Two girls in white and blue dresses putting their arms around each other1906
Paula Modersohn-Becker. Rauert Collection in the Hamburger Kunsthalle. © Paula Modersohn-Becker Foundation, Bremen.
“I must learn to express the gentle vibration of things…”
— From the diary of Paula Modersohn-Becker, 1898
Join interpretive staff Nancy Chen and Molly Bryson for a creative writing program inspired by Paula Modersohn-Becker: I am me. Participants will be guided through a series of exercises in close observation and generation of writing exercises in response to the exhibition.
Paula Modersohn-Becker (1876–1907) was a prolific visual artist and also an avid diarist and letter writer. Her keen observations of the world in paintings and prose reveal a woman dedicated to capturing the depth and nuance of the human experience. In this program, we will explore some of Modersohn-Becker’s most pressing themes—motherhood, nature, community, and identity—and use them as fodder for our own creative writing and self-reflection.
All materials will be provided, but participants are welcome to bring their own notebooks.
What to expect
The 90-minute program takes place in Paula Modersohn-Becker: I am me Exhibition. Staff will undertake several creative writing exercises inspired by different sections of the exhibition. The exercises will be complemented by discussions of the artist’s life and work, as well as passages from two relevant texts: Paula Modersohn Becker, The Letters and Diaries And Being is everything: The life of Paula Modersohn-Becker by Marie Darrieussecq.
Staff will provide participants with pencils and paper, as well as folding chairs, throughout the program. After completing the writing exercises, participants will be asked to present some of their writing, but this is not mandatory.
If you have further questions or would like to request special accommodations, please email [email protected].
about the moderators
Molly Bryson joined the Art Institute’s Interpretation team in 2023. Her work focuses on developing inclusive and engaging exhibition narratives, captions, and other educational tools that meet the needs of the contemporary visitor. Outside of the museum, she writes fiction and nonfiction and leads a salon-style writing group with friends.
Nancy Chen writes art reviews and essays. Since September 2019, she has organized public programs in the Art Institute’s galleries. Nancy leads weekly tours and talks at the museum. On designing these experiences: “I often think of putting together a gallery tour as both a creative exercise and a form of essay writing.”
