Live Performances of Plays, Poetry and Prose Inspired by Visual Art
Keep St. Pete Lit is elated that Fantastic Ekphrastic is now celebrating its third year at Soft Water Studios with Bob Devin Jones directing. It’s an experience that has riveted audiences for two years in a row.
“Ekphrastic” is from a Greek word that means a ‘written commentary on a visual work of art.’
At Fantastic Ekphrastic, a fundraiser for non-profit literary arts organization Keep St. Pete Lit, local actors perform poetry, prose and plays inspired by the artwork on display.
Keep St. Pete Lit’s Maureen McDole explains the unique event. “There is nothing like seeing a writer’s work come to life, while also viewing the artwork that inspired it. It’s a totally visceral experience and every performance is different.”
The Fantastic Ekphrastic artists are local photographers, painters and sculptors. The writing comes from crafters of fiction, journalists, poets and playwrights.
“I had a strong desire to merge the visual and literary arts in a collaborative environment,” adds McDole. “By adding the performance aspect, we create a dynamic interdisciplinary experience.”
Tickets are $25 and on sale at keepstpetelit.org. All proceeds help Keep St. Pete Lit promote the vibrant local literary arts community, including low-cost writing classes at the Morean Art Center, LitSpace Writers Residency program in April, SunLit Literary Festival, a used bookstore at Morean Art Center, an upcoming kids summer writing camp and much more. Find out more at keepstpetelit.org.
When: Friday, February 24 and Saturday, February 25
Two shows each night, at 5:30 pm and 8 pm
Doors open at 4:30 pm
Where: Soft Water Studios, 515 22nd St. S., St. Petersburg
Cost: Tickets are $25 and on sale at keepstpetelit.org
Contact: Maureen McDole, President of Keep St. Pete Lit, keepstpetelit@gmail.com
2017 Fantastic Ekphrastic Artists and Writers:
Julia Polonyi/ Adrien Julious
Stacy Jo DeMott / Jeremiah Khokhar
Kim Radatz / Lisa Luella Kirchner
Bob Canning/ Joe Hamilton
Zulu Painter/ Jalessa Blackshear
D YaeL Kelley/ Elizabeth Brincklow
Ryan Michel/ Sheila Cowley
John Pendygraft/ Brooks Peters
Mark Mitchell/ Lisa Spencer
Laine Nixon/ Sabrina Dalla Valle
Marc Levasseur/ Nathan Van Coops
Jenipher Chandley/ Tracy Kennard
Josh Poll, collaboration with Dave Walker Glass, Daddy O Glass/ Jon Kile
Ya’ La Ford/ Matt Cowley
Mike Elwell/ Scott Harrell
Duncan McClellan/ Heather Sellers
Performers:
Lisa Powers Tricomi
Erica Sutherlin
Mark Aeling
Mimi Rice
Rich Rice
Bob Heitman
Janet Keeler
Angela Bond
Sabrina Dalla Valle
Directed by Bob Devin Jones
Many thanks to our 2017 Sponsors: Sylvia Rusche Insurance Agency, Inc, J. Clayton Pruitt Foundation, Soft Water Studios, The Studio@620, Creative Loafing Tampa, Uncommon Legal, P.A.,The Hubbard Family, Beth Morean, Black Crow Coffee Co, Independent Bar St.Petersburg, Jon and Monica Kile, Haslam’s Book Store Inc, Minuteman Press of St. Petersburg, FL , Russell Property Group, Fisher And Sauls, P.A., Maria “DR MO” Pertik, RN., Ph.D. Read and Write on!
Art featured in poster: “White Raven Speaks – the Second Horizon” by D YaeL Kelley