Lehigh Valley Poetry hosts a monthly virtual salon and open mic on the first Monday of the month at 8:30 PM. (EST) Prior to the open mic, we host a “mini workshop” from 8:00- 8:30. This has been running as an added session since the pandemic started, facilitated by E. Lynn Alexander, unless there is a guest facilitator. We usually post the events on the Lehigh Valley Poetry facebook page (“events”) and the link and updates in the event discussion. We also post reminders on our Instagram page.
The monthly mini workshop is meant to be a quick prompt, exercise, introduction to a form, etc. that participants can use later on. Some participants share the draft, as we typically plan for about ten minutes of writing and practice. After a few shares and reflection, we transition quickly into the open mic portion of the evening. Please feel free to reach out to Lynn (elynnalexander@gmail.com) with any questions or accommodation needs. The topics are posted ahead for those who prefer to view here on the website and follow along.
September 2022: Ekphrastic Poetry and Abstract Art
“Ekphrasis” means description in Greek, and an ekphrastic poem typically refers to a poem based on a work of art. The poet engages with a painting, sculpture, etc. and the writing comes from there.
We have discussed art and poetry here at the salon before, and this month we will be talking about the challenge of an abstract inspiration.
We might be used to looking at a defined object, or scene. We can write from the “interpretation” that we can observe and more readily understand. With abstract art, we might be looking at shapes, forms, colors. We might have ideas about what we are looking at, but the interpretation can vary widely if one seeks to “interpret” at all. Sometimes an abstract work of art elicits an emotion, or reminds us of something but we aren’t quite sure. The desire to find meaning and relate art to the world we understand is common. In this prompt, we are going to try to resist the desire to “decipher” or find intention. We are going to view examples of art as they are, and write the first words that come to mind- whatever the words are. There are no right words or wrong words. We will then write a short verse or passage based on the words from that list, generated from our response.
The first is by Sean Scully, recently exhibited at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The second is by Julie Mehretu who has a permanent installation at the MoMa.
