A Bend in the Road: A Poetry & Art workshop
at the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.

In honor of National Poetry Month, we invite you to discover the power of contemplative looking and reflective writing in this half-day workshop at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. on Sunday, April 30th. Led by 2023 Youth Poet Laureate, Sophia Hall, artist/educator Nick Velleman, and artist Amelia Myre, the group will step inside the colors, light, and form of Paul Cézanne’s A Bend in the Road, among other works in the National Gallery. Inspired by poetry and works of art, we will explore this particular painting as a metaphor for life’s journeys and creative ground for crafting memoir, poetry, and more. Join us!

This program is intended for anyone interested in an immersive experience in art and poetry; all ages, experience levels, and backgrounds are welcome and encouraged to attend. Read on for more details and instructions on how to register.

For a printable and shareable flyer, please follow this link.

About

Date: Sunday, April 30, 2023
Time: 1:00 - 5:00 PM
Location: National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Led By: Sophia Hall, Nick Velleman, Amelia Myre
Price: $30
Maximum Enrollment: 20 students (first-come, first-served)
Deadline to Enroll: April 26, 2023

About the Program Leaders

Sophia Hall serves as the 2023 Youth Poet Laureate of Washington, D.C.. Her writing has been recognized by the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, the Library of Congress, and several other organizations. Her poem “Multiple Choice” won the grand prize in the Sixteen River Press’s Youth Poetry Contest and was subsequently nominated for the Pushcart Prize. In 2022, she won the Smith College Poetry Prize for High School Girls, selected by Leila Chatti. Sophia is also the Art and Social Justice Fellow at Strathmore Arts Center and Woolly Mammoth Theater Company. Her haiku, selected from 2900+ submissions from 71 countries, have been displayed in prominent locations in the Washington, D.C. Business District. She will be attending the University of Pennsylvania in the fall, where she was recruited for creative writing.

Amelia Myre spent a year in Aix-en-Provence studying the Marchutz curriculum with Alan Roberts during her gap year between high school and college. She is currently a student at Georgetown University where she is studying Culture and Politics in the School of Foreign Service. She most recently returned to Aix during the Summer of 2022 to assist with the Painting in Provence summer program for high school students. 

Nick Velleman’s life so far reflects a deep commitment to the arts and involvement with some of D.C.’s finest art institutions. Born and raised in Washington, D.C. to Peruvian and Filipino immigrant parents, his passion for music — his first creative love — propelled him to become a manager and director at the 9:30 Club for four years while performing with bands locally and regionally. Now having chosen the artist’s path, Nick spent many years in Aix-en-Provence, France learning from the Marchutz School’s John Gasparach and Alan Roberts, and currently teaches with the Leo Marchutz School, Smithsonian Associates, and Georgetown Day School while exhibiting original work locally in D.C. Nick aspires to a career of teaching art, creativity, and the mental health benefits that come with it…while traveling the world and painting, of course.

Registration Form

The Leo Marchutz School does not discriminate in any way on the basis of race, color, age, background, sexual orientation, sex, gender identity, religion, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or national or ethnic origin, and admits students/participants of any race, color, age, background, sexual orientation, sex, gender identity, religion, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or national or ethnic origin.

Payment Options

Once you have filled out the above form, please make your payment using one of the below options. Once payment has been received, your registration will be considered final.

  • Pay online using this link: https://buy.stripe.com/6oE01x3Hp6Cz6sgaEV. Please note that a credit card transaction fee will be added to all online payments.

    Each participant will need to need to pay online individually.

  • Checks should be made out to the Leo Marchutz School of Painting & Drawing, Inc. and mailed according to one of the following addresses, depending on the mailing method:

    USPS
    Leo Marchutz School of Painting & Drawing
    PO Box 13087
    Portland, OR 97213

    UPS, FedEx, DHL, etc.
    Leo Marchutz School of Painting & Drawing
    2425 NE 50th Ave, #13087
    Portland, OR 97213

  • Please provide the following information to your financial institution. You will also need to provide the school’s account and routing number, which can be requested by emailing info@leomarchutzschool.org.

    Evolve Bank & Trust
    6070 Poplar Ave, Suite 200
    Memphis, TN 38119

    Account Name: Leo Marchutz School of Painting and Drawing, Inc.

Refund Policy

  • If a participant cancels before April 26, 2023, they will be refunded the full program fee.

  • If a participant cancels after April 26, 2023, no refund will be given.

Questions?

Please reach out to us at info@leomarchutzschool.org with any questions regarding this program. We look forward to hearing from you!