Erasure Poetry Workshop
- Led by Leora Joy Jones

In this workshop, poet and facilitator Leora Joy Jones will guide you to create an original poem out of any piece of text you encounter. Erasure poetry, also known as blackout/ redacted poetry uses preexisting or “found” text to create something new.

We will look at examples of erasure poetry from Reginald Dwayne Betts, M. NourbeSe Philip, Tracy K. Smith, Solmaz Sharif, Niina Pollari, Mary Ruefle, Austin Kleon, and Ian Hamilton Finlay, and discuss the various ways these poets have shaped found language to their own ends. This will include a discussion on the practical steps of the process as well.

You will be invited to test-run your first erasure poem with a shorter text and reflect on the process of elimination toward creation. You will be asked to share how this process resounds for you conceptually and visually.

Then you will have the opportunity to choose from a selection of longer texts (sourced from the London Review of Books, the New Yorker Magazine, Taipei Times, and various other sources) to create a second, longer poem. You are also invited to bring your own found text to use should you prefer that. Black markers and pencils will be provided, but feel free to bring your own colors should you wish. You should leave the workshop with a poem or two, that are also visual works of art.

This generative workshop is accessible to poets at any level of experience. It will take place on Sunday 7 January from 4:30-6:30 pm. Please note there will NOT be a critique workshop scheduled afterward.