Follow Off the Page
what is Off the Page:
poetry reimagined?
Off the Page: Poetry Reimagined is the curatorial project under Unwoven. It fosters community among artists and poets while broadening the public’s understanding of poetry. We believe the typical introduction to poetry in the classroom neglects to highlight the increasing diversity of contemporary poets and offer a reintroduction to poetry in an approachable and creative manner that engages an audience who has previously been ostracized by the content and form of poetry from the literary canon. We believe that all art forms should be a microphone to amplify social change. Our curatorial vision celebrates, mourns alongside, and envisions the future with new and established poets and artists to foster healing and facilitate change. Our curators prioritize participants who identify primarily as LGBTQ+, BIPOC, and those living with disabilities. This includes offering accommodations for artists that may require them to ensure their contribution is the best it can be. Similarly, we believe in dismantling hierarchy while implementing Off the Page by inviting poets, artists, and editors to take active roles in the decision making process. We plan to offer our time and resources to ensure all collaborators see the vision for their unique contribution come to life.
what does off the page: poetry reimagined do?
The process
Step 1: The Magazine
publication
Each issue is inspired by a guiding poem written by a contemporary poet. Poems accepted to the magazine will be inspired by the craft, form, or topic of the prompt. Our team of readers and editors then select submitted poems over the course of the first few months of the project.
collaboration
The co-curators will then pair poets with multimedia artists. These pairs meet regularly to foster a space for discussion between artists and poets about how their creative forms converge and differ. These artists and poets inspire one another toward creating exciting experimental works together.
exhibition
These artworks and poems are then displayed in a space run by a community-based arts organization in Chicago. The exhibition's programming are in collaboration with the participants to include a reading as part of the opening night, workshops, artist talks, a poetry slam, and other opportunities.
what do we look for in artists?
We invite all Chicago-based artists to submit applications to join our project. Acceptance into this project involves close collaboration with poets to create an exhibition that brings poetry to life off the page.
off the page: poetry reimagined issues
Issue 3
Coming in 2027
Issue 3 is underway so give us a follow on social media and subscribe to our newsletter to follow along.
Issue 1.5
On The Verge
Two poet and artist pairings, plus one artist who fulfills both roles, created installation works inspired by the poems accepted to this issue. These works joined those inspired by Sarah Peecher and Madeline McConico's poems from Issue 1.
Issue 2
Bodies Luminous
Poets respond to Diamond Forde’s “fat girl Dances with a Stranger at a Block Party” from her collection, Mother Body. Artists, in collaboration with poets, initiate a conversation about the body and the way it takes up space.
Issue 1
The First Issue
Co-founders, Sarah Peecher and Madeline McConico, collaborated with artist Emmalyn Mueller and filmmaker Ruben Davila to create Issue 1.
want to contribute?
Please submit the following in your application:
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CV/Resume
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A response to the following prompt in roughly 300 words: Tell us about a long-term project you were a part of which required collaboration, time management, and/or intrinsic motivation.
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Images of up to three artworks you have created in your preferred medium that include a visual element
All materials should be submitted in one document with the file name as: First Name, Last Name, Artist Application (i.e: John Smith, Artist Application).