Last modified: Monday, January 31, 2011
ArtsWeek 2011 features writing/art 'mashup' for young women
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb. 1, 2011
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- "Ekphrasis" is a fancy word for speaking and writing about visual works of art, but media "mashup" may work just as well, and on Feb. 19 elementary- and high school-age girls and young women will have the unusual opportunity to immerse themselves in "ekphrasis" during the ArtsWeek 2011 workshop "A Day of Writing and Art."
Photo by Women Writing for (a) Change-Bloomington
Girls in grades 4-12 will participate in a day of writing and art during ArtsWeek 2011
The workshop is organized and facilitated by the Young Women Writing for (a) Change organization, in collaboration with local visual artists. YWWf(a)C, an affiliate of Women Writing for (a) Change-Bloomington, offers classes and workshops targeted at girls interested in all kinds of writing. Beth Lodge-Rigal, director of WWf(a)C-Bloomington, says the Feb. 19 event is all about creative exploration and artistic cross-pollination.
"We're going to play with writing and visual art, exploring images and creating stories," says Lodge-Rigal. "And 'play' is the operative word. 'Writing about art' can sound rather intimidating, but our focus is that the writing experience can be playful and deeply meaningful at the same time."
During the workshop, up to 30 participants will gather in an exhibition space hung with works by local artists. Facilitators will guide the group in writing responses to the visual art forms. Some of the artists whose work is displayed will talk with participants about their responses. A public reading and reception will take place at the end of the workshop. Young writers' pieces will be displayed next to the artwork during the reception.
This year's ArtsWeek theme is "ArtsTeach." Lodge-Rigal says the ArtsWeek workshop is an opportunity for girls to discover how writing can connect them to their true selves.
"We live in a world where the voices and words of girls and young women are, sadly, still devalued," says Lodge-Rigal. "Research documents how, at a certain age, girls begin to disconnect from their bodies and their voices. As young women mature, speaking up or speaking out or simply being in touch with what is true for them becomes more and more difficult. We hope this workshop will encourage young women writers to connect with their inner voices and celebrate their unique points of view."
The workshop is free and open to girls in grades 4 through 12. Enrollment is limited to 30, and advance registration is necessary. Register by calling 812-325-8427, online at https://www.womenwritingbloomington.com/youthworkshops.html, or by sending an e-mail to registration@womenwritingbloomington.com with "ArtsWeek Workshop for girls and teens" in the subject line.
About Young Women Writing for (a) Change:
Young Women Writing for (a) Change is an emerging program of Women Writing for (a) Change-Bloomington. YWWf(a)C invites girls and young women into a community of practice through writing, sharing, and deep listening. For more information, see https://www.womenwritingbloomington.com/.
