Who we are

The Project

Ekphrastic poetry is poetry that vividly describes or responds to a work of visual art, bringing the image to life through words by exploring its themes, emotions, or narrative, often reinterpreting or expanding upon the original artwork's meaning. It traditionally refers to describing art, and can also involve poems about objects, scenes, or even imagined artworks, creating a bridge between visual and literary expression.

The Talent Poets Ekphrastic Poetry event is owed in large part to Talent poet and artist Peter Van Fleet, who hosted such events at his Bell House Gallery, beginning in 2016, and later at the Talent Community Center and Paschal Winery. Peter was comfortable in both worlds and relished the interaction of word and image, poet and artist.

Andy Anderson took the reins in 2024 and coordinates the program with The Talent Gallery, encouraging local poets to view each new exhibition at the gallery every other month. The poems are written after new artwork is installed, then recited during the Sunday Artists Talk series.