In celebration of National Poetry Month, Poetry@Tech expanded its programming beyond campus by collaborating with MARTA Artbound to showcase poetry throughout Atlanta’s transit system. Featuring works by notable poets paired with illustrations from local artists, the initiative brought art and literature to a wider public audience. The project aims to inspire and engage commuters while promoting poetry in everyday spaces.
Poetry@Tech launched its first off-campus initiative by partnering with MARTA Artbound to bring poetry to Atlanta’s transit system during National Poetry Month. Poems were displayed inside trains and on digital signboards in select stations, reaching a diverse and constantly changing audience of commuters.
The installation featured works by established poets such as Jenny George, Mary Ruefle, Naomi Shihab Nye, and Aracelis Girmay, accompanied by illustrations from Atlanta-based artists including Chloe Alexander, Sanithna Phansavanh, Jamal Barber, and Nick Benson.
Victoria Chang, director of Poetry@Tech, highlighted the visual and emotional impact of the project, noting the joy it brings to riders. The initiative was partially funded by a Catalyst Grant from Georgia Tech Arts.
Artists involved in the project emphasized the creative challenge of translating poetry into visual form, aiming to reflect the mood and symbolism of each piece.
Building on previous on-campus celebrations, Poetry@Tech saw this collaboration as a natural step toward expanding its reach. By placing poetry in public transit, the program seeks to connect with a broader Atlanta community and make poetry more accessible in everyday life.