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Arts NC State 
The Crafts Center

WORDS=POWER

Art has the power to evoke empathy, provoke thought and catalyze social change.

Art has played a significant role in expressing the experiences, struggles and triumphs of humanity. The WORDS=POWER initiative–which includes creative sessions and exhibitions of artwork–explores our relationship with words and addresses a variety of issues including beauty, destruction and resilience.

WORDS=POWER incorporates the use of words, phrases, poems and written texts. Through creative sessions, participants bring these words to life through various media such as painting, sculpture and 3D works, literature and music, as well as spoken word, dance, music and live performances. This initiative provides a safe, open creative space for participants to express themselves.

Double Exhibitions

For the first time, the Crafts Center is collaborating with the Gregg Museum of Art & Design to host a double exhibition, with different versions of WORDS=POWER at each location.

Art created for the Words=Power project. Text on the art includes a stylized version of "I will BUILD from the RUBBLE you left me in."

WORDS=POWER at the Crafts Center

September 17-November 14, 2025

The Crafts Center’s exhibition features a collection of artwork born out of the Crafts Center community, including student- and instructor-made work, videos and interactive opportunities for gallery attendees to participate. 

WORDS=POWER at the Gregg Museum of Art & Design

October 30, 2025-February 28,2026

This group exhibition brings together NC State’s Crafts Center, the Master of Fine Arts Creative Writing Program of graduate students from the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, the African American Cultural Center, and regional North Carolina artists Anne Storie Willson, Carol Fountain Nix, Jaki Shelton Green, Katy Walls and Meg Day. 

Contribute Your Art to the Crafts Center Exhibition

WORDS=POWER Creative Sessions

Each Creative Session consists of mindfulness exercises and creativity “warm ups,” along with poems and text as prompts. The primary aspect of the works will be words such as texts, poems, lyrics, etc. Participants may bring their own texts and/or be provided with a poem or excerpt. Participants will take some time to write, sketch, and journal about their relationship to the topic.

Using a 12″x12″ canvas, participants will visually interpret the text through collage, writing, imagery, etc. (Feel free to bring collage items!)-

Reserve your group session now
A student creates collage art.
A creative session student creates collage art.

Creative Session Details

  • Faculty and staff groups welcome
  • All materials provided to participants
  • 1.5 hour sessions
  • Can be arranged in various locations in addition to the Crafts Center
  • Special arrangements will need to be made for groups over 25
  • Please schedule at least 2-3 weeks in advance
  • $15 per-person charge to cover instruction and materials
  • Sessions run through September 26, 2025

Reserve your group session now!

Reserve your group session now!

Words=Power creative sessions will be offered throughout the year leading up to the series of events and exhibitions on campus in fall 2025.