Sculpture in the garden-Evolve by Laura Nolan-Red Room Poetry-Image

'Evolve' by artist Laura Nolan was the inspiration for Ali Jane Smith's ekphrastic poem 'Thorny, Juicy'

for now you make a monstera leaf      with     your     fingers
say I am scared of being the last generation
left to clean out the shut off refrigerators

~ Emily Crocker from 'The Tower'

Things the fire makes from sand, ash
lead to other things
rearranging atoms in time and time and time
~ Ali Jane Smith from 'Thorny, Juicy'

A series of free workshops and commissions as part of Sculpture in the Garden at Wollongong Botanic Garden.

As part of Sculpture in the Garden in 2021, we partnered with Wollongong City Council to present a series of poetry commissioned and free workshops for the Wollongong community.

Illawarra poets Emily Crocker, Ali Jane Smith and Isabella Luna were commissioned to create ekphrastic poems responding to artworks in the Garden. 

Then, during February and March we hosted a series of free on-site ekphrastic workshops. Members of the public were invited to come along and create their own direct response to the artworks being exhibited. 

Workshops

Past

Saturday 20 February, 2.00-4.00pm [Closed]
Poet Ali Jane Smith leads this free outdoor ekphrastic workshop creating new words/worlds responding to the Garden's artworks and surroundings. All ages and writing experience welcome.

Saturday 27 February, 2.00-4.00pm [Closed]
Performance poet Isabella Luna leads a free youth workshop forming new lines and fresh sounds in response to the Garden's artworks and surroundings. All Under 25 welcome. No writing experience needed.

Friday 12 March, 10.00am-1.00pm [Closed]
Storyteller and poet, Lilli Rodrigues-Pang will lead this outdoor ekphrastic workshop creating new words / worlds responding to the sculptures and surrounds. All ages and writing experience welcome.