Artful Life LLC/

Poetry, Art, Spoken Word Performance

EKCO Poets (formerly “Four Poets Respond”) was inspired by a collaboration between poets Valerie Martínez and Maureen Seaton  in 2009.  Concerned about the waning public interest in contemporary poetry, Martínez and Seaton engaged fellow women poets in an unusual process that embraced ekphrasis, collaboration, and spoken word performance.  Each year since, Martinez has engaged with a group of women poets to write and co-create an original poetic performance piece in response to works of art, earth, and issues of urgency to women. 

EKCO (EKphrasis + COllaboration) integrates literary poetry with the vitality of performance, bringing new and enthusiastic audiences to contemporary poetry.  

EKCO Performances:

• 2015, "Anyway, We Live," Valerie Martínez, Michelle Otero, Shelle Sánchez, in response to 22 "containers" (bags, bottles, boxes, books--metal, ceramic, fabric, wood, glass and more) and their stories submitted by community members.  Women and Creatity Month, Edible Santa Fe/Albuquerque/Taos.

• 2014, “Language is a Sequence of Whisks and Spoons,” Valerie Martínez, Serafina Martinez-Ridgley, Sawnie Morris, Shelle Sánchez, in response to the Apron Project, by the Womyn’s Work arts collaborative, an exhibition of hand-crafted (and re-worked) aprons. Women and Creativity Month.

• 2013, “Once Upon a Time There Was Water,” Valerie Martínez, Jasmine Cuffee, Jamie Figueroa, Shelle Sánchez, a performance on the endangered Santa Fe River for the Rivers Run Through Us project as well as the National Hispanic Cultural Center for Women & Creativity Month.

• 2012, “And I Find Her,” Valerie Martínez, Lauren Camp, Jasmine Cuffee, Shelle Sanchez,  in response to personal objects  and works of art by Camp, Becky Holtzman, Stephanie Lerma, Maria Moya, Carol Sanchez and Jennifer Zona. Performed for the Tricklock Revolution International Theatre Festival and for Women & Creativity Month.

• 2011,  “En este lugar secreto/In this secret place,” Valerie Martínez, Lauren Camp, Jamie Figueroa, Shelle Sánchez, a response to the Mujeres y Mujeres exhibition sponsored by the Instituto Cervantes featuring Spanish photographers Isabel Muñoz, Ouka Leele, Soledad Cordoba, Gabriela Grech and Beatriz Moreno. Women and Creativity Month.

• 2010, “What Will You Remember,” Valerie Martínez, Lauren Camp, Jasmine Cuffee, Jamie Figueroa, in response to “Form & Function” at 516 Arts, a group exhibition featuring the work of artists and designers who explored sustainability, reuse, decoration, and innovation.  Women and Creativity Month.

• 2009, “Capitalism, Fueled by Envy and Greed,” Valerie Martínez, Jasmine Cuffee & Maureen Seaton, installation and paintings (with the same title) by sheri crider. Women and Creativity Month.

EKCO is supported by:  Witter Bynner Foundation for Poetry, McCune Charitable Foundation, 516 Arts, Instituto Cervantes, National Hispanic Cultural Center, NM Strategic Leadership Institute, Rivers Run Through Us, SCA Contemporary Art, Tricklock,  Womyn’s Work/Apronistas, Elsa Menendez, and a range of individual donors.