We love poetry at Cultural Daily, especially when it aims to engage the public in non-traditional ways.

Off the Page is a Chicago-based project curated and edited by Madeline McConico and Sarah Peecher. It’s an ambitious project that begins with a literary magazine, continues with artist collaborations, and culminates with an exhibition.

From their mission statement:

Off the Page aims to foster community among artists and poets while broadening the public’s understanding of poetry. This collaborative project prioritizes those who have been previously marginalized and silenced in social, political, and artistic spaces. We believe that all art forms should be a microphone to amplify social change. Our curatorial vision celebrates, mourns alongside, and envisions the future with new and established poets and artists. We believe in the power of poetry and collaboration to foster healing and facilitate change.

Issue 1.5 is called “On the Verge.” Here is a sample spread from the zine:

Issue 2, called “Bodies Luminous,” will feature the award-winning Diamond Forde as the guiding poet who will prompt fellow writers to express their relationship to their bodies.

It’s exciting to see projects like Off the Page that aims to do exactly what its name says—to take poetry away from stagnating on a page, to inspire artists and writers to use poetry to bring communities to life.

It returns this October to St Luke’s Lutheran Church of Logan Square in Chicago, IL.

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(Featured image used by permission from Off the Page)