Young authors shine at DeltaARTS symposium

Young authors shine at DeltaARTS symposium

Civic Center hosts ‘ A Picture's Worth a Thousand Words’ event

Representing 11 area schools, 161 fifth- and sixth-grade students attended DeltaARTS' Young Authors' Symposium, “A Picture's Worth a Thousand Words,” on Feb. 10, at the Eugene Woods Civic Center. Special support for the event was provided by Esperanza Bonanza.

Students who are strong writers were specially selected by their schools to participate in the Symposium's study of “ekphrastic poetry” (poetry inspired by works of art), and the students' writings will be published in an anthology. All participating students and schools will receive copies of the anthology.

At the Civic Center, DeltaARTS hung more than 10 original works of art created by local artists, including Betsy Brackin Burch, Carroll Cloar, Kathy Daniel, Gail Fogleman, and Dolph Smith, for the students to study before selecting one to focus on for their writing piece.

Gwen English, Memphis artist and art instructor, and Alex Smith, DeltaARTS Development & Marketing Director and former journalism/ English teacher, led the Symposium. Marion High School students served as table facilitators, encouraging and assisting the Young Authors throughout the process.

DeltaARTS Executive Director Amelia Barton led a workshop during the Symposium for the 17 teachers who attended. The workshop, which was based on the Lincoln Center aesthetic education philosophies,

focused on ways the

teachers could bring the study of ekphrastic poetry and visual art back to their classrooms.

Participating schools included:

Bragg Elementary,

Faulk Elementary, L.R.

Jackson Elementary, Maddux Elementary, Marion Intermediate, Richland Elementary, Trumann Elementary,

Weaver Elementary, West Memphis Christian,

and Wonder

Elementary.

For more information about DeltaARTS programs and events, please call (870)732-6260 or visit deltaarts.org.

From Alex Smith DeltaARTS