Naomi Shihab Nye describes herself as a “wandering poet.” She has spent 40 years traveling the world, leading writing workshops and inspiring students of all ages. Born to a Palestinian-American father and an American mother, Nye grew up in St. Louis, Jerusalem, and San Antonio. Drawing on her family heritage, the cultural diversity of her home in Texas, and her experiences traveling in Asia, Europe, Canada, Mexico, and the Middle East, Nye uses her writing to attest to our shared humanity. At this event, she will debut a new poem inspired by a work of art in the DMA’s collection and juxtapose art in the collection with a live reading of her poetry.
She is the author and/or editor of more than 30 volumes, including the forthcoming Voices in the Air: Poems for Listeners, 19 Varieties of Gazelle: Poems of the Middle East (finalist, National Book Award), Words Under the Worlds, You & Yours (a bestselling poetry collection), Transfer, and many others. Her work has been presented on NPR’s A Prairie Home Companion and on two PBS specials.
A Lannan Fellow and a Guggenheim Fellow, Nye has also received a Lavan Award from the Academy of American Poets, four Pushcart Prizes, and numerous awards for her children’s literature. She has been affiliated with the Michener Center for Writers at the University of Texas at Austin for 20 years.
“Her poems combine transcendent liveliness and sparkle along with warmth and human insight.”—William Stafford, award-winning poet
1:30–3:00 p.m. Naomi Shihab Nye leads a poetry writing workshop in the galleries, using works of art from the DMA’s collection as inspiration. $20; pre-registration is required. Ages 12 and older welcome. WORKSHOP TICKETS ARE SOLD OUT. Talk tickets are still available.