The Art of Words: Michelle Ramadan and Nancy Werlin

Editor’s note: The works of this artist and writer pair are from our Art of Words exhibit, which is on view in the gallery of Follow Your Art Community Studios through October 2024. For this collaborative exhibit, FYACS writers and artists exchanged words and art, prompting each other to respond with something new.

“The Opportunist”

Prompt

by Nancy Werlin

Here comes the cat again. We will allow a moment for
him to make himself at home in your lap. He is a self-centered opportunist, good for little beyond warmth and entitlement,
but look how you smile as he purrs in the safety of your lap.
Look how you stroke him, taking pleasure at his pleasure.
You would feed him if he came to your door. If he twined round
your ankles, you would take him in, and love him all the days
of his life.

You know you would.


— From I Vashti (a novel in progress by Nancy Werlin)

Response

by Michelle Ramadan

Mixed media collage on paper

“Flying Away”

Prompt

by Michelle Ramadan

Mixed media collage on paper

Response

by Nancy Werlin

yes, the sky is falling

but I already squawked 

already cried 

already told the king

(bastard laughed)

already flew away

(okay, you pedant, ran away, 

as a land bird, my flight was metaphorical)

but now I fly 

(okay, run) 

to you 

my beloved pedant 

who believes me

about the metaphorical sky

Michelle “Meesh” Ramadan is the Arts for All Coordinator as well as a Ceramics Instructor at FYA. As Arts for All Coordinator, Michelle assists individuals with tuition assistance and accessibility services, as well as coordinates community projects. Michelle has extensive experience working in schools where she previously taught English, Creative Writing, Humanities, and Ceramics, and recently served as a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Chair. Outside of FYA, Michelle consults on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion with Liberation Learning Collective, and she is the small batch artisan potter of Meesh Pottery. She holds degrees from Brown University and Lesley University. Michelle loves boba, speaking multiple languages, and traveling internationally.

Nancy Werlin writes novels in a range of genres for teens and sometimes for younger kids. Her work includes the National Book Award finalist The Rules of Survival, the Edgar award winning suspense thriller The Killer’s Cousin, the New York Times bestselling fantasy Impossible, the contemporary comedy Zoe Rosenthal Is Not Lawful Good, and most recently, a historical fantasy set in 16th century France called Healer and Witch. She also works as a technical writer for a software company. www.nancywerlin.com. Nancy is also a member of the Writers Studio at FYACS.


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