MIDDLEBORO — True Grit Art Gallery in Middleboro is “making an effort to bring local poets and visual artists together for an upcoming exhibition centered around the idea of visual artists responding to poetry,” according to True Grit Art Gallery co-owner Peter Damon. 

On Saturday, Sept. 14, from 6 to 8 p.m., True Grit Art Gallery will host an opening reception for “Poetic Visions,” an exhibition of visual art inspired by local poetry. Complementary refreshments will be offered and attendees will view artworks created by local artists as well as hear poems read by local poets. The event is free and open to the public.

Throughout  July, the gallery put out a call for poetry to local poets from southern New England. They were asked to submit up to three poems with vibrant imagery and strong metaphors for an upcoming planned art exhibition.

The gallery chose five poems from over 40 submissions and artists were asked to interpret one randomly assigned poem. Over 40 local artists accepted the challenge. The completed artworks will be exhibited at the gallery along with the enlarged, printed poems when “Poetic Visions” premieres on its opening night. The poets whose work was chosen have been invited to perform live readings of their poems as well.

“Poetic Visions” will run through Saturday, Sept. 28. True Grit Art Gallery is located at 38 Center St. Regular gallery hours are Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Wednesday through Fri 10-5, and Sat 10-3.