The Art of Ekphrasis

Where does an artist go for inspiration? Sometimes, not surprisingly it is to other artists, even other art forms. Ekphrasis is a Greek word, which literally means out (ek) and speak (phrasis). Practically speaking, ekphrasis is one art form commenting on another. Probably the most common form of ekphrasis is the writer's response to visual art. Last year I was part of an ekphrastic project initiated by the writer, artist, and friend Kelley Aitken, who teaches drawing at the Art Gallery of Ontario. Nine poets, one musician, and a dancer read and performed work inspired by pieces in the Gallery. I usually look at work in art galleries as a visual artist, interested in technique, colour, line, concept... Seeing the work as a poet was startlingly different. You are "forced" to a deeper response--the sort I rarely take the time to make when I walk through a gallery, partly because it would be exhausting. The Ekphrasic event itself was wonderful. About sixty members of the public arrived and were given a small folding chair to carry from place to place in the gallery, as each of the readers/performers led them to the piece on which they had based their work. Then the crowd would simultaneously unfold their chairs and settle themselves down, a mobile audience. You can hear some of the poems, including my own ("Two Figures") on the AGO blog.