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Click here to View the Online 2023 Ekphrasis Gallery
View the Ekphrasis 2023 May 6th Program Recording
Information for the May 2023 Ekphrasis Program
Sign up for November Workshops
Sign up to Participate
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Writers and Artist Exhibition
Ekphrasis is the Greek word meaning “Expression” or “Art that describes or explains other art.”
The origins of ekphrasis were described as a detailed description of a work of visual art as a literary device.
Our intention is to expand this idea into other directions, e.g. visual artists responding to a literary piece that moved them; a writer who may not ‘describe’ the work that they are viewing, so much as where it takes their imaginations, their emotions, and thoughts. In addition, we are creating a two-way ekphrastic team that will also include visual artists responding to the written piece.
An exhibition of these works will take place during the month of May 2023 in the Art Gallery at the Orinda Library at 26 Orinda Way, Orinda, CA 94563 (925) 254-2184.

Save the Date!
Saturday, May 6th, 2023
3:00 – 5:00 p.m.
A reception with readings by authors and artists is planned at the Orinda Library, 26 Orinda Way, Orinda, CA
The display will be open throughout the month of May 2023
Last Chance Workshop! Register for Workshop #4
Linda Hartmann will host another workshop on Zoom, in November. This workshop is open to members of CWC- Mt. Diablo, Lamorinda Arts Council, and Lamorinda Arts Association, writers/authors and artists, initiators and responders: those who want to create written works for a visual artist to respond to, or for a visual artist to create a work that a writer will respond to.
November 30, 2022 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Click to register.
Sign up to let us know you want to participate. The Ekphrasis Committee will create ranked-choice teams of a visual artist and an author.
Submit your work using this form. The fee for submission of one work is $20.00. If you submit as both Author Initiator and Author Responder, the fee for the second submission is $10.00.
Ekphrasis 2023
Overview
Calling all Artist and Author members of CWC-Mt. Diablo Branch, LAA and LAC. We invite applicants to complete the Application Form on their respective websites to participate. You will pay your fees when you submit your writing and/or fine art works. Selections of fine art and written works will be accepted by the Ekphrasis Committee, composed of members from all three organizations. The Ekphrasis Committee will create ranked-choice teams of a visual artist and an author.
Categories
Writers and Artists may participate in one of four categories as:
- Initiator Artists
- Initiator Authors
- Responder Authors
- Responder Artists
Eligibility
Registration is limited to members of one of the three participating organizations.
Pairings of Initiator and Responders will be made by ranked-choice selection. Each participant is limited to one Initiator submission or one Responder submission. A total of 17 Initiator and 17 Responder works will be from each of the three collaborating groups.
Submitting Writing and Artworks
- Author members of CWC -Mt. Diablo Branch Authors must go to http://cwcmtdiablo.org/ and to the Ekphrasis page to access the Authors Registration Page.
- Artist members of LAA must go to https://laa4art.org/and to the Ekphrasis page to access the Artist Registration Page.
- Artist members of LAC must go to lamorindaarts.org and to the Ekphrasis page to access the Artist Registration Page. Artists may register their writing or artwork submission; as members of LAC may be either Authors or Artists.
Registration Information Requested
- Name of Submitting Author/Artist.
- Membership verification (to be filled out by committee)
- Contact information (address, telephone, website address, and e-mail)
- Select category submitting into:
- Initiator Artist.
- Initiator Author.
- Responding Artist.
- Responding Author.
Submission of Work: Information Needed
- Name of Submitting Author/Artist
- Membership verification (filled out by committee)
- Contact information (address, telephone, website address, and e-mail)
- Select category submitting into:
- Initiator Artist
- Initiator Author
- Responding Artist
- Responding Author
- Title of work
- Sales price. If Not-For-Sale, then list as NFS, then provide insurance value (for both Artists and Authors).
- Image of artwork as a JPG (300 dpi) and writing as a Word document.
- Media and dimensions as appropriate.
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- Artists:
- 2-D: no more than 30 inches in any dimension
- 3-D no more that 18 inches in any dimension.
- Authors:
- Prose/flash fiction, non-fiction, memoir, essay, etc., has a Word Limit of 600 words.
- Poetry – Line Limit of 60 lines, with absolute maximum of 600 word limit. Empty lines used for spacing are included in the total of 60 lines.
- Short Bio of Artists and Authors required of no more than 100 words ; website preferred when available.
- Work format, Ariel bold 16 point type, 1” Margins on all sides, 2-3 pages of 8.5″ X 11″ portrait orientation put together side by side to make a 11″ X 17″ or 11″ X 22″ landscape orientation total paper size.
- Artists:
Acceptance and Notification
The Ekphrasis Committee shall accept registrations on a first come, first serve basis.
Notification for Artists and Authors:
- November 18: Initiators will be notified whether their registration (first come, first serve) was in time for inclusion into this project by the Ekphrasis Committee
- December 15 – 17: Responders will be notified of their inclusion by registration dates, and their matching with an Initiator.
Summary of Activities
Mark Your Calendars for These Important Dates
2022
October 13: First Ekphrasis Workshop, live Zoom. Initiator emphasis. 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
October 27: Second Ekphrasis Workshop, live Zoom. Responder emphasis. 6:30 – 8:30 pm
November 9: Third Ekphrasis Workshop, live Zoom. Open to all artist/writer/author, initiator or responder.
November 15: INITIATORS – Last date to REGISTER, Artists and Authors
November 18: Initiator Artists and Authors will be notified of their inclusion (first-come, first-serve inclusion)
November 30: Fourth Ekphrasis Workshop, live on Zoom. Open to all artist/writer/author, initiator or responder.
December 14: RESPONDERS – Last date to REGISTER, Artists and Authors
December 15: Final date for Initiators to submit work (Authors – writings in Word format) and (Artists pieces in JPG format)
December 15: Responder notification of inclusion
December 16: CWC, LAA, and LAC to e-mail writings and artwork to Responders for their review
December 17 – 20. Artists and Authors will review work and submit ranked choices to their respective organizations.
December 21: CWC, LAA, and LAC notifies Responders of their pairing.
2023
February 1: Start date for submissions of final Responders’ Images of artwork in JPG format and writings in Word format.
March 15: Final deadline for Responders to submit: Responder Artists to submit high resolution images in JPG and Responder Authors to submit final work in Word documents..
Saturday, April 29, 10:30 – 11:00 a.m.: Deliver original artwork to the Gallery. Installation.
May 1: Exhibit opens.
May 6: Ekphrasis reception. Recitations in the Auditorium.
June 2, Friday: Ekphrasis Exhibit ends – last date for observing.
June 3, Saturday: take down exhibit.