Celebration of PoetrySaturday April 29, 2023
9:30 AM until 4:00 PM
Woodbury Public Library will host an all-day celebration of poetry in the Library's Gallery Space. Join Connecticut's Poet Laureate, Antoinette Brim-Bell, along with several other Connecticut poets for panel discussions and workshops on poetry, poetry and art, and poetry and music.
Presenters: Antoinette Brim-Bell (West Haven), Emma Bocciarelli (pianist, Griswold); Sandy Carlson (Woodbury), Julie Cook (Woodbury), Pegi Dietz Shea (Vernon), Suzanne Frischkorn (Redding), Barb Jennes (Ridgefield), Jim Kelleher (Goshen), Sarah Marze (Canton), Pat Mottola (Cheshire), Tom Nicotera (Bloomfield), Lin Northrup (Woodbury), Steve Parlato (Middlebury), Katie Schneider (Norwalk), Jack Sheedy (Harwinton), Connor Shirshac (Columbia), Faith Vicinanza (Southbury)
PANELS:
What is poetry? A conversation about what makes a poem: How do you know a poem when you see one? Why do writers write poems? What is their place in our world? Do we need them? Who are these poems for?
Why We Write. A conversation about why we write: Who is the audience we hold in our minds as we write? Whom do we hope will read our finished poems? What does it mean to publish a poem in a world of social media, in-person and online open mics, blogs, and traditional and selfpublishing?
Music & Poetry Playshop. Poetry can stand on its own or be enhanced by musical accompaniment. In this creative session, participants have permission to awaken their inner musicians by picking up easy-to-play instruments such as drums, chimes, and shakers to accompany short poetry readings — and then trade roles. Join the fun and open your ears to a new way to enjoy poetry!
Ekphrastic Poetry Workshop. Ekphrastic poetry is defined as poems about works of art. “Ekphrasis” is a Greek word that means to describe in vivid detail. In this workshop, you’ll explore ekphrastic poems alongside the works of art they take as their subject, and you’ll have the opportunity to try your hand at writing an ekphrastic poem.
An Exploration of Poetry and Place. A conversation about the relationship between what we write and where we are: How does where we are influence, or interact with, what we write? The designation of poet laureate is defined by geography. How is that assignment reflected in the poets’ work? How does poetry go beyond those borders? How does it celebrate place?
Art Song & Contemporary Poetry. In the art song repertoire, there is a distinct lack of contemporary music written with developing vocalists in mind. Supported by a UConn IDEA Grant, Sarah Marze composed a songbook and created educational resources for high school students of classical voice and their teachers. In collaboration with poets from the Connecticut Poetry Society, Marze has set six poems that are age-appropriate, fulfilling and accessible for young students. The songs, while written to be teaching tools, contain expressive music for all ages meant to be a bridge into contemporary music. Marze, Emma Bocciarelli, and Conor Shirshac will perform songs from Let Us Sing.
The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Woodbury Public Library.
Location: Library Gallery Space
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