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Write Around PAM: Larry Poons

September 19, 2021
Image Description: Larry Poons. “Open Country”. 1968. Acrylic on canvas. 84” x 204”. Large colorful painting with a thin wood frame. The background on the left two thirds is a muted rose color and the right third is a yellow orange color. A straight line separates the two colors with a few diagonal brush strokes on the pink that create a lighter ink color and a series of overlapping vertical brushstrokes on the edge of the yellow. There are two additional light yellow strokes above and out to the right. There is also an area of lighter yellow blended into the upper right corner. The bottom left of the painting is a lighter pink color with an organic line in the shape of a steeply sloping hill. Just below the slope is a series of six brush strokes—pink, white, yellow, red, purple, yellow.
Larry Poons (American, born 1937), Open Country, 1968, acrylic on canvas, 84 in x 204 in, Gift of the Virginia and Bagley Wright Collection. Portland Art Museum, Portland, Oregon, 2011.98.3

Color can evoke such strong feelings and memories, and allow us to engage with our senses in new ways. This painting by Larry Poons calls to mind summer delights: cotton candy, rose petals, sorbets, sunsets, warm sand, early mornings, and more. As we get our first dose of fall rain and cooler temperatures this weekend, we invite you to hold onto summer a little longer by sitting with this piece—virtually or in person at the Museum. Notice what comes to mind for you and write it down.

We have two prompts to help you get started. As always, you can use one, both, or write whatever else comes. Just set a timer for 13 minutes and keep your pen or pencil moving.

Pink tastes like… / As the sun rose…

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 year. Please share your work with us!  @writearoundpdx @portlandartmuseum #RespectWritingCommunity #WriteAroundPAM

View the work in our online collection

Larry Poons, Open Country, 1968, acrylic on canvas, Gift of the Virginia and Bagley Wright Collection, © artist or other rights holder, 2011.98.3

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