Skeleton Key - 9781544047805

This anthology is a collection of poems, stories and paintings by acclaimed writer and artist Rex Sexton (1946-2015). Some of the works were previously published in the highly-praised collections: The Time Hotel, Night Without Stars, Constant is the Rain and X-Ray Eyes. Others presented here are new works never published before within a collection. Sexton's outlook was fatalistic and dark, as reflected in his poetry, short stories and paintings. Nevertheless, his love of life and its mysteries were limitless. He revered nature and the complexities of the universe, which provided optimism in a world riddled by strife. His empathy for the poor and disenfranchised was boundless and this quality is reflected in his writings and art. Of one of his stories in Night Without Stars: "The palette is Edward Hopper's, the ironic tone O. Henry's. 'Our Town' playfully affirms Thornton Wilder's morbid vision through gloomy imagery. The poems (are) rich with alliteration, internal rhymes, assonance and puns ... They have broader application, universalizing human depravity ...Sexton's talent for social commentary and character sketching marks him as - in a title he gives a character in 'Chop Suey' - the Modigliani of the Mean Streets" Kirkus Reviews. Also of Night Without Stars: "There is a wild beauty behind the 'lullaby' of hopelessness described in so many of this collection's poems ... The joy of the collection is that it contains not just poetry but also prose and painting. This collision of forms pushes the reader to see poverty, hopelessness, and survival in many different perspectives ... Amidst the dark reality of life, there is hope that future generations 'can have a better life,' one full of stars, dreaming, and light." Lisa Bower ForeWord Clarion ReviewsOf his novel Paper Moon: "Renowned surrealist painter Rex Sexton is also a highly-regarded writer, imbuing his fiction and poetry with the same startling vision and mastery he displays in his artwork. His newest novel, Paper Moon, dazzles with words, just as his paintings do with form and color ..." Cheryl Hibbard ForeWord Reviews Sexton's short story "Holy Night" received an Eric Hoffer award and was published in Best New Writing 2007. His poem "The Orchard" received the 2012 Annual Editor-in-Chief Award from Möbius, The Poetry Magazine. His poem "Ashes of Winter" was runner up for The 2011 Doctor Zylpha Mapp Robinson International Poetry Award. His poem "Gift Wrapped" was nominated for a 2013 Pushcart Prize by Kind of a Hurricane Press. His book of artwork, stories and poems "X-Ray Eyes" received acclaim by Chicago Art Magazine: "Sexton's work ... brings to mind the flattened forms and spaces and line qualities of Miro ... [and] the bizarre figures and spaces of Chagall. Bridging reality and fantasy through vaguely chimera-like figures/personified animals, and oddly flat ... pictorial spaces, Sexton's paintings emotionally engage viewers directly with multitudes of figures and multitudes of vivid expressions."

Author: Rex Sexton

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

Publication Date: May 11, 2017

Number of Pages: 296 pages

Language: English

Binding: Paperback

ISBN-10: 1544047800

ISBN-13: 9781544047805