"What places across our varied state inspire the people who frequent them, and how are they inspired? Are they inspired enough to create something? That's what I considered as we undertook an ambitious artistic enterprise—creating video poems," says JoAnne Garrett, a producer for Wisconsin Public Television (WPT).

"Here in Wisconsin, we are blessed with beautiful natural settings and stirring cultural locations—with a historical basis or as a part of everyday life. Marrying the work of a poet and their pen, and a videographer and their camera, we have found the means to interpret a bit of Wisconsin—who we are, what we like and what we value. At the same time, perhaps we're giving people a look at a familiar place through different eyes."

With that sentiment, "In Wisconsin" on WPT celebrates National Poetry Month through an innovative collaboration between two artists—a videographer and one of the state's talented poets.

"In Wisconsin" airs at 7 p.m. Thursday nights and the poetry series will run throughout the month of April 2005 (airdates are April 7, 14, 21 and 28). WMVS-TV in Milwaukee (Channel 10) broadcasts the series at 11:30 a.m. Sundays.

The four separate video poems spring from the pairing of videographers and poets.

On April 7, Denise Sweet and Everett Soetenga offer their video poem about the spot in Wisconsin where Caucasians first set foot, Red Banks in Brown County. Sweet is the state's poet laureate and charts the historical significance of the place through the lens of her experiences and impressions. She is an Anishinnaabe poet (White Earth) and a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, where she teaches creative writing, literature and mythology.

On April 14, viewers see the work of WPT videographer Chuck France, who captured the sounds, characters and ambience of The Joynt, a scruffy, beloved bar in Eau Claire. France was accompanied by a longtime Joynt patron, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire English professor and poet Bruce Taylor. Not only do viewers see the beret-topped Taylor, but also The Joynt's owner, a man who has brought many performers to Eau Claire through the years, photos of whom line the walls above well-worn bar stools.

The program on April 21 features the work of Madison poet and essayist Judith Strasser. She has published numerous works, including "Sand Island Succession: Poems of the Apostles" and "Black Eye: Escaping a Marriage, Writing a Life." Strasser teamed with WPT videographer Frank Boll. Earlier this winter, before snow covered the ground, the duo wandered back roads in Sauk County before finding Pine Hollow Natural Area. It's a narrow, heavily wooded stream gorge populated by Canada warblers, Louisiana water thrush and golden-winged warblers with a mix of hemlocks, birch, maple and white pines to give them shelter. Strasser's poem celebrates this hidden-away place and the slow, graceful beauty to be found in the Baraboo Hills.

Bianca Spriggs is a native Milwaukeean who attends the state university in that city. A graduate student in English, she presents a take, along with videographer Wendy Woodard, of a place familiar to many in the state's largest city—the vibrant, bustling, cultural crossroads that is Peter Sciortino's Bakery. Three generations of a dedicated Sicilian family devote themselves to the bakery that draws customers for its bread, rolls and sweet treats. This video poem will air on April 28.

The video poetry project, the brainchild of WPT producer Garrett, represents urban and rural areas, different regions of the state and the viewpoint of variously aged poets. Garrett selected the locations, which poets may or may not have known prior to visiting.

The videographer was limited to just 32 minutes of taping time—the amount on a single videotape—at the selected location and with the poet in tow. At the time of the shoot, the poet began composing the poem, and also received a copy of the tape following the experience. The poet then completed the poem and returned the tape to the videographer. The videographer then crafted the images to accompany the poem. The poet will narrate each poem at broadcast.

"In this collaborative fashion, each artist used their gifts. The poet used words, rhythm and repetition. The videographer used editing, music and background sounds. The result of it all is a new, original visual poem that will play out for our viewers and in turn, we hope, inspire them," says Garrett.