Donald Hall and Jane Kenyon are the Muses for Poetry and Painting Retreat

Twiggs Gallery is working with Eagle Pond Inc. to offer a daylong creative retreat for poets and plein air artists on Sept. 16.

Renowned poets Donald Hall and Jane Kenyon spent their writing life at Eagle Pond Farm in Wilmot. Both were named New Hampshire Poet Laureate, and Donald also served as US Poet Laureate.They were daily informed by the farm, its memories, and a deep sense of place and connection to the land and landscape sheltered by Kearsarge and Ragged Mountains.

The day offers a unique opportunity to create in the same space where the poets lived and worked. Mary Lyn Ray, children’s book author, historian, preservationist and founder of Eagle Pond Inc. has offered to give a behind-the-scenes tour of the house. Laurie Zimmerman, poet and friend of Hall and Kenyon, will guide the poets to read, write and reflect on the poet’s lives. Plein air artist and teacher Monica Cote will share poems for inspiration and offer instruction on the many aspects of plein air painting while the painters spend their time outdoors exploring the property.

“Twiggs Gallery has offered adult art and crafting classes for years,” shared Twiggs gallery director Laura Morrison, “but this is the first time we have worked with another non-profit to create a special daylong retreat. When you walk around the property and wander through the house, you can see why this place inspired their writing life. I think it’s also really exciting that Mary Lyn and Laurie were personal friends of the poets and can offer insight into their lives.”

Bonus activities included with registration are an Art & Poetry Share where participants can reflect on their retreat experience and an invitation to participate in a Pop-Up Exhibit of art and poetry along with a Poetry Reading in October at Twiggs Gallery.

More details about the retreat are on Twiggs Gallery’s website at TwiggsGallery.org.

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