On the occasion of Diana Al-Hadid: Archive of Longings, the Henry presents a series of writing workshops with three Pacific Northwest writers who will lead sessions that continue the processes of influence suggested in Al-Hadid’s work, as well as give community participants opportunity to consider "archives" that live close to home and heart. Fed by multiple literary, artistic, and other cultural sources, Diana Al-Hadid’s sculptures meditate on the conflicts and ruptures exposed when these stories are brought together. The intention of this workshop series is to add to the archive of longings that Al-Hadid’s work represents.

To lead off the series, we welcome poet and performer Patrycja Humienik for an embodied writing workshop in which participants will be guided to write and move in conversation with the exhibition. This workshop, which will be offered twice, will combine reflection and generative exercises that draw inspiration from the physical space and the multiple vantage points of works in the exhibition, as well as grapple with the impossibility, as Al-Hadid puts it, "to archive and witness the moment simultaneously." Alternating between experiments in writing and motion, the group will consider the body and the page as sharing an archive of longings.

No writing or dance experience is necessary. Inhabiting a body is all the experience you need. Each participant will leave the workshop with prompts, a seedling/rough draft of a piece of writing, and/or a small movement score; all participants will have the option to submit a completed piece of writing to be included in a chapbook publication.

Patrycja Humienik. Courtesy of the artist. Photo: Gabrielle Bates