Experience an after-hours private tour with a museum educator of the Portland Museum of Art’s new Grace Hartigan exhibit. The evening will be spent examining and discussing Hartigan’s daring works of art and the poets that inspired her creations.
Step into the vibrant world of artist Grace Hartigan at the Portland Museum of Art and slow down with intention. Through guided creative writing activities led by PMA Museum Educators, you’ll experience the exhibition Grace Hartigan: The Gift of Attention in a fresh and engaging way.
Engage your senses as you write, imagine, listen, and respond to Hartigan’s expressive paintings and the poetry that helped shape them. Whether through a short story, a poetic line, or a collaborative exercise, this evening is about seeing deeply and expressing freely.
After the guided portion, roam the galleries at your own pace with prompts in hand. Then reconnect with fellow creatives in the café over drinks, conversation, and perhaps a line or two you’d like to share.
Each participant will receive a mini-journal and mechanical pencil—the perfect toolkit to inspire your creative journey. (TBD - working on this). This is part one of a multi-season collaboration between held and the PMA. Stay tuned for the Winter '26 event focused on mindful being while both in the galleries and outside in the world.
FMI and to register visit portlandmuseum.org (COMING SOON)
“This exhibition sheds light on Hartigan’s visionary role in postwar American painting and her deep, often overlooked, connections to the poets and queer thinkers of her time. It’s a powerful example of how creative communities support and sharpen one another.”
Grace Hartigan (1922–2008) rapidly rose to national acclaim during the 1950s with her daring canvases that blended abstraction with elements of figuration. By Hartigan’s side were poets Daisy Aldan, Barbara Guest, James Merrill, Frank O’Hara, and James Schuyler. Their bold lyricism and critical support deeply inspired Hartigan, playing a crucial role in her success. She recalled that the rebellious spirit of these poets, many of whom were queer, fueled her independent artistic vision.
This exhibition brings together over 40 of her works created between 1952 and 1968, revealing the profound influence of mid-20th-century American poetry on this seminal artist.
REGISTRATION COMING SOON!
Details
Date: Thursday, November 20, 2024
Time: 6 - 8 pm
Location: Portland Museum of Art, 7 Congress Square, Portland, ME
Fee: $60* includes one drink ticket at the PMA cafe, small bites, a private tour with a PMA Museum Educator, a creative workshop with journal and pencil provided, discussion, and mingling.
*As we develop different types of events, we are working on prices to make these events sustainable. If cost is a factor, we want to help. For each event, we set aside tickets just for this purpose. Please email us at hello@heldportland.com.
Cancellation policy: All sales are final and non-refundable. However, your tickets are transferable to an individual. If transferred to someone, please email us their name and email address at hello@heldportland.com.