Collegio Online

Issue date: 1/31/08 Section: Campus Life

Media Credit: Aaron Anders/Collegio Laura Lee Washburn, associate professor in English and creative writing, reads some of her poetry to students and faculty on Thursday, Jan. 24, in Grubbs Hall. Washburn's poetry described paintings and photos. The reading was part of the Performing Arts and Lecture Series.

Laura Lee Washburn blended painting and poetry during a lecture Thursday, Jan. 24, in Grubbs Hall.

Washburn, author and Pittsburg State University associate professor of English, spoke to students and faculty as part of a series of lectures by creative writers.

Washburn's hour-long presentation was titled "Interrupting the Conversation: A Poet Responds to Art," which dealt with comparisons of art and words.

"Really the relationship between painting and poetry are the same," Washburn said.

"You look at something and find a theme."
Washburn looks at paintings and photos and can draw a poem from a single painting.

"I think poets use paintings as a triggering subject to write about what it is they are seeing," Washburn told an audience of about 20 people.

Washburn has been able to take such simple photos and paintings like Edward Weston's photo "The Pepper." That's the picture, just a green bell pepper, but Washburn is able to wrap words around the image.

"You just believe what you read in the poem," Washburn said. "It's just a pepper, nothing else."

Washburn summed up her writing style easily.
"I've always written my poems like you would not need to see the painting," Washburn said. "Of course it is most appropriate for people to see those paintings."

Washburn sprinkled her talk with light humor, offering insights into how the poetic mind works.

"A poet only wishes to interrupt the conversation, to be a part of the conversation," she said.

Washburn is the author of "This Good Warm Place" and "The Contortionist."

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