Ekphrasis: A talk and workshop at the San Jose Museum of Art

I’ll be giving a noontime talk this Wednesday, April 3rd, at the San Jose Museum of art on ekphrasis–poetry written in response to art. I’ll give some historical perspective and explore the connections between image and text examining how ekphrasis works in well-known poems as well as in my own work. We’ll also look at images from the museum’s current exhibits that use text in their compositions, another way of considering text and image and the romance between them. (free with museum admission).

If you plan on taking my subsequent Ekphrastic Poetry Workshop also held at the San Jose Museum of Art, on April 27th, 10-12:30, there’s still room, the price is right($15 non-members/$10 members), and Wednesday’s lecture would prove to be a good, though not required, introduction to the creative process. Sign up through the museum.

I’m really looking forward to the talk, the workshop, AND the capstone Fourth Annual Poetry Invitational for which ten poets are already busy writing their own ekphrastic poems in response to works on display. I will host a reading at the museum Saturday, April 27th at 2pm (free with museum admission). Readers include: Kevin Arnold; Kelly Cressio-Moeller; Darrell Dela Cruz; Kirk Glaser; Los Gatos Poet Laureate Erica Goss; Evelyn So; Santa Cruz County Poet Laureate David Swanger; Robert Sward; Sterling Warner; Leslie Zane. Don’t miss the opportunity to enjoy the gallery exhibits and hear new poems read.

Yes, it’s (almost) April, National Poetry Month. May your calendars be full! You will hear more from me throughout April for more Poetry Month info. Check the calendar above in “Laureate Schedule.”

And with that, the Laurels slide from my brow. . . it’s been sweet.

Sally Ashton
Santa Clara County’s Second Poet Laureate (2011-2013)