Visionary artist Frida Kahlo once said, “The most powerful art is to transform pain into a healing talisman.” Throughout the ages, both visual artists like Vincent Van Gogh and poets like Emily Dickinson have channeled pain into works of unspeakable beauty, baring forth the depths of the human soul in solidarity with anyone who has ever experienced personal tragedies and the pains of life. Because of the universality of this pain, many artists today have lent their voices to this ongoing conversation. One of these unique voices is poet and musician, Elizabeth TenHouten, who has adeptly captured the pain of love lost in her 2022 poetry book “The Stars Fell into the Ocean.”
All great art proceeds from real emotions and lived experiences, and Elizabeth’s storied life has lent its heartfelt memories to the candor and vulnerability of her stanzas. She has experienced the ups and downs of heartbreak and finding new love throughout her life. These emotions rise powerfully to the surface in poems such as “When My Light is Gone,” “Love Flies Away,” and “A Torn Soul.”
Even more impressive is how Elizabeth is able to use her strengths in the visual arts to help heighten the emotions in her poetry. In the book “The Stars Fell into the Ocean,” every poem is accompanied by beautifully shot and edited photographs of Elizabeth that help draw out the emotion in every stanza while engaging readers’ senses for a truly unique experience. As a former model whose visage has been captured by fine artists such as Mallory Morrison, Daniel Maltzmann, and Ashley Longshore, Elizabeth is familiar with the process of using her body as a canvas for artistic expression. In this respect, the photographs are an excellent demonstration of her breadth and depth as an artist, both visually and with the written word.
Elizabeth’s cathartic poetry is not just limited to words printed on a page, but she has recently brought her poetry into the realm of song, recording the album “Broken,” which was released in 2020. Readers who have enjoyed Elizabeth’s poetry will find many of the same themes in “Broken,” which features songs about heartbreak, perseverance, and the joys of new love. Her lyrics are complemented by her guitar-led compositions, which she performed herself.
Elizabeth TenHouten, Poet/Author
Photo Courtesy: Elizabeth TenHouten
Readers have called Elizabeth’s poems in “The Stars Fell into the Ocean” relatable, deeply moving, therapeutic, and brutally honest. Her poetry explores both the darkest depths of emotion and the brightest rays of hope and urges people to find strength in both the peaks and valleys of life. Artists who have made a living by wearing their emotions on their sleeves will likely see a kindred spirit when reading Elizabeth’s poems, while people from all walks of life will find comfort and empathy in her words. “The Stars Fell into the Ocean” is another example of the power of art to transform pain into beauty and to reach people when they need it most.
Published by: Martin De Juan
