Gathering Stories at the Memorial Art Gallery - Engaging Art to Tell a Story
On Enlightenment
Author: Saniya Bhagwat
A senior at Brighton High School, Saniya primarily writes non-fiction pieces such as editorials and op-eds, but she enjoys writing creative poems in her spare time. She will attend a four-year university in 2024.
Click here to read "On Enlightenment," an ekphrastic poem inspired by "Portrait of a Man Holding the Frontispiece to Dürer's 'Small Passion,' " 1633-1637, by Pietro Paolini. Memorial Art Gallery Collection, Rochester, NY.
"The Dawn Rail"
Author: Amber Black
Amber Black is a visual artist, writer, and musician who loves to create in any medium. Her current favorites are jewelry making and glass bead firework.
Click here to read an ekphrastic short story, "The Dawn Rail" inspired by Norman Rockwell's painting, "Soldier on Leave," 1944. Courtesy of the Memorial Art Gallery Collection, Rochester, NY.
"Sheep"
Author: Mary Burke
Mary Burke is a student at Hilton High School and an avid writer.
Click here to read her short story, "Sheep," inspired by a painting of the same name by Anton Mauve, 1838-1888. Courtesy of the Memorial Art Gallery Collection, Rochester, NY.
"Fame"
Author: Arianna Cator
Arianna Cator is an 11th grader at Brighton High School. She has loved writing since she picked up her very first pencil. As well as writing, she is an avid guitar, bass and violin player.
Click here to read her ekphrastic poem "Fame," inspired by James Carroll Beckwith's painting, 1878. Courtesy of the Memorial Art Gallery Collection, Rochester, NY.
"Peeling Onions"
Author: Phoenix Crosland
Phoenix Crosland is a high school junior who loves to read and write, with a special interest in the fantasy genre. In the future, she hopes to become a doctor and publish a fantasy novel.
Click here to read "Peeling Onions," an ekphrastic short story inspired by Lilly Martin Spencer's (a.k.a. Angelique Marie Martin) painting of the same name, ca. 1852. Courtesy of the Memorial Art Gallery Collection, Rochester, NY.
"End Upheld"
Author: Daphne Hix
Daphne is a junior at Hilton High School, and she is an avid reader, writer, and artist. She is involved in the International Baccalaureate 2-D art program at her school and one of her pieces is to be featured in an upcoming RIT show. Daphne is passionate about her art and the interpretation of art, as a whole, especially with more abstract compositions.
Click here to read "End Upheld," an ekphrastic poem inspired by Nick Cave's sculpture, which features a single figure holding up a number of luxury objects. In a similar way, the mother depicted in this poem holds up both her children and their futures, which she hopes will be brighter than hers.
"Sitting There"
Author: Shaya Gibbs
Shaya Gibbs is a senior at Brighton High School. She has been a creative writer since the age of eleven and hopes to get her novels published one day.
Click here to read her ekphrastic poem, "Sitting There" inspired by Angela Ellsworth's sculpture, "Seer Bonnet XVI (Sarah Ann)," 2010-11. Courtesy of the Memorial Art Gallery, Rochester, NY.
One Fujin
Author: Nilmani Rivera
Nilmani Rivera is an avid poetry reader and book reader. She really loves reading romance and fantasy books. She also works for the Youth ambassadors Council Run by The Levine Center to End Hate, which she thoroughly enjoys.
Click here to read "One Fujin," an ekphrastic poem inspired by Hung Liu's painting "Three Fujins," 1995. Courtesy of the Memorial Art Gallery Collection, Rochester, NY.
"The Widow"
Author: Ky'Johnna Jamison
Ky'Johnna Jamison is a college student interested in creative writing, visual arts, and film making.
Click here to read "The Widow," an ekphrastic story inspired by Jean Louis Forain's painting "At Court (Au Tribunal), ca.1900. Courtesy of the Memorial Art Gallery, Rochester, NY.
Ky'Johnna's story is told from the perspective of the mother in Forain’s painting “At Court.” In the painting, she holds her young son close while hunched low in defeat before the judge’s podium. In this story, The Mother is being tried on two counts of murder by witchcraft, punishable by exile, or even death.
"It could have been me"
Author: Natalie Kiser
Natalie Kiser attends Hilton High School and is currently taking an International Baccalaureate 3D art course. For this class she have chosen a concept centered around nature for her love of plants and flowers. She also loves animals, specifically cats, and hopes to one day become a veterinarian.
Click here to read "It could have been me," an ekphrastic poem inspired by Rachel Ruysch's "Floral Still Life," 1686. Courtesy of the Memorial Art Gallery Collection, Rochester, NY.
"Towing a Boat, Honfleur"
Author: Madeline Leahy
Madeline Leahy is a junior at Penfield High School who has a passion for writing. In her spare time, she writes scripts for plays, film, and television, and occasionally writes poems, short stories, and songs. She hopes to become a screenwriter and a playwright in the future.
Click here to read "Towing a Boar, Honfleur," an ekphrastic short story inspired by Claude Monet's 1864 painting. Courtesy of the Memorial Art Gallery Collection, Rochester, NY.
"My Sun"
Author: Lillian Rowe
Lillian Rowe is a junior creative writing major at School of the Arts. She has always been a fan of writing poetry and hopes to continue growing with it in the future.
Click here to read "My Sun," an ekphrastic poem inspired by "The Nativity," painted by Benjamin West, ca. 1796. Courtesy of the Memorial Art Gallery, Rochester, NY.
"Captivating"
Author: Red S. Downey
Red Downey is a student at Rochester Prep.
Click here to read an ekphrastic short story, "Captivating" inspired by Hung Liu's painting, "Three Fujins," 1995. Courtesy of the Memorial Art Gallery Collection, Rochester, NY.