This four part workshop, culminating in a gallery exhibition at Raices Cultural Center on December 6th, 2026, is the result of four local poets engaging their work with the theme of “Othering”, and imagining how the power of the poetic word could inspire visual art on this topic. The theme “Othering” explores various lived experiences such as immigration, BIPOC,  LGBTQ, mental health issues, illnesses, and body image.

There is a long tradition of poetry being inspired by visual art, called ekphrastic poetry, but together with the founders of Raices Cultural Center, Highland Park poets Arianna Astuni, Karin Jervert, Jay Silent Knight and Millie Serrano, will lead workshops to explore the opposite — fine art inspired by poetry.

The art-making practice that will help participants create visual art, that will be part of the final gallery exhibition event, is a powerful community activity called “Body Mapping”. Together, as we listen to the words of these poets, each taking their unique perspective on the topic of other, we will paint, draw, cut, paste, and otherwise engage in a free flowing community art piece based on the body. 

Each poet will lead one workshop based on their unique perspectives and experiences. It will be a beautiful evening of engagement in the power of poetry and fine art.