Please join us for an EKPHRASTIC POETRY WORKSHOP on site in renowned artist WILLIAM KENT’s preserved Art Barn and Studio in Durham. Registration is limited. Sign up today!

RARE OPPORTUNITY! 

Experience the William Kent Foundation Art Barn and Studio as you create poetry based on the artist’s truly spectacular two and three-dimensional work. Ed Lent, poet laureate of Madison will lead our introduction to ekphrastic poetry: the practice of creating poems focused on a specific work of art. Ed has led ekphrastic workshops for students, artists, poets, and writers, and welcomes new writers and writers of all levels of practice. Leslie Bulion, poet laureate of Durham will assist Ed. On the day of the workshop the Museum Gallery will open for participants. The workshop includes a tour of William Kent’s printed art and larger-than-life sculptures, which will be catalysts for our writing day. 

Edward A. Lent became the inaugural poet laureate of Madison, CT in 2024. He is an active Shoreline Artist in Essex and Lyme Art Associations. He established the Ekphrastic Poetry Trust of CT and uses art to teach Ekphrastic poetry in schools, events and specialty workshops. Publishing two collections under the pen name Ezra Lovecroft, Ed is a Member of the Academy of American poets, Poetry Society of America, the Connecticut Poetry Society, The Haiku Society of America, The National Federation of State Poetry Societies of Poets, Poet Laureates of Ct and Italian Writers Association. Ed received the CT Arts Hero Award, and oversees several philanthropic, art and writing awards and scholarships. For more information, please visit Ed’s website: www.ealentartistpoet.com.

Leslie Bulion creates nature poetry steeped in observation and humor. Leslie is Durham’s inaugural poet laureate. Her ten poetry collections scuttle, swim, and soar across Earth’s remarkable ecosystems. Leslie's graduate science studies and experiences in social work inform her science poetry and middle grade novels. Her books have been honored by Bank Street College, NCTE Notables, Parents Choice, Green Earth Book Awards, Blueberry Nature Book Awards, and state lists including CT’s Nutmeg List.

Connect with Leslie through her website www.lesliebulion.com, Leslie Bulion on Facebook, @LeslieBulion.bsky.social and check out her Instagram nature photos @LeslieBulion. Her newest poetry collection is Nature’s Remarkable Partners: Wild Poems for Two Voices (Peachtree: March 2026).

William Kent, an artist, an environmentalist, and a historic voice in American art was born in Kansas City, Missouri. He settled in Durham, CT, where he created remarkable large-scale sculptures and striking monoprints at his home studio and art barn.

For more information about William Kent please visit williamkentfoundation.org