Gathering in the Garden: Poetry and Book Arts

Tuesday and Wednesday, July 26 and 27

This intensive, two-day course explores and unites two creative processes: poetry and the visual arts. Taking inspiration from the forms, colors, and inhabitants of the Gardens, students will write, illustrate, and design an artists’ book. Day one begins in the classroom, creating a two-pamphlet paperback journal, then moves into the Gardens for inspiration. After lunch, students will share rough drafts before creating a flag book. Students will also gain a playful acquaintance with poetic forms like the villanelle, the sestina, and the pantoum. Day two begins with poetry prompts, then students will venture off on their own to create patterns in poetic response to the Gardens. After returning, we’ll construct a layered accordion book in which students can interpret their experience through words and images.

Please note this class requires participants to show proof of having received all eligible Covid-19 vaccinations, as recommended for their age by the CDC, in order to participate. Because of the dynamic nature of this situation, we ask that you agree to abide by potential future changes in CMBG’s Covid-19 policy designed to address evolving public health recommendations.

Rebecca Goodale has been creating a series of artist’s books about Maine’s rare plants and animals for twenty years. Recently, she has been revisiting her training as a textile designer by employing various printmaking techniques to create large-scale, repeatable patterns. Rebecca has taught book arts and design at the University of Southern Maine for four decades. Her work is in many collections, including the Maine Women Writers Collection at UNE, Bowdoin College Library, Herron Art Library at IUPUI, Boston Athenaeum, Yale University, Harvard University, the Library of Congress, and the Portland Museum of Art. rebeccagoodale.com