Darlene “Lolly” Wesenberg Rzezotarski calls Wisconsin home—for better or worse, though mostly better. A lifelong lover of words, she knew by age 13 that writing would always be a central part of her life. Her journey with clay began unexpectedly on Groundhog Day in 1982, when she first placed her hands in clay, sparking a passion for ceramic sculpture that would come to complement her poetry. 

Lolly’s poetry is deeply personal, often exploring themes from her experiences in teaching, spiritual contemplation, human connection, and the natural world. She frequently draws inspiration from mythology and folklore to craft narrative-rich stories. Narrative is at the heart of both her writing and her sculpture. 

In Spring 2023, she was honored with a retrospective show at Woodland Pattern, “Everything Has a Story,” featuring both poetry and sculpture. A 2023-2024 ARTservancy in Estabrook Park provided the opportunity to create poetry and ceramic/mosaic works relating to the natural environment. Her local history column, “Ripples in Time,” is a monthly feature in Riverwest Currents. In recent years, encouraged by the Wednesday Writers group of Woodland Pattern, Lolly has begun sharing her poems at local readings. You will find her every third Sunday afternoon at County Clare.