Ekphrastic poetry – poems that are inspired by visual works of art – is an ancient Greek tradition, created to make the listener or viewer envision a work of art as if it were physically present.
On Saturday, January 6, the California Museum of Art Thousand Oaks (CMATO) will bring this ancient literary tradition to contemporary audiences with “PoeTea,” a limited-engagement series featuring readings of original poetry inspired by the paintings of artist Kevin Sloan, currently on view as part of CMATO’s “A Collection of Rarities” exhibition.
Ventura and Santa Barbara-based poets will present in-gallery readings of new ekphrastic poems written in response to specific paintings on view. These commissioned works reflect CMATO’s commitment to creating connections between artistic communities and the public.
The readings accompany a Q&A session, followed by a tea service in the museum’s main gallery. Admission is $10 for museum members and $25 for non-members. Visit www.cmato.org for more information.
