Writers Invited to Discover Their Artistic Muse at Ekphrastic Poetry Event

Those who come to the Ekphrastic Poetry Program Saturday, March 17, will be encouraged to find their muse in art, music or dance by creating an original work of poetry, fiction or nonfiction in the moment.

Old Dominion's Baron and Ellin Gordon Art Galleries, host for the unique event, also serves as a co-sponsor along with Friends of the ODU M.F.A. Creative Writing Program and Writers in Community.

From 2-4 p.m., visitors to the free program will have an opportunity to view original artwork by self-taught artists and ODU students, hear music by Skye Zentz and watch a performance by ODU dancers. Then it will be their turn to "perform" by writing an original work or two, inspired by something they just saw or heard.

Ekphrasis (from the Greek) is writing that directly addresses an art form (visual, musical or other). An example of ekphrasis is songwriter Don McLean's "Starry Starry Night," inspired by Vincent van Gogh's painting of a night sky.

Zentz, "a soul singer with a folk heart," will provide the music. She writes songs on guitar or ukulele, and her vocal stylings have been compared to Norah Jones. Her debut album received a nomination for Album of the Year at the 2008 Portfolio Music Awards.

The Ekphrastic Poetry Program, which has been called a "hands-on" conversation and dialogue among artists and participants, is open to the public. For more information call the galleries at 3-6271, email kjackson@odu.edu or go to http://odumfafriends.webs.com.