Synkroniciti is excited to welcome back Pittsburgh photographer Jason Baldinger along with his ekphrastic collaborator, poet Robert L. Dean, Jr. Jason was the cover artist for our wonderful “Broken” issue last September–you’ll remember the eerie broken clock of Point Pleasant, WV. This time we have two pairings. Clinton, Illinois is a view of Clinton’s historic downtown through a window with a tabby cat reflected on the inside of the glass, looking smug. It’s paired with Dean’s “Cat People,” a poem that slinks along the edge between taut humor and serious social commentary. Morrisonville, Illinois #4 has vaguely apocalyptic overtones: a defunct business shed stands behind a torn and weathered sign featuring an arrow that used to point somewhere. Dean’s BOLO is a whimsical memo from the authorities to be on the lookout for an escaped creature that left its mark on the place. Jason looks at places and things that seem forgotten, Americana frozen in time, and gives Dean plenty of room and detail with which to play.
Experience these intriguing collaborations in Synkroniciti’s “Vulnerable” issue, available for pre-order here: https://synkroniciti.com/the-magazine/purchase-individual-issues/.
Jason Baldinger is a poet and photographer from Pittsburgh, PA. He is the co-editor of Trailer Park Quarterly and co-runs The Odd-Month Reading Series. He’s penned fifteen books of poetry the newest of which include A History of Backroads Misplaced: Selected Poems 2010-2020 (Kung Fu Treachery), and American Aorta (OAC Books). His first book of photography, Lazarus (OAC Books),was just released. He has two ekphrastic collaborations (with poets Rebecca Schumejda and Robert Dean) forthcoming as well as his fourth collaboration with Kansas City Poet James Benger. His work has appeared across a wide variety of online sites and print journals. You can hear him read from various books on Bandcamp and on lps by The Gotobeds and Theremonster.