Spencer Soletto
Art Facilitator
Haikai Poet, Butoh Performer, Installation arts
ARTIST STATEMENT
Spencer’s process is one of opening to a continuous receptivity, in which life experience is interpreted through poetic modules that are then organized, transformed, and repurposed for further performance, most notably through his poetically prompted butoh improvisational dance.
This poetic process is informed by the traditional art form of haiku poetry, the shortest form of poetry in the world. Haiku allows Spencer to capture specific moments of time, through the uniqueness of the everyday. This art practice develops an openness and receptivity, an appreciation that turns a mundane reality into a joyful and intimate life.
These short poems are composed through juxtaposing fragments, framing a contemplative space of interpretation. As poetic modules these fragments can combine into a series of points, creating a resonant poetic array of relationships open to dialogue. Combinational collage-like qualities are found in Japanese literary traditions of renku, tanka sequences, and zuihitsu, as well as surrealist compositional practices, all of which inform Spencer and the Japanese originators’ of Butoh dance.
Spencer’s butoh is prompted by his poetics, providing him subjects of contemplation with interpretive space for emergent ideas, feelings, and improvisation.
Spencer hosts workshops that help others find poetic inspiration in the natural environment through his Ginko haiku poetry walks. Likewise Spencer assists others to find inspiration in visual art forms in his ekphrastic poetry workshop.
Spencer’s poetry, performance, and event organization share the same intentions, which is to engage with the world through accessible arts. These arts assist people with developing a sense of wholeness, joy, and intimacy in their day-to-day lives. These arts model, inspire, and prompt a contemplative openness and receptivity that value the uniqueness of our individual experiences. These arts engage in continuous dialogue through an ecocentric world view of interconnectedness with our environment, cultures, and communities around us.
artist bio
Spencer Soletto is a multidisciplinary artist working in installation, poetry, and improvisational butoh Dance. He was born in Somerville NJ and graduated from NJIT with a mechanical engineering degree. Spencer produces his art through modularity that stems both from his research in engineering and traditional Japanese poetics . After covid 19 Spencer began to focus on organizing art events and workshops, realizing the importance art has in connecting people, cultures, and environment into an intimate relationship that cultivates joy and wellness
Spencer has been organizing poetry events around the state including Haiku poetry walks , ekphrastic poetry workshops, and poetry open mics.
Get in touch
spencer.a.soletto@gmail.com
Unfoldingmind 