Philosophy for Artists - Rilke’s Letters to a Young Poet

Welcome to Philosophy for Artists! A light and relaxing way to spend summer Sunday afternoons.

This is a reading-and-practice group exploring philosophy in relation to artistic work. Each session begins with a close reading of a short philosophical text drawn from aesthetics, phenomenology, and existential thought, followed by time to work in whatever medium you choose—drawing, writing, sound, movement, or other studio practice. That is, we will actually spend part of our time working creatively, in “parallel play”.

The aim is not to treat philosophy as commentary on art, but as something that can actively inform how we perceive, make, and situate ourselves as artists. At the same time, the sessions take seriously the reverse claim: that artistic practice can clarify, resist, or extend philosophical ideas in ways that argument alone cannot capture.

Sessions are structured as 2.5 hours: approximately one hour of shared reading and discussion, an hour and fifteen minutes of making, and a final fifteen-minute group check-out. The emphasis throughout is on sustained attention, material engagement, and the relationship between thinking and doing, rather than interpretation alone. All participants are invited to bring materials and work during the practice portion.

I hope this group will draw artists working on their craft, whatever that is. But if you are “creative-curious” and want some guidance to explore your creativity in this group, DM me or we can pop into a breakout room in the group.

For folks who haven’t been to my groups before, this is a hands-raised meetup where we stay close to the assigned reading and discussion topic. Comments prioritized from those who have done the reading. There’s zero tolerance for nasty or disrespectful comments.

I will post the reading for that session a week ahead of time.

We will start with Rilke’s “Letters to a Young Poet”, please read pp. 15-25 (Letters 1-3).

https://www.alyve.org/english/docs/9.1/Rilke-Letters_to_a_Young_Poet.pdf