The practice of using words to comment on a piece of visual art—ekphrasis—is an ancient one. One of the earliest and most commonly cited forms of ekphrasis occurs in The Iliad, when Homer provides a long and discursive account of the elaborate scenes embossed on the shield of Achilles. Contemporary literature provides many fine examples of ekphrastic writing. Art/Speaks is a long-running Write On program encouraging people to write in response to art at local galleries.

We take a unique spin on this literary tradition, with this special edition of Art/Speaks, in collaboration with the Public Arts Initiative of Egg Harbor. EGGS-Phrastic Writing will inspire participants to write in response to one of the many eggs on display throughout the village of Egg Harbor.

This program is free and open to all ages.