Ekphrasis is when one form of art inspires another. There are three upcoming ekphrastic events in Solano County. Two in Fairfield and one in Benicia. Details are below. Questions should go to the poet laureate organizing each event. Request to join their mailing lists to stay updated in future events.
January 27 – FSVAA Fairfield
Fairfield Poet Laureate Suzanne Bruce in collaboration with the Fairfield-Suisun City Visual Arts Association invites you to write a poem to an art piece from the exhibit Wild Thing
Exhibition dates : January 10 – February 17, 2024
Art Reception and Poetry Reading Saturday, January 27, 2024 4:00-6:00pm
Solano Town Center Gallery 1350 Travis Blvd., #D-8, Fairfield, CA (inside the Solano Town Center Mall) Art can be seen at the Gallery : Gallery is open Wednesday – Sunday 11:00am – 6:00pm or at https://www.fvaa-arts.org/shop-2
Send Suzanne your poem in a word doc or pdf with picture of art on the poem by 5:00pm January 25th fairfieldpoetlaureate@gmail.com
Please keep your poem to 42 lines or less.
February 10 – Inspiration Reversal Fairfield
Fairfield Poet Laureate, Suzanne Bruce, is hosting the second Inspiration—-Reversal Art inspired by Poems!
Poets: Bring a poem of 39 lines or less.
Artists: Bring your creative mind, listen to the poems, and create an art piece inspired by those words!
When: Saturday, February 10, 2024
Time: 10:00am – 12:00noon
Where: Dunnell Burton Center 3351 Hilborn Road, Fairfield
Poets will read poems and artists will choose a poem to then create an art piece. We’ll meet back up on April 13th for the Art Reveal! Send the title of your poem only and your name to Suzanne by February 8th Email to fairfieldpoetlaureate@gmail.com
**Bring 2 copies of your poem to the event. Each poem will be listed for artists to see during the reading. For questions: email Suzanne at fairfieldpoetlaureate@gmail.com
February 18 – Arts Benicia
Ekphrastic Event to Art of a Community
An Old Favorite is back in person at Arts Benicia!
When: Sunday, February 18, 2-4 pm
Where: Arts Benicia, 1 Commandant’s Lane
We are excited to combine the love of poetry with the love of art! Poets can visit the “Art of a Community” exhibit of over 150 pieces which starts January 20 with a reception, and continues to be open Thursdays through Sundays, 1-5 pm.
Choose ONE piece of art that you wish to write to, and record your name beside the piece on the list at the sign-in table. There are many art pieces to choose from so only one poem per piece will be read. The Commandant’s House is a beautiful, historic building but be aware that it will be difficult for the audience to see or hear if you choose a piece from a smalle room.
Please send your poem of 38 lines or less (counting spaces between stanzas so that it fits on one page) to Poetlaureatebenicia@gmail.com no later than Friday, February 9, so we can duplicate your work for a binder and notify the lucky artist to attend. Be sure to put the name of the art piece and the artist at the top of your page and your name on the bottom under your work. Due to space and time considerations, we can accommodate only 25 poems so please do not delay.
Save the date of February 18.
“Our Best to You” is being planned for National Poetry Month on April 14.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions or ideas at my email.
In poetic peace,
Katrina Monroe
Benicia Poet Laureate