from all the borders of itself, / burst like a star: making poems from objects
The earliest example of ekphrasis, or ‘the description of a work of art,’ is said to be Homer’s description, in the Iliad, of Achilles’ shield, made for him by Hephaestus. But ekphrasis as a poetic practice has come to mean more than description: the poet Paul Valery said, ‘Each work of art demands its response.’ In this workshop, we’ll draw from the rich vein of objects and artifacts contained in the collection and exhibits of the Museum, and practice moving beyond description: we’ll try to find and enact the responsive spark that allows the new work of art, the poem, to ‘burst like a star’ from the encounter with its originating object.
Join Lisa Bickmore, Professor of English, Salt Lake Community College and author of three books of poetry: Haste (Signature Books), flicker (Elixir Press, winner of Antivenom Prize), and Ephemerist (Red Mountain Press) for an afternoon exploring and drawing inspiration from the riches of the Museum in this poetry writing workshop.
This workshop is intended for guests 18 years and older.