Editor’s note: Mason selected a poem to share with our readers. It is published below the profile story

Katie Mason to bring a new perspective to the arts district as their new poet laureate

By Harlee Hunt

The 40 West Arts District announced Katie Mason will represent the organization as its new poet laureate for 2023. Mason is a licensed psychotherapist and has been writing poetry since she was eight years old.

“I was drawn to it naturally as a way to express emotion,” she says. “...I started performing it when it became clear it is meant to be expressed on a large scale to reach more people.”

Mason combines poetry, comedy and storytelling to express herself and help others to express themselves as well. As a therapist, her work focuses on dream poetry and analysis. Dreams and poetry alike often deal with metaphors and symbolism.

Katie Mason performs her poetry in front of a “dream image of a purple velvet covered Pringle.”

“Dreams are poetry of the soul,” Mason says.

Liz Black, executive director of the arts district, said Mason is the perfect fit for her organization and its historic neighborhood that runs along West Colfax Avenue.

“Katie offers a unique perspective on poetry,” Black says. “It's a very distinctive way to approach her craft, and I think it speaks to the uniqueness and eccentricity of this corridor itself.”

She explains there is a long history on Colfax Avenue, and they wanted to find someone whose work captures the essence of that history. Black also points out that literary arts often go unnoticed due to their lack of visuals. This is why they offer free, public performances for the community to experience all art forms.

Mason described online accessibility of her work as a personal challenge. She believes her work is meant to be shared live, so transitioning to video format with music and other enhancements to create the live performance atmosphere is something she is working to improve.

Mason is excited and honored to have the poet laureate title and represent the arts district. “I couldn’t be more thrilled about this opportunity,” she said. “I have wanted to bring my art to more and more people and to use it as a way to connect people, it’s a good fit for me to be in this role.”

As part of her new role, she will curate new poetry for the 40 West Arts District relating to the area, the arts district and more, and perform at various events and workshops. The poem included here is one she wrote and performed during the Districts’ gala in the fall of last year. To see more of her work, and to learn more about the 40 West Arts District program visit katiemason.com and 40westarts.org.

Harlee Hunt attends Wartburg College in Iowa, and is an intern for Thirst Colorado. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and escaping to other worlds by reading.

Solitude and Togetherness by Katie Mason

I don’t realize how long I’ve been holding on,
until you hold me.
At the center of your chest I am free,
to let go.
I no longer need the world fixed,
changed,
different then it is.
Everything is as it should be,
because I hug you
and you hug me.
I often teeter wobbly,
between the separation
and the togetherness
between the me
and the us.
But we need both.
So whichever one you resist,
solitude
or togetherness,
run to it.
I assure you,
that
is where the medicine is.