2024 Poets & Painters Event

SPW is co-sponsoring another Poets and Painters event with the Sangamon Watercolor Society, beginning with an opening reception on Saturday, October 12 from 5:30-7:30 PM!

On that night, the Sangamon Watercolor Society Annual Members Exhibition opens at the Springfield Art Association’s M.G. Nelson Gallery. Paintings will remain on exhibition through November 1. See the Gallery web page for hours. You can also view the paintings on our virtual gallery page.

Poets and Painters Event schedule:

October 12, 5:30-7:30 PM: SPW members and friends are invited to the reception at the M.G. Nelson Gallery – but may view the Sangamon Watercolor Society Members Exhibition during any hours the Gallery is open -- to choose one or two paintings to inspire their writing. Images of the paintings will also be available on this website (see this page), for those unable to visit the Gallery.

Note: Because paintings were not on the SPW website until October 20, deadlines have been revised:

Those who want to participate in this event should select one or two paintings to write about, and notify us of their choices in an email as s0on as possible to spwliterarysubmissions@gmail.com to let SPW know which painting(s) they’ve chosen to write about. Although membership in SPW is not required to participate, your membership would be greatly appreciated -- it helps us to support this event and produce the printed event catalog each participant will receive.

Saturday October 26, midnight CDT: participants must email their completed written submissions to spwliterarysubmissions@gmail.com. Please send each submission (1-2 poems) in a new email message (not a reply). Poems will be printed for display with the corresponding paintings in the gallery from October 28-November 1, and the printed catalog of paintings and poems will be available by November 1 for free download from this site, and at the closing reception and reading.

November 1, 5:30-7:30 PM: Closing reception at the M.G. Nelson Gallery, with readings by the participating writers, and commentary by the artists. The printed event catalog (view it here) will be distributed to participating writers and to the artists whose work was selected. Extra copies will be available for $5 each while supplies last.