The Union of Maine Visual Artists (UMVA) is hosting an ekphrastic poetry performance on Saturday, May 23 at 4:00 pm at the Oak Street Lofts Gallery, as part of its "Celebrating Hope" exhibition. Poets Annaliese Jakimides, Gregg Harper, Lily Brown, and Maureen Thorson will respond to artworks inspired by Emily Dickinson's poem "Hope is a strange invention." The exhibition features 20 artists and runs on weekends through May 29.
This event matters because it demonstrates how visual art and poetry can intersect to deepen public engagement with themes of hope. By inviting poets to reinterpret the artworks, UMVA creates a layered cultural experience that expands the reach of a local exhibition. It also highlights the role of grassroots artist organizations like UMVA in fostering community connections and supporting interdisciplinary creativity in Maine.