The Poetry Gumball Machine Project is the brainchild of acclaimed poet and multiform artist LindoYes and is a community-wide program in varied locations in Philadelphia and New Jersey. The project supports free access to the arts and poetry in a fun and familiar experience using traditional gumball machines. The Museum’s wooden Poetry Gumball Machine was specially crafted by local artist Jesse Rinyu, who was selected through a jury process to create the one-of-a-kind mechanized sculpture, which houses the unique walnut shell capsules created by artist Jennifer Eckenrode that, when opened, reveals a slip of paper with an original poem composed by LindoYes and information for free local social services and, crisis hotline numbers. The Poetry Gumball Machine will be on display now through December 30, 2024, here at the Museum for Art in Wood.
Click HERE for the Press Release.
About LindoYes!
LindoYes (he/hm), is a dyslexic spoken word poet born, raised and living in Philadelphia. He has been featured in the Philly Weekly, Philadelphia Inquirer, Button Poetry, and Def Poetry Jam to name a few. Lindo’s poetry has expanded to short animations, gumball machines, and plays where he has centered black existence, mental health, and fantasy/sci-fi. He was the recipient of the 2023 Jackie Robinson award by Color of Change and the 2023 “Change Maker” award by Uptown Standards. LindoYes will be releasing in December 2024 a graphic novel called “Pawnshop,” which is a sci-fi/fantasy anthology on Mental Health based in Philly.
About Jesse Rinyu
Jesse Rinyu is a creative professional living and working in Philadelphia, PA. He’s been a featured artist in the Philadelphia City Paper, Juxtapoz Magazine, and many other publications. During the worst of the pandemic, he built a woodshop that is now making furniture, instruments, and anything else he can think up!
Jesse has over twenty years of experience in graphic and web design, print production, and industrial grand format design, including some rather large projects involving trade show and museum installations.
Currently, his pet projects are music and fabrication, with a leaning toward woodworking.
The Poetry Gumball Machine Project Team
LindoYes – Lead Artist
Jesse Rinyu – Wood Artist
Jennifer Eckenrode – Craft Artist
Savannah Cooper-Ramsey – Writing Support
Katie Sorenson – Project Management
Please direct questions to Katie Sorenson, Director of Outreach and Communications at [email protected].