“McCrary’s paintings and Fox’s poetry dance together like the generative rhythm of the breath.” —Jessica Sharpenstein
EastOver Press is proud to announce the upcoming publication of The Sins of Sweet Mortality, a collection of poems by Marilyn Fox and illuminative paintings by Nancye McCrary. The title will be released in February 2023.
In this unique collaborative project, Fox and McCrary combine poetry with painting — juxtaposing voice and image, wonder and sensation — to create literary and visual work that is impassioned, thought-provoking, disturbing, and healing.
Endlessly suggestive, consistently evocative, this work entices the reader into a deep dive to discover what’s beyond the surface.
“A certain grief is exposed in The Sins of Sweet Mortality; Marilyn Fox and Nancye McCrary expose the broad brush strokes of humanity with the deep blues of living. From San Francisco to a walnut grove, the artists take us places, transport us with saturation of color and the music of intentionally well-placed sounds. In tandem, Fox and McCrary have created a deeply felt sphere of art, emotion, and place.”—Erica Anderson-Senter, author of Midwestern Poet’s Incomplete Guide to Symbolism
“In The Sins of Sweet Mortality, paintings and poetry intersect, one form of art speaking to the other. Fox’s poems consider the lows and highs of her existence. McCrary’s paintings, sometimes haunting, sometimes joyous, always extend the rich imagery of the poetry, drawing the reader into the art of both media.”—Sylvia Woods, author of What We Take With Us
“Nancye McCrary’s vision is clear, concise and bold. Having her art juxtaposed with Fox’s poetry lends much joy to the entire book.” —April Berger, visual artist
“The Sins of Sweet Mortality is a courageous journey through layers of grief’s anguish and rage, past the agony and ecstasy of love lost and found, and finally falling into the wisdom and peace of nature’s arms. This collaboration of paint and poetry pays fierce attention to detail, displaying devotion to artistic excellence and authenticity. Rich with powerful content and color, this book will beckon the reader to return to its pages like visiting an old friend.”—Sue Massek, recipient of the Folk Heritage Award from the Kentucky Governor’s Arts Award Program
In her poems, Fox recreates sensory experiences with an intelligence that stirs the mind and a depth that reaches the soul. The poems are taut, full of “sound and sense” and surprise.
McCrary’s fresh vision awakens hunger in the heart, thirst for divine beauty. Silently reminding us to observe what surrounds us, her images expand upon the beauty in nature that can be missed when we normalize the ubiquitous rather than see the extraordinary.
The Sins of Sweet Mortality ▪ Marilyn Fox & Nancye McCrary ▪ Releases February 28, 2023
Available soon on: Bookshop.org ▪ Barnes & Noble ▪ Amazon
ISBN-13: 978-1-958094-09-9