We will explore poetics through the prism of several famous muses from Alice Liddell (of "Alice in Wonderland" fame) to Yoko Ono.  

 

Together we will examine how muses help makers conjure poems, and interrogate how the maker-muse relationship can inform, contour, and guide artistic practice.  

 

This workshop will focus on generative writing, with regular sharing and optional peer review. A particular emphasis will be on "craft" and tips for writing success. Instructor will provide feedback on packets of poems written inside and outside of class. We will study the work of many poets but focus on John Ashbery, James Merrill, W.S. Merwin, Frank O'Hara, and James Schuyler. The broader reading list will be expansive and cover poets of varied backgrounds. You may read as little or as much as you want.

 

Poets at all stages of their careers are encouraged to participate.

Have you ever wondered what knowledge your body holds that your mind doesn't (yet)? In this generative class, we will be performing a writing ritual together to gently excavate this "under the surface" knowledge - so as to allow our bodies to speak to us more clearly, and take up more space within our individual writing practices. This class will be a judgment-free space where we prioritize experimentation and play.

To begin with, we will be reading a few literary texts to learn how a body typically thinks, senses and feels its way through the world - including excerpts from The Hunger of Women by Marosia Castaldi, Butter by Asako Yuzuki, and there are more things by Yara Rodrigues Fowler. Shze-Hui will then guide students through a 40-minute generative writing ritual, which will aim to help them rewire and transcend the body's usual modes of perception. The aim is for each student to leave the class with a set of new tools for conceptualizing and verbalizing their body's memories - so that they can express their physical sense of self more confidently in their writing.