The University of Notre Dame’s Raclin Murphy Museum of Art and the Institute for Latino Studies (ILS) are pleased to present “Poets & Art with Brenda Cárdenas,” featuring the Poet Laureate of Wisconsin, who will give a talk and perform a selection of her art-inspired poems. The program will take place on Wednesday, September 24, at 5:30 p.m. at the Museum, to launch a joint initiative between the Museum and the ILS.
“ILS is thrilled that one of our flagship programs, Letras Latinas, is partnering with the Raclin Murphy Museum to bring Brenda Cárdenas to campus. We can’t seriously study the Latino experience in the United States without consideration of Latino contributions to the arts. The event with Ms. Cárdenas exemplifies the Institute’s ongoing commitment to the arts,” said Jason Ruiz, director of the Institute for Latino Studies.
“Poets & Art: Ekphrasis at the Raclin Murphy Museum of Art” is a multi-year initiative that emerged from conversations between Francisco Aragón, director of the ILS’s literary initiative, and Bridget Hoyt, the Museum’s Curator of Education for Academic Programs. “Bridget has been facilitating my class visits to the Museum for years. The opening of our new Museum inspired us to dream up this more ambitious collaboration, which Brenda’s visit inaugurates,” said Aragón, a poet, Letras Latinas director, and ILS faculty fellow.
"We are delighted to host and inspire Brenda Cárdenas's visit. This important partnership with ILS furthers the importance of the arts and sense of community across Notre Dame," said Joe Becherer, director of the Raclin Murphy Museum of Art.
In addition to her public presentation on Wednesday, Cárdenas will be Poet-in-Residence at the Museum on Thursday and Friday, studying and researching in the galleries to write new ekphrastic pieces. On Saturday, September 27, she will offer an ekphrastic writing workshop in the galleries for members of the South Bend community. Cárdenas will also spend time with students, including MFA candidates in the Creative Writing Program and undergraduate students in Aragón’s literature course. A PhD student from the English Department will conduct an oral history interview with her.
"Brenda Cárdenas's visit occurs in the context of Notre Dame's broader, institutional support of the arts through the Arts Initiative. We are delighted to join the other sponsors in supporting this imaginative, interdisciplinary project,” said Michael Schreffler, director of the Notre Dame Arts Initiative. Other campus sponsors include the Initiative on Race and Resilience, the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures, and Somos ND, the campus-wide initiative.
In all, “Poets & Art: Ekphrasis at the Raclin Murphy Museum of Art” will showcase six poets in the next three years, each giving a public presentation at the Museum, offering a community workshop, and meeting with Notre Dame students. Nicaraguan American poet Adela Najarro will be the second poet in the series next March.
About the Raclin Murphy Museum of Art
With origins dating to 1875, the Raclin Murphy Museum of Art (formerly Snite Museum of Art) is one of the oldest and most highly regarded university art museums in America. Founded on the principle that art is essential to understanding individual, shared and diverse human experiences and beliefs, the Museum encourages close looking and critical thinking. Experiences with significant, original works of art are intended to stimulate inquiry, dialogue and wonder for audiences across the academy, the community and around the world—all in support of the University of Notre Dame’s Catholic mission. The renowned permanent collection contains more than 31,000 works that represent many cultures and periods of world art history. For more information, visit raclinmurphymuseum.nd.edu.
About Letras Latinas
Letras Latinas, the literary initiative at the Institute for Latino Studies (ILS), strives to enhance the visibility, appreciation, and study of Latino literature both on and off the campus of the University of Notre Dame. It emphasizes programs that support newer voices, foster a sense of community among writers, and place Latino writers in community spaces. Letras Latinas is a founding member of the Poetry Coalition, a national alliance working to promote the values poets bring to our culture and the important contribution poetry makes in the lives of people of all ages and backgrounds. Letras Latinas celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2024.
Media contact:
Francisco Aragon
Director, Letras Latinas
Institute for Latino Studies
University of Notre Dame
faragon@nd.edu
(574) 229-2933
Media contact:
Gina Costa
Communications Program Director
Raclin Murphy Museum of Art
gcosta@nd.edu
(574) 631-4720
Originally published by at raclinmurphymuseum.nd.edu on September 03, 2025.