Verse and Vision: Of Earth and Sky

October 24, 2026 - January 3, 2027

The mansion and museum of art will be closed November 3–19 in preparation for Holiday LIGHTS and will reopen to the public November 20 at 9AM.

Verse and Vision: Of Earth and Sky, a Graphic Arts exhibition of works on paper from Cheekwood’s permanent collection, brings together visual art and ekphrastic poetry in a shared exploration of the natural world. The exhibition’s theme, Of Earth and Sky, invites reflection on the landscapes, atmospheres, and quiet moments that shape our relationship to nature, encouraging a deeper awareness of the environments that surround and sustain us.

Ekphrasis, which means “description” in Greek, is used to describe the exercise of reflecting upon a work of visual art through poetry. Here, poets respond to selected artworks, fostering a thoughtful exchange between image and language. We invite you to find inspiration and immerse yourself in this conversation, where the beauty of language echoes the vastness of the natural world, and the power of imagery draws us closer to both earth and sky.

A.C. Webb (American, 1888−1975), Empire State Building Girders, 1930, Charcoal and pastel on paper. Gift of Ms. Ellenna Webb Douglass. 1984.14.56.