Heights Writes

Heights Writes

Literary Programs

EKPHRASTACY: Artists Talk + Poets Respond

The Ekphrastacy literary program is a series of artist talks + poetry readings held regularly in the Heights Arts gallery, in conjunction with our special exhibitions. Cleveland-area writers are invited by the current Poet Laureate Heights Writes Community Team members to view the installed artworks and respond with a poem. Five weeks after the exhibition opens, the artists talk about their work and the poets read their poems, often resulting in a surprising dialogue. Participating poets receive an honorarium for their participation.

Ekphrastacy evenings—centered on recent exhibitions of photography, paintings, works on paper, sculpture, and mixed media—have been very popular, drawing large and enthusiastic audiences to the gallery.


2017 hAIKU DEATH MATCH

 

 

 

 

HAIKU DEATH MATCH

This “fun”raiser for literary arts programming pits eight of the region’s best and bravest writers of the ancient, Japanese 17-syllable form against each other in a fierce competition for audience approval. Pairs of poets read their original Haiku aloud, and the audience votes for the poem they like best. Low-scoring contestants are eliminated, and the last poet standing is declared Haiku Death Match Master. All Northeast Ohio poets and writers are invited to participate. This program is paused indefinitely as Heights Arts seeks the right space to hold it in the future.

See EVENTS for a complete listing of upcoming literary events.

 


CH Poet Laureates prior to 2023.

In 2023, Cleveland Heights and University Heights united to sponsor the new title of, Heights’ Poet Laureate.

 

 

CITY OF CLEVELAND HEIGHTS POET LAUREATE

In 2005, Heights Arts and the City of Cleveland Heights named its first Poet Laureate to create programs that infuse poetry into community life. Collaborations have included the lively Haiku Death Match, Twitter poetry project (PoetTweet), community workshops, and our ongoing Ekphrastacy series.

 

2023-2025 Siaara Freeman

 

2020-2022 Ray McNiece

 

2018-2020 Damien McClendon

 

2016-2018 Christine Howey

 

2015-2016 Meredith Holmes

 

2013-2015 Kathleen Cerveny

 

2011-2013 Cavana Faithwalker

 

2009-2011 Gail Bellamy

 

2008-2009 Mary E. Weems

 

2006-2007 Loren Weiss

 

2005-2006 Meredith Holmes

 

PUBLICATIONS IN HEIGHTS ARTS’ STORE

Awake at the End: A Heights Arts Poet Laureate Anthology

Both a poet laureate primer and a collection of fine poems, Awake at the End collects the poetic output of the first three Cleveland Heights poet laureates, Meredith Holmes, Loren Weiss, and Mary E. Weems, poets who found themselves awakened by their tenures as poet laureate. A project of Heights Arts and Bottom Dog Press. By Meredith Holmes, Loren Weiss, Mary E. Weems, and John Panza. 2008

 

Familiar at First, Then Strange 

Launched at INKubator. By Meredith Holmes. 2015