Poetry and Art, A Creative Writing Workshop with Sally Van Doren

Artist and prize-winning poet Sally Van Doren is offering an exciting workshop at The Cornwall Library, exploring the intersection of poetry and art for poets. Class size is limited. Registration is required.

As the late poet Mark Van Doren said: “The art of teaching is the art of assisting discovery.” This immersive workshop is designed to do just that: help you generate new writing through discovering and nurturing your poetic voice. Using in-class prompts, you will explore how voice emerges and creates the distinctive character that makes your writing unique. Whatever form your new work takes, whether it’s a poem, a prose poem, a short essay or some other form of creative nonfiction, these exercises will stimulate your imagination and inspire further exploration.

A particular focus for this workshop is ekphrastic writing, which describes vividly—and is in response to—a work of art. Participants will be asked to bring in either a photograph or an image of an artwork that sparks their interest.

The workshop is designed to be fruitful for those new to writing creatively as well as seasoned writers. We’ll draw upon the wonderful resource of a collaborative small group to learn how others hear us and how we can best hear ourselves.

Interested parties should note that on November 11 from 5 to 7 pm, Van Doren is opening her new show at The Cornwall Library and giving a poetry reading and artist’s talk at 6 pm. Click here to learn more about the show and register for the reception.

Sally Van Doren is the author of four collections of poetry including Sibilance, published by LSU Press in September 2023. She has taught poetry at the 92nd Street Y, the St. Louis Public Schools and most recently Scoville Memorial Library. She holds a BA from Princeton University and an MFA from the University of Missouri-St. Louis.