MONTICELLO – Two more Saturdays of En Plein Air Poetry and Art Workshops are coming to Sullivan County’s parks before the season ends.

Sullivan County’s new Poet Laureate Sharon Kennedy-Nolle and former Poet Laureate Eric Baylin will host these free workshops, held in cooperation with Sullivan County’s Office of Parks, Recreation and Beautification and the Sullivan Public Library Alliance.

Using nature as inspiration for painting, drawing, and verse-making, the workshops bring art and poetry into creative conversation. Each two-hour outing begins at 11 a.m.

· August 27 - Covered Bridge Park, Livingston Manor. Par- ticipants will delve into various artistic and poetic repre- sentations of this picturesque Willowemoc site as they craft their own renderings of this 19th-century iconic gem.

· October 1 - D&H Canal Linear Park, Summitville. Capture the blazing colors of a Catskill “Indian Summer” in brushstroke and word and discover the County’s rich canal lore while exploring the archeological ruins of the canal’s locks, drydock and weirs.

Participants must be age 13 and up. As space is limited, pre-registration is strongly recommended by emailing sullivancountypoetlaureate@ gmail.com. All materials are provided, and no experience is necessary. Bring a pencil, water bottle, bug spray, and comfortable shoes, and a willingness to explore and connect with the natural landscape.

Sharon Kennedy-Nolle, a professor of English and creative writing, is a published poet. Her latest book, “Black Wick: Selected Elegies,” was chosen as Editor’s Pick by Variant Literature Press, who published the book in 2021. Eric Baylin, both poet and sculptor, taught visual art for many years. He has exhibited his sculpture at the DVAA in Narrowsburg and CAS in Livingston Manor.