"Fresh, unafraid, bold, creative-these are just a few at the words to describe the poems on these pages. The young poets represented here have not yet learned the "correct," the "safe" responses to art that so many adults have, those "right" responses that often shield us from the special magic of the art and from our own reactions.

A great work of art is powerful; it communicates strong emotion and feeling. These poems evoke that power with their own strong emotions and feelings. They are works of art in their own right. I am impressed with the quality of these poems, as I am impressed with the talent of the students and the efforts of the teachers who encouraged them."

"On the cusp of a new millennium, the Detroit Institute of Arts is striving to bring art to the community in new and invigorating ways. The personal experiences shared by the young authors in this year's writing competition have demonstrated fresh ways of breathing life into art.
Honored to serve as a juror, I was touched by the impressions, feelings, and imagination of the students, and I rejoice in the personal connections they have made to the works of art.
I would like to offer a special salute to the teachers and writers for providing this opportunity for exploration and expression. For all of us, this may be just one of a lifetime's worth of creative experiences and personal connections that expand our world."

"It has been said that writing frees the mind and unlocks the soul. Our student authors have crossed cultures and time dimensions to expose their most intimate feelings through their interpretations of the works of art. The students displayed innocence, maturity, and, at times, vulnerability. They were open and tackled basic human emotions in exploring life, death, fear, love, and anger. Some sought to answer life's questions as they related to spirituality, sexuality, and cultural mores. These students are the Robert Frosts, Langston Hugheses, Emily Dickensons, and Zora Neale Hurstons of the future.

While reading the submissions, I experienced a plethora of emotions that included sadness at the loss of innocence and the harsh intrusion of life on some of these children. To a much greater degree it softened my view of the world, and for a time, I saw things through the eyes of a child.

I would like to thank the Detroit Public Schools, the Detroit Institute of Arts, and the student writers for the opportunity to be a juror for the "Student Writings about Art" project. From the perspective of a fellow writer, anything that motivates and encourages students to put thoughts and emotions to paper is an endeavor worth supporting."