Responding to Art: Ekphrastic

Expectations:

  • This is a safe space to share. You may choose to share or not.

  • Please be present and listen when your peers are speaking. 

  • Be free in your creativity.

  • Show up with your full self

Introductions

  1. Warm up

  2. Discussion

  3. Workshop

Workshop

Ekphrasis. “Description” in Greek. 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. (poetryfoundation.org)

  1. Pick an art work to focus on.

  2. 5 minute write. 

    1. Respond in one or two of the following ways:

      1. (Q) Question – ask about something in the art

      2. (C) Connect – make a connection to your life, the world, or another text

      3. (R) Reflect – think deeply about what the artwork means in a broad sense – not just to the surface level. What conclusions can you draw about the world, about human nature, or just the way things work from this piece? 

      4. (E) Evaluate - make a judgment about what the artist is trying to say (adapted from houstonisd.org)

  3. Prepare to share your thoughts on this series AND take notes on discussion points. They may come in handy for later writing.

  4. Review your notes (both personal response and those that came from our discussion).

  5. Write a response (poem, prose, letter, or other writing), an imaginative act through narration and reflection on the “action” of one of the works. You, the poet and/or great writer, should work to amplify and expand its meaning.  Happy creating!

  6. Prepare to share.