Michael Workman

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.

Audience Recommendations

This program is suitable for all ages and can be easily adapted for a wide range of audiences and settings. It is particularly engaging for book clubs, writing groups, students, educators, artists, and lifelong learners interested in connecting language, history, and place. 

The workshop’s hands-on, exploratory nature makes it ideal for community centers, libraries, museums, and cultural organizations, as well as for high school and college students studying literature, art, history, or environmental studies. Younger participants often enjoy the field-based, movement-oriented aspects of the program, while adults and seniors find resonance in its reflective approach to memory and local history. 

The presentation also lends itself well to arts collectives, civic associations, and environmental groups interested in creative placemaking, community storytelling, and the cultural poetics of landscape. At its heart, this program encourages people of all backgrounds to engage their senses, histories, and surroundings—making it a meaningful experience for intergenerational audiences and adaptable to a variety of community contexts.

Program Logistics

This program is approximately 60 minutes, including Q&A. It is designed to be flexible and can be presented indoors or outdoors depending on the host venue. 

The host should provide a table for participants to gather around and a projector (if available) to display a small selection of slides that accompany the presentation. For larger venues and outdoor, the host should also provide a microphone and speakers. This program can be adapted for accessibility needs upon request and may be offered in alternative formats to accommodate participants with mobility or sensory considerations.

Recording of the presentation is permitted with prior notice, provided that it is used strictly for documentation or educational purposes and not for public distribution without written permission from Michael Workman.

This setup allows the session to remain conversational and participatory while maintaining an intimate, workshop-style atmosphere that supports reflection and audience engagement.