Class

Poet As Curator

Minneapolis Poet Laureate Heid E. Erdrich will teach a one-day class at the American Swedish Institute focused on ekphrastic poetry - writing on visual art. As part of her poetry practice, curator Heid E. Erdrich has often collaborated with visual artists, choreographers, public artists and filmmakers. Her deep interest in ekphrastic poetry comes from a desire to see poetry reach unexpected audiences including visitors to museums, galleries, and dance events. Heid has made poem videos and voiced poems that were installed as artwork in public places. This class will consider how a poem can leap from the page to become public art.

Artwork can be a wonderful prompt to creating new poetry. In this class, participants will write from visual prompts and discuss both their writing and poems from the ekphrastic tradition. Participants will be asked for comments or responses, both verbally and in writing. Participants will explore the museum exhibits as part of the class.

We encourage participants to be fully vaccinated and masked in the interest of everyone’s safety. Please see the Loft’s website for the most up to date information about the Loft’s COVID policies.