Evenings of Art: Painting Poetry Inspired by Etel Adnan

How does a poem look like on canvas? Spend an evening turning words into color with one of the most original voices of the Arab world, and leave with a painting of your own.

Etel Adnan (1925–2021) was a Lebanese-American poet, novelist, essayist and painter, born in Beirut. She wrote about war, exile, cities, love, the sea and the sun, and for her, writing and painting were two ways of looking at the same world. Her small, bright canvases, with blocks of color laid down with a palette knife, return again and again to the sun and to California’s Mount Tamalpais, which she called a companion for life. She also made leporellos, folding accordion books in which her handwritten poetry and ink drawings flow across the page together.

What to expect

We’ll start with a short presentation on Adnan’s life, poetry and paintings, looking at how she moved between words and images. Then each participant will receive a short excerpt from her writing to read, think about and paint from. Some will be read aloud. Your painting might respond to a single line, a color the words bring to mind, or the feeling a passage leaves behind. No experience is needed. The goal is to respond and create, not to copy.

The evening at a glance

• Welcome & tea: settle in with herbal tea and cookies
• Presentation: Etel Adnan’s life, writing and art
• Poetry prompts: receive and read your excerpt
• Painting time: create your own piece in response
• Closing share: an optional moment to share your painting and the line that inspired it

Your host

The evening is led by Gina Al Karablieh, a Palestinian-American artist and storyteller with a background in Art History and Studio Art. Her work brings together art, media and social justice, using creative platforms to tell personal stories and address political, health and social issues. As both a writer and a visual artist, she is a fitting guide to Adnan’s world, where poetry and painting meet. See more at ginaalkarablieh.com.

About Evenings of Art

Evenings of Art is a series of creative gatherings, each centered on a single artist. Every evening combines learning about the artist’s life and work with hands-on making in a relaxed, welcoming setting.

Details

• Date & time: Wednesday, November 18, 2026, 5:45 PM
• Location: The Point Room at The Foundry, Cambridge, MA
• Ticket includes: All painting materials, a canvas to take home, and herbal tea and cookies
• Ages: 18+
• Please arrive a few minutes early to settle in.

Come curious, come as you are, and leave with a poem you painted.

Event venue & nearby stays

The Foundry, 101 Rogers Street, Cambridge, United States

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.

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