Do you secretly write poetry on your phone, in your journal, on the bus? Do the words writer or poet make you recoil, but in-secret, you want to say, "I'm a writer" ? This workshop is for you.

Join Trinity Thompson-Browne (Kiingi Tuheitia Finalist 2023) and Rangimarie Sophie Jolley in an exploration of the boundaries of poetry and prose (hint: there aren't any). 

You'll get the space to explore, play and become comfortable with words, as well as learning key principles both of these writers use in their own practices. At its core, writing should always be for the writer first — a rongoā for releasing, transmuting, expressing, healing. But too often, the looming anxiety of, "is this any good?" gets in the way of this. No more! Join us and let's go on this haerenga together.

Schedule:

- Karakia whakatuwhera
- Whakawhanaungatanga
- Intro to poetry and prose.

- What questions do you have?
- Writing exercise: poetry

- Kōrero

- Rewriting exercise: prose

- Which did you prefer?

- Thoughts, questions

- Karakia whakakapi

This is a free event, hosted in the Gallery.

We look forward to having you visit!

Poetry crafted in this workshop by Gerard D’Mello

Stories

Oceans do not

reveal stories.

Waves crash against

hard rocks and

steep cliffs

The sound of

birds are heard

upon the

thousand trees

of many islands

Our stories will

remain drowned

suffused, immersed

forever within

the ocean