Skip to Main Content
  Navigation Menu
      Admission is always free

          Open today:10:00  to 5:00
          Directions
           Play Artle
        Visit
      Visit
          
            Getting Here
          
            Accessibility
          
            Tours, Guides & Maps
          
            Food & Drink
          
            Gallery Shops
          
            Visitor Policies
  
  Collection
      Collection
          
            Highlights
          
            Search the Collection
          
            Artists Search
          
            Acquisition Highlights
          
            Stories
  
  Exhibitions
      Exhibitions
          
            Current
          
            Special Installations
          
            Upcoming
          
            On Tour
          
            Past
  
  Calendar
      Calendar
          
            Films
          
            Performances
          
            Talks
          
            Guided Tours
          
            After Hours
          
            Fun for Kids
          
            Festivals
          
            Workshops
  
  Learn
      Learn
          
            Teachers
          
            Families
          
            Teens
          
            Adults
          
            Learning Resources
          
            Music Programs
          
            Film Programs
  
  Conservation
      Conservation
          
            Projects
          
            Publications
          
            Resources
  
  Research
      Research
          
            The Center
          
            Publications
          
            Make an Appointment
          
            Archives
          
            Library
          
            NGA Online Editions
  
  Support
      Support
          
            Donate Now
          
            National Membership
          
            Circle Membership
          
            Leadership Groups
          
            Planned Giving
          
            Major Giving
          
            Gifts of Art
  
  Shop
      Shop
          
            Books
          
            Jewelry
          
            Apparel & Accessories
          
            Kids
          
            NGA Custom Prints
  
  Play Artle
            Previous Menu
              


  Search
  Hide Menu
  
  Home>Learn>Adults>“Poetry is a country”: John Wilmerding Symposium on American Art and Community Celebration
      

      
      Search “Poetry is a country”
 Discover art through the nation’s great living poets Saturday, September 23, 2023
 Register Now
 How can we express what art makes us feel? Poetry could be the answer. Poems about art help us tell new stories. Poets aren’t just describing works, they’re sharing their experiences of art.
 Read new pieces from celebrated poets inspired by works in our collection. Then join us for a day of art and poetry. Hear the poets read their work and create poetry of your own.
 The lineup
 Explore the art each poet is responding to. Read their new poems below.
 Ada Limón on Andy Goldsworthy
						
							The 24th Poet Laureate of the United States responds to Goldsworthy's Roof

								
								
									Read the poem
 Hanif Abdurraqib on Mwangi Hutter
						
							The poet, essayist, cultural critic, and contributing writer for the New Yorker responds to Mwangi Hutter's Ours To Hold And Caress And Cherish

								
								
									Read the poem
 Heid E. Erdrich on Amedeo Modigliani
						
							The educator, curator, interdisciplinary artist, and guest curator at the Mead Art Museum of Amherst College responds to Modigliani's Roma Woman with Baby

								
								
									Read the poem
 Ilya Kaminsky on Alberto Giacometti
						
							The professor of creative writing, Princeton University, responds to Giacometti's Walking Man II

								
								
									Read the poem
 Jason Reynolds on Gordon Parks
						
							The 2020–2022 National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, New York Times bestselling author, and faculty member for the Writing for Young People MFA Program at Lesley University responds to Parks's Washington, D.C. Government Charwoman (American Gothic)

								
								
									Read the poem
 Jorie Graham on Edouard Vuillard
						
							The Boylston Professor of Rhetoric and Oratory at Harvard University responds to Vuillard's Repast in a Garden.

								
								
									Read the poem
 Naomi Shihab Nye on Max Beckmann
						
							The essayist, educator, and professor of creative writing at Texas State University responds to Beckmann's Falling Man

								
								
									Read the poem
 Teri Ellen Cross Davis on Alexander Calder
						
							Thepoetry coordinator of the Folger Shakespeare Library responds to Calder's Little Spider

								
								
									Read the poem
 Victoria Chang on Anne Truitt
						
							The Bourne Chair of Poetry at Georgia Tech, director of Poetry@Tech, and poetry editor of the New York Times Magazine (2022-2023)responds to Truitt's Mid Day

								
								
									Read the poem
 Schedule of Events
 11:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
							
							Keynote Address and Poetry Readings
						
							Hear some of the nation's leading poets read new poems composed in response to art in our collection.


								
								
									Free registration is required
 1:15–3:30 p.m.
							
							Poetry in the Galleries
						
							Poets read their works alongside the art that inspired them.
Registration is not required.

								
								
									Learn More
 10:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
							
							Community Celebration
						
							Poetic activities for all ages. Which works of art will move you to write your own poem?
Registration is not required.

								
								
									Learn More
 
 In the Library: Poetry and the Book Arts
						
							Come explore poetry, works of art, and fine printing in a range of artists’ and fine press books.
Weekdays from 11:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

						
						
							Learn More
 Made possible by a grant from the Alice L. Walton Foundation. Emily Pegues, assistant curator of sculpture and decorative art, is to be thanked for conceiving this creative project. “Poetry is a country” is inspired by a Virtual Reading: DEAR MEMORY by Victoria Chang.








Stay connected Learn more about our exhibitions, news, programs, and special offers.
 Email Address for National Gallery newsletter subscription


About About the National Gallery
    
        Stories
    
        Press
    
        FAQs
    
        Contact Us
 Plan a Visit Getting Here
    
        Accessibility
    
        Today's Tours
    
        Food & Drink
    
        Calendar
    
        Downloadable Map
 Get Involved Donate
    
        Membership
    
        Volunteer
    
        Opportunities
    
        Shop Online
 Resources Search the Collection
    
        Conservation
    
        Library
    
        Archives
    
        The Center
    
        Film Programs
    
        Music Programs
    
        Audio/Video
    
        Open Access Images


Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily West Building6th St and Constitution Ave NWEnter or exit from Constitution Avenue, 4th Street, or 7th Street. The Madison Drive entrance is currently closed. East Building4th St and Constitution Ave NWEnter and exit from 4th Street. Sculpture Garden7th St and Constitution Ave NWEnter and exit from 7th Street, Constitution Avenue, or Madison Drive. We are closed on December 25 and January 1.
 The National Gallery of Art serves the nation by welcoming all people to explore and experience art, creativity, and our shared humanity.


Twitter
          Facebook
          Instagram
		      Pinterest
          YouTube
 © 2024 National Gallery of Art   Notices   Terms of Use   Privacy Policy