Writer’s Workshop | Black-Out Poetry

Transform existing pages into brand-new poems. Join poet Ariana Kija Matondo at the MFA for a hands-on writer’s workshop exploring black-out poetry, also known as erasure poetry. By selectively removing words and phrases from printed texts, you’ll uncover hidden meanings and carve out your own original poems. Open to all experience levels. Just bring your journal and an open mind. Includes admission to Art After Dark. Take in the atmosphere before or after the workshop, wander the galleries, and enjoy Café Clementine’s L’Apéro hours with a selection of beverages and savory and sweet bites. Thu, Oct 15, 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM $10 for MFA Members $20 for Not-Yet-Members (includes admission) REGISTRATION COMING SOON Not yet a member? Become a member today and enjoy all the benefits membership at the MFA offers! Enjoy free admission, special access, discounts at the MFA Shop and Café Clementine, and more. BECOME A MEMBER Ariana Matondo Ariana Matondo (they/she) is a queer disabled Tanzanian-American poet, editor, and teacher based in Tampa, Florida. Winner of the Zora Neale Hurston Award for poetry (2025), they were named a finalist for the Disquiet Prize for poetry (2025). They are also a recipient of the Sundress Publications Fellowship (2025), Vermont Studio Center Fellowship (2024), Light for Public Health Poetry Prize (2024), and the Bettye Newman Poetry Prize (2024-2025). Matondo has published and forthcoming works in Light Magazine, Honey Literary Magazine, The Common, and more. As the poetry editor for Creation Magazine and CM Editorial House, they are currently pursuing an MFA in poetry at the University of South Florida. Find more at: arianakijamatondo.com. Sponsored in part by the State of Florida through the Division of Arts and Culture and the National Endowment for the Arts.