Artists + Poets: Join the Wisconsin Poet Laureate Project!
In many ways, the woman I am about to introduce you to laid the cognitive pathways for the creative intersections that I made into Genre: Urban Arts. I had the privilege to work with Brenda Cárdenas all throughout my time in undergraduate and graduate studies. Being a first gen college student, I often had no clue what I was doing and Brenda along with another mentor really helped me find my way.
With love and good vibes, please join me in supporting Brenda’s Poet Laureate Project!
Brenda Cárdenas Courtesy of WI Poet Laureate Commission
Brenda Cárdenas was born and raised in Milwaukee and has also lived in Beaver Dam, Appleton, Menasha, and Fond du Lac. She obtained her undergraduate degree at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, and a Masters of Fine Arts (MFA) degree in Creative Writing (Poetry) at the University of Michigan. From 2007 to 2024 she taught Creative Writing and U. S. Latin o/x Literatures at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee.
A former City of Milwaukee poet laureate, Cárdenas has authored two full-length books: Trace (Red Hen Press) and Boomerang (Bilingual Press). She has also authored or co-authored three chapbooks: Bread of the Earth/The Last Colors, Achiote Seeds/Semillas de Achiote, and From the Tongues of Brick and Stone.
This is a multi-pronged project which brings Wisconsin poets and visual artists together in a relay of ekphrastic works. Ekphrastic poems are simply those that are inspired by visual art, and ekphrastic visual art is that which is inspired by a poem. We encourage all Wisconsin poets and visual artists to participate and welcome those who have already seen their poetry published or their art exhibited as well as those who are beginning to explore writing poems or creating visual art. All poets and visual artists who wish to participate must register under their regions.