Calling all beginning and advanced poets!

Join Left of Center and the Black Mountain Institute at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas for three free poetry workshops designed to engage both beginning and experienced writers in “ekphrastic poetry.” Ekphrastic poems are written in response to works of visual art, and these three workshops will utilize Left of Center’s collections to help writers generate original poetry.

Please note: you will receive an email confirming that you have a spot in one, two, or all three workshops, depending on available space. Please also note that the African Art Museum inside the Left of Center Art Gallery is only accessible by stairs.

Read the descriptions below for each of the workshops, then let us know which you’d like to attend. Please only sign up for those you can commit to, as space is limited, and we want to be sure everyone gets a chance!

• Workshop 1 – Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, 1-3 p.m. – Join writer JM Huck for a multi-genre workshop experience utilizing visual art, music, and group discussion towards generating poetry. Writers will engage in guided conversation ahead of dedicated writing time towards creating their own original works.
• Workshop 2 – Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024,  1-3 p.m. – Join writer Sada Malumfashi to view Left of Center’s African Museum as a means of inspiration for your writing. Participants will practice ways to extend the visual language of a work of art into poetry. What does it mean to really look at art? What are the politics of looking? How can words help us to see?
• Workshop 3 – Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, 1-3 p.m. – Join writer Lauren Gleave in the African Art Museum inside Left of Center Art Gallery. There, writers will explore the work on display and generate ideas for poetic language inspired by their interactions with the art, their movement through the space, and the emotions that surround that experience of communing with visual art pieces. The workshop will then provide dedicated writing time and feedback for each writer from their peers.