Writing as Cultural Archaeology and the Poetics of Place

In this program, artist and writer Michael Workman invites audiences to explore how writing, history, and landscape intersect to shape cultural memory. Drawing from his interdisciplinary practice and from the work of artists such as Theresa Hak Kyung Cha, Johanna Drucker, and Charles Reznikoff, Workman approaches writing as a form of cultural archaeology—an excavation of the layered relationships between language, identity, and place. Through this lens, participants are encouraged to see the local environment not only as a backdrop but as a living archive of stories, gestures, and voices that continue to inform community life across Illinois.

Blending storytelling, performance, and reflective discussion, Workman leads participants through accessible exercises that connect observation, movement, and writing. Each session begins with a short reading or performance excerpt that frames the concept of “poetic fieldwork,” followed by guided writing prompts and group dialogue. Participants may be asked to respond to local landmarks, historical artifacts, or personal memories of place, using language to uncover how geography shapes emotion and thought. Whether held in a library, museum, or community center, each presentation adapts to its surroundings, creating a shared space for conversation and collective discovery.

By the end of the program, attendees will have produced short fragments of writing and new ways of perceiving their environment—connecting artistic practice to civic imagination.