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Ekphrasis: Writing with Cliff

In-Person

In this writing workshop, Writer-in-Residence Ariel Gordon and George Toles focus on ekphrasis – creative writing that takes art as its subject. Participants will engage with Untitled, Cliff Eyland’s massive installation of small paintings in Millennium library’s lobby. Spend time taking inspiration from - and writing to - some of the faces and places, thoughts and feelings that are featured on the wall. Participants will have some focused time to work on their first drafts.

Eyland (1954-2020) worked with the traditional 3" by 5" library catalogue card as his inspiration and believed that “the most important art institution has always been the library not the art gallery.” Ariel Gordon is Winnipeg Public Library's 2025-2026 Writer-in-Residence and is currently working on a manuscript of ekphrastic poetry. George Toles is a Distinguished Professor of Film and Literature at the University of Manitoba. He collaborated with Cliff Eyland on Status Update, published in 2021.

Participants will meet in the Carol Shields auditorium on the 2nd floor of Millennium Library.

Date:: Saturday, November 8, 2025
Time:: 1:00PM - 4:00PM
Location:: Carol Shields Auditorium
Branch:: Millennium Library
Audience:: Adults
Audience:: Seniors
Categories:: Writing & Authors
: Programs and events at Winnipeg Public Library are always free.

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