Join us at this month's Free Verse, a PSNY initiative designed specifically by & for BIPOC creatives, with Diego Báez!

This workshop will explore the intersections of lyrical and visual art through concrete poetry. Historical and contemporary examples of concrete poetry—from John Hollander's "Swan and Shadow" to Diana Khoi Nguyen's "Triptych"—will provide inspiration for poets to expand their own poetic purview. Participants will brainstorm images, symbols, and spatial arrangements that can complement, complicate, or contradict their current practices.

About the instructor: Diego Báez is a writer, educator, and abolitionist. He is the author of Yaguareté White (Univ. Arizona, 2024), a finalist for The Georgia Poetry Prize and a semi-finalist for the Berkshire Prize for Poetry. He is the recipient of fellowships from CantoMundo, the Surge Institute, and the Poetry Foundation’s Incubator for Community-Engaged Poets. His writing has appeared in print and online. He lives in Chicago and teaches at the City Colleges.

This workshop is taught by and for Black, Indigenous, and other Persons of Color with an interest in poetry. We invite folks to connect in this safe, generative, BIPOC-centered space: to share work, experiences, and discourse. At the end of every workshop, we welcome the sharing of resources, such as literature, community events, and grants available for application. Respectfully and consensually connecting with other members outside of the space is encouraged. If you are not BIPOC-identifying, we kindly invite you to attend other PSNY events. While topics do not necessarily center around being BIPOC, this community space is designed specifically for the BIPOC experience. Attendees of our Monthly Free Workshops for BIPOC Creatives receive a 50% off discount code for our Weekly Virtual Workshops!