If you’re a curious writer, would you sign up for an ekphrastic writing class?
What is an ekphrastic writing workshop?
I can start by telling you what it isn’t. It’s not an erotic writing workshop which is what my AutoCorrect seems determined to call it. You might write something erotic in an EKPHRASTIC writing class but that would depend on what kind of artwork you’re looking at.
Here’s an extract from my new book, The Art-Inspired Writer.
Ekphrasis is any writing inspired by other art forms. The word comes from the Greek meaning to speak out or to show in full. Believed to be the oldest form of writing about art, ekphrasis is basically a verbal interpretation of a visual image or object. Until photography and inexpensive reproductions became available, the ability to vividly describe an object of great beauty or significance was highly prized, so one goal of ekphrasis was to recreate the experience of observing a work of art or artifact.
Last year I presented seven ekphrastic writing workshops at a major regional art gallery. I have loved both art and books since I was a child and classes are a meeting of these two great loves. The participants gave me excellent feedback and everyone seemed to enjoy the workshops and get a lot of writing done.
At the end of the year, I met with the education coordinators at the gallery to discuss the future of the workshops and we agreed that a name change might encourage more engagement. We regularly had 6-8 writers in attendance but to ensure the sessions would be ongoing, we needed to show they were beneficial to the community. I have discussed ekphrastic writing with enough people to know the word can be a little intimidating.
So the creative writing workshops were rechristened Art Write Now and the February class sold out. It was wonderful to see so many people writing and enjoying the art at the HOTA art gallery on the Gold Coast.
The next workshop is on March 22. You can find more information here Art Write Now: Creative Writing Workshop – HOTA
