NYC | The Poetics of Liberty: Explorer + Writing Salon

The Poetics of Liberty brings Lit Society into the museum for an afternoon of history, poetry, and creative response. Before the 250th anniversary year of the Declaration of Independence comes to a close, join Lit Society and independent scholar, critic, poet, and New York Historical docent Sullivan Summer to explore the objects, stories, and poetic stanzas of liberty held within the museum’s permanent collection. We’ll begin with an Explorer Salon, as Sullivan leads us through the galleries to consider the rituals that have shaped American civic life—from ballots and public declarations to protest, resistance, and revolution—and the ways writers and artists have given form to ideas of freedom across generations. Then, we’ll shift from exploring to creating with a Writing Salon inspired by what we’ve encountered. Moving into a classroom setting within the museum, Sullivan will introduce poetic forms that play with ritual, roundness, repetition, and return, inviting us to use the museum’s collection and the urgencies of our own contemporary moment as material for the page. Come ready to look closely, think deeply, and write. No previous poetry experience is necessary. Boxed lunch is included in your ticket price. Please select your preferred lunch option via the Google Form in your confirmation email. Your Guide: Sullivan Summer is an independent scholar, critic, poet, and docent at the New York Historical. Her work across genres has been published and is forthcoming in trade, literary, and academic journals, and she is a 2025 Best of the Net Anthology nominee. Please note by attending this event, you consent to being photographed and filmed for commercial purposes. These materials may be used by the event organizers for future promotional, marketing, and media channels.