FREE | Open to public

For this ekphrastic writing workshop, poets t love Smith and Jude Marx we’ll begin with an introduction to the history of ekphrasis—the practice of writing in response to visual art. Participants will then spend time in the galleries exploring a variety of paintings from the exhibition, using them as prompts for generative writing. The workshop will close with an opportunity to share new pieces inspired by the art on view.

This talk is part of the PMA’s Poetry in Dialogue series, which invites visitors to experience Grace Hartigan: The Gift of Attention through fresh voices, echoing the power of poetic influences that shape artists’ practice.

---

About the facilitators:

t love smith

Since 2004, t love smith has been active in community building projects, organizations, boards, campaigns, curating events and fundraising for Maine artists and poets. The Trans Poetics Archive originated as their graduate independent research project in USM’s Stonecoast MFA program. The project has included the publication of Maine's First Transgender Poetry Anthology and monthly Trans Poetics curated events to amplify trans voices in Maine.

Jude Marx (they/them)

Jude Marx (they/them) was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA, and now resides in southern Maine. They have written poetry since they were seven years old, later competing nationally on Albuquerque’s city-wide youth slam poetry team. Jude teaches at The Telling Room, a nonprofit that teaches and publishes creative writing by young people across Maine. Jude is the winner of the 2024 Maine Transgender Poetry Anthology Contest and a 2025 Maine Literary Award for poetry. Their poems appear in New Words Press and Monster Beauties: A Maine Transgender Poetry Anthology.