“Ekphrastic art” is defined as the response of an artist in one medium to a work of art by an artist in another medium. Its more common manifestation is in poetry written about visual art, e.g., paintings, photographs, drawings, sculpture, etc. Poetic License is a project that turns that around, giving local visual artists an opportunity to respond to the work of local poets.
For a few years now the Poetry Barn in West Hurley, NY has collaborated with the Arts Society of Kingston (ASK) to create a project they call Poetic License in which poems selected by poets/editors Tina Barry & Lissa Kiernan are shared with ASK artists for inspiration for work that is eventually presented to the public in an exhibit in which both the visual art and the poem that inspires it are displayed.
The folks at the Poetry Barn have graciously allowed us to imitate this project here in the Capital District & we are calling it Poetic License – Albany. The Hudson Valley Writers Guild & the Upstate Artists Guild are excited to work together to present this opportunity for collaboration between poets and visual artists in the Capital District.
What We Are Looking For
We are looking for poems (or an excerpt from a longer poem) that are image-driven, that present a narrative or a written description containing images that arise from our senses, or as poet William Carlos Williams famously said, “No idea but in things.” The images can come from the “real world,” or the world of fantasy, from dreams, be in color or in black & white, but the writing should be such that makes the reader see, hear, smell, taste, feel …, etc. what the poet experienced. If selected, your poem will be displayed along with the artwork it inspires at an exhibit in September at a venue to be determined. The number of poems selected will be based upon the size of the venue and what it will be able to fit in, & not all work selected by the editors may be selected by an artist. See the Guidelines below, which will also be posted on the website of the Hudson Valley Writers Guild www.hvwg.org and on poeticlicensealbany.com
Guidelines
- Poems must be no longer than 150 words, and no more than 25 lines long.
- Poems will be considered whether they are previously published or unpublished work.
- Send up to two (2) poems in the body of an email titled “2022 Poetic License – Albany”
- Include your name, address, email address, and phone number in your email — no bio.
- Send your email to dwlcx46@gmail.com by midnight, EST, on March 21, 2022.
- Judges will be local poets & members of the Hudson Valley Writers Guild.
- Please note: Your poem may be accepted by the editors but not selected by one of the artists.
How are visual artists chosen to participate in “Poetic License – Albany” to create art based on or inspired by a poet. What must a visual artist do to be considered? Thank you.
Details on the artists portion of this project will be released soon. Stay tuned.