Writing Poetry Inspired by Art – A Writing Workshop

Come kick off National Poetry Month with a workshop led by Southbury Poet Laureate Faith Vicinanza. Students will write poems inspired by fine art, using the current exhibition in our gallery as a catalyst. The instructor will guide students through the process of accessing the paintings; there will be an opportunity to share work, if students desire.

An ekphrastic poem is a vivid description of a scene or, more commonly, a work of art. Through the imaginative act of narrating and reflecting on the “action” of a painting or sculpture, the poet may amplify and expand its meaning. A notable example is “Ode on a Grecian Urn,” in which the poet John Keats speculates on the identity of the lovers who appear to dance and play music, simultaneously frozen in time and in perpetual motion.