The Ekphrastic Haiku – Winter 2023

Since its beginnings as a medium to record and interpret the wanderings of the poet Bashō through 17th-century Japan, the haiku has been, and largely remains, an observational form. It’s rooted, first and foremost, in the poet’s direct experience of the world via the five senses, sight most of all. Haiku can also be inspired by the visual arts, including painting, drawing, sculpture, and photography. In this class, participants will be led through a series of exercises designed to create simple visual images and then write haiku in response to them. We’ll also work off of some ready-made visuals—some representational, some more abstract—as the basis for fresh explorations of this ancient form.

Kevin Nance is a writer/photographer and the author of two collections of ekphrastic haiku, Even If (University of Kentucky Arts in HealthCare, 2020) and Midnight (Act of Power Press, 2022).

This class is suitable for all levels.

Cancellation Policy:

The Carnegie Center reserves the right to cancel a class if minimum enrollment is not met. It is best to register early to help our instructors prepare and to ensure the class does not get cancelled. We evaluate registration numbers between 6 and 2 business days before a class starts to decide whether we can hold the class. Classes that do not meet minimum enrollment may be cancelled a minimum of two business days prior to the first class meeting. All participants will be notified by email and will receive full refunds.