Join poet and arts educator Tina Demirdjian for an inspiring creative writing workshop that explores the landscapes, light, and stories featured in Desert Dreams and Coastal Currents. Using the exhibition's artworks as creative prompts, participants will craft original poetry that captures their personal connections to the diverse terrains of the Southwest and California. 

Drawing from the exhibition's themes of tradition and transformation, this one-hour workshop will guide you through writing exercises that explore how artists have portrayed the West's evolving identity—from the romantic vistas of Taos Society painters to the urban landscapes of contemporary Los Angeles. 

At the end of the workshop, you’ll have the opportunity to share your work aloud in the gallery space, deepening the connection between art, language, and community. 

No previous poetry experience required; all skill levels welcome.

Tina Demirdjian is a poet, arts educator, and culture bearer with over 30 years of experience teaching poetry throughout Los Angeles in schools, museums, and libraries. As founder of Poetry Consults, she specializes in using art as inspiration for creative writing, helping participants discover their voices through observation, reflection, and the power of place. 

Tina's approach goes beyond traditional poetry instruction to explore themes of wellness, resilience, and community building. Her work has been featured at Brand Library & Art Center, where she continues to lead ARTful Conversations workshops. A passionate advocate for the transformative power of poetry, Tina believes that "everyone can write a poem" and uses her teaching to help participants connect more deeply with themselves and their experiences. 

Her own poetry explores themes of memory, ancestry, and the intersection of time and space—perfectly complementing the exhibition's focus on how artists have interpreted the West's landscapes and cultural identity across generations.

Desert Dreams and Coastal Currents explores the evolution of regional identity in the American West over the past century. From the romantic ideals of the Taos Society of Artists to the urban visions of contemporary California painters, this exhibition examines how light and land, people and place, have shaped our understanding of the West today. Featured artists include Pablita Velarde, Maynard Dixon, James Doolin, Emmi Whitehorse, Harry Fonseca, and Carlos Almaraz.