Some places are so iconic, so famous, that they seem to carry their own personalities with them. You could imagine what they might be saying to one another about the world around them, about the weather, about the throngs of people who come to see them. During this holiday weekend, we invite you to spend some time putting yourself in a place you care about and imagining life from that place’s perspective. Please take this Ansel Adams photograph of Yosemite National Park’s Half Dome as inspiration. See this work in person in the exhibition Ansel Adams in Our Time on view at the Portland Art Museum now through August 1.
First, make two columns on a fresh sheet of paper. On one side, make a list of 3–5 places that have some meaning for you.
Next, pick one place from your list and ask yourself, “If this place were a person, what would its attitude, style, and personality be?” Jot that down in the second column.
Now, thinking about this place, with all of its personality, we invite you to write, using these 2 prompts as jumping-off points. As always, you can use one, both, or write whatever else comes. Just set a timer for 7 minutes and keep your pen or pencil moving.
I am celebrating… / I’d never seen the sky like that…
Writing in community is powerful. We are grateful to our longtime partner Write Around Portland for the writing prompts and inspiration. You can revisit past Sunday posts and look for continuing weekly posts through the summer with a focus on Ansel Adams in our Time during May, June, and July. Please share your work with us! @writearoundpdx @portlandartmuseum #RespectWritingCommunity #WriteAroundPAM
