The document discusses the interplay between poetry, art, and curation, highlighting the role of curators in making choices that affect viewer connections. It explores strategies for finding narratives in exhibits, emphasizing visual thinking and personal reactions to artworks. The text encourages brainstorming connections between artworks and suggests methods for engaging with exhibits at the Massachusetts Poetry Festival 2015.

1. Found Narratives
Poetry from Art Pairings
Meg Winikates, Massachusetts Poetry Festival 2015

2. Curator
Caretaker
Editor
Interpreter
heritage
emotion
perspective
context
voice
presentation
placement
tradition/
‘canon’
questions

3. Poet
Caretaker
Editor
Interpreter
heritage
emotion
perspective
context
voice
presentation
placement
tradition/
‘canon’
questions

4. The power of both these roles is in
the choices we make.
Image Source: Know Your Own Bone, http://colleendilen.com

6. Choices = Connections
• Color and tone
• Proximity and juxtaposition
• Size and weight
“Juxtaposition” by Richard Croft, creative commons license

7. From Palettes of Light, by Meg Winikates, poet & Michele Morris, photographer
http://palettesoflight.com

8. Your Task: Find a Narrative
• Find 1-2 works in each of 2 exhibits that draw you in.
• Brainstorm a list of words and phrases provoked by each work.
• Take photos for future reference if you need/want.
• Find a connecting thread between your two works.
• Write the bridge.
• “What if I hate everything in X exhibit?”
• Pick 2 unrelated works from the other one. 

9. How do we get there?
• Visual Thinking Strategies
• What do you see?
• What makes you say that?
• What else?
• Be aware of your reactions, curators’ choices
• Duane Michals, Storyteller (upstairs via elevator)
• Branching Out, Trees as Art (just outside the door)
• Rest of the museum (on your own time)
Duane Michals, The Bewitched Bee (detail)
Sachiko Akiyama, On Finding Home (detail)

10. Possible connections
• Theme
• Visual similarities
• Tone
• Texture
• Composition
• Color
• Movement
• Emotional reaction
• Resonances (or dissonances!)
• Personal memories
• References to artistic/literary tradition
• Using one as metaphor/frame for the other
• Timelines (cause & effect, before & after)
Joseph Wheelwright, Waltzers (detail)
Duane Michals, This Photograph Is My Proof (detail)

11. Find us online!
@mwinikates @MicheleMphotos
http://mwinikates.com http://michelemorris.zenfolio.com/
megwinikates
linkedin.com/in/mwinikates linkedin.com/pub/michele-morris/8/a8a/1b0
www.pinterest.com/winikat/