brief one-line poems about summer and posted online to share with the world. Each one is a cool and tasty thought to linger over on a hot summer night. Read the entries online, star your favourites and write one of your own. The most-starred poet will win a special edition River Market iPad, and one lucky person will win the grand prize and see their poem celebrated in a ‘grand’ way.

P.S. New West is part of River Market’s Arts program, which will include an official Artist in Residence and commissioned public art installations in and around the market. From what I’ve seen of the new plans for the revitalized market, it will be a far edgier, artsier Quay than we had before. It’s just the kind of place New West needs.

More from Tenth To The Fraser:

1. CONTEST: Score a spot on the guest list at the River Market launch party As announced at the last New West Downtown Residents Association...
2. The New Westminster Quay Market is Dead. Long live River Market! Today was the big reveal of Donald's Market at River...
3. P.S. New West – the winners are (belatedly) announced A while back we partnered with River Market to host...
4. Pedagogy Toys to offer art & science classes for kids at River Market New Westminster toy store Pedagogy Toys has been saved from...
5. Farmers’ Market Set to Kick Off Admittedly, I’m a little biased. I was recently appointed as...