Drop-In: Visual Poetry: Experimenting With Form with Emma Sheinbaum

“We have a sense that the shape and style of our dwellings affects the shapes of the lives that unfold within them. Perhaps form in poetry is not so different... Writing poems is a chance to construct spaces that I want to imaginatively inhabit.” - Mary Szybist, in an interview with the Oregonian

In this weekly, in-person drop-in workshop, we’ll explore and experiment with visual poetry. Each week, we’ll read poems with innovative and unique forms and structures. In visual poetry, design elements create layers of meaning beyond the words themselves, extending into how the poem presents itself on the page. We’ll play with generative prompts to create our own visual poems and chat about the impact and intent behind crafting visual poetry. What thoughts, feelings, questions come up while engaging with such pieces and while walking through the writing process? How can we utilize patterns, enjambment and design to form our poems? In what ways do form and content inform, guide, feed and build on each other? Each week, we’ll discover through experimentation the potential of what a visual poem can communicate, mirror, reference and embody that distinguishes itself from a traditional poem. Together, we'll approach writing and shaping poems with intention and imagination.

Artists on our reading list consist of Mary Szybist, torrin a. greathouse, Danez Smith, CA Conrad, Jenny Holzer and selections from A Mouth Holds Many Things: A De-Canon Hybrid Literary Anthology edited by Dao Strom including Ayesha Raees, Imani Elizabeth Jackson, Divya Victor and Diana Khoi Nguyen.

Sharing will be encouraged but optional. (Note that drop-in classes are not a forum for critique of work; students looking for critique should register for multi-week workshops.)

COVID-19 Policy

Effective 2024, all event attendees are required to wear masks due to the current prevalence of cases in NYC. Masks will be available at the door.

The current metrics available, including NYC wastewater data and the CDC’s Respiratory Virus Activity Levels, both indicate high levels of COVID and other illnesses. While your personal risk tolerance may vary, the unmitigated spread of COVID and other respiratory illnesses disproportionately affects the most vulnerable in our community—including those who are immunocompromised or don’t have the privilege of paid sick days to heal and recover. We hope you’ll join us in taking the actions we can to make our space welcoming to all and to keep each other safe. Please stay home if you are experiencing symptoms, have a positive COVID test or someone close to you has recently tested positive.

We strongly encourage daytime visitors and workshop attendees to wear masks. Workshop instructors may choose to enforce a more stringent policy at their own discretion. Additionally, workshop participants may be required to wear masks as an accessibility accommodation for other participants.

While we do our best, Brooklyn Poets cannot guarantee zero risk. A risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in all public settings. By entering the building, students, teachers and other attendees accept the risk of exposure and knowingly waive and release Brooklyn Poets from any liability related to COVID-19.

Brooklyn Poets Code of Conduct

Brooklyn Poets will not tolerate any instances of discrimination, harassment or abuse in conjunction with any of our programs. Respect and consideration for others, both within and outside our programs, are core values to be upheld by all participants. Discrimination against and/or harassment of community members on the basis of race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, national origin, religion, age, marital status, veteran status or any other factor is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Program participants are expected to adhere to all federal, state and local laws and regulations. Should a board or staff member, independent contractor, volunteer or program participant be found to violate any aspect of the organization’s code of conduct, Brooklyn Poets reserves the right to dismiss them from the program. Consequences may include, but not be limited to, dismissal from the current activity, suspension, ineligibility for all future activities, and/or loss of payment or fees. If you have any issues to report, please do not hesitate to email feedback@brooklynpoets.org, which will send your message to everyone on the Conduct Committee, or if you’d prefer you can contact anyone listed individually here and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.

Accessibility

Our space at 144 Montague requires the ability to go up a single flight of stairs. Due to the landmark status of the Brooklyn Heights Historic District, fire code restrictions and our position as renters, we are unfortunately unable to make structural changes to the building at this time to eliminate this barrier, though we have explored every option. We don't currently offer hybrid courses, but we do have a variety of online course offerings and we livestream all events. For more information and to request additional accommodations, contact us.