Using a poem quote in an art exhibit

[Emma89]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Minnesota

I want to use a two-word phrase from an Emily Dickinson poem as the title of an upcoming art exhibition of my work. I haven't yet decided if I will refer to the poem and explain the reference in my artists statement. Is this okay to do?

 

[FlyingRon]

Dickinson died in 1886, you do not have to worry about copyright issues.
Professional ethics may indicate that you should probably give credit but that's not a legal issue.

Even if the work were protected by copyright, it's not clear that two words extracted into a title would constitute any sort of infringement.

 

[Emma89]

Thank you, I appreciate it. I had read somewhere that it was possible for her works to still be under a copyright in spite of the time since her death. But I did feel the two words probably would make it a non-issue. Just wanted to be sure. Thanks!

 

[eerelations]

It appears professional ethics is of no interest to the OP...

So OP, which long dead artist did you steal your art work from?

 

[FlyingRon]

That's a bit harsh. Two words do not a creative work make, and if the phrase is well know, it's kind of silly having to annotate it's origin. If I were to exhibit my pictures of trees and wanted to call the exhibit "...lovely as a tree," I don't think it's really necessary to point out that I took that from Joyce Kilmer (who was not as my brother thinks, Billy Kilmer's wife).

 

[eerelations]

If you were the creator, your opinion would be very different.