2026 Workshop Series: April

Ode to the Thing
facilitated by Alina Gregorian
Sunday, April 4, 2026
11am-1pm EST
Zoom

the workshop:

According to “thing theory,” we don’t observe or think about objects unless they stop working or become useful to us, and then they become “things.” The designer Don Normal coined the term “affordances” to describe characteristics of objects that suggest how they can be used. In this workshop, we’ll use poetry to revitalize everyday objects. We use and interact with so many objects every day, and we often don’t think about the objects beyond their intended uses for us. How can we separate objects from our routines and habits? In this workshop, we will pick an object we use semi-regularly. We will write about the object as if we lost it, broke it, or used it in a way that wasn’t intended. We’ll read Getrude Stein, Joe Brainard, Kaveh Akbar, Bernadette Mayer, and Warsan Shire. Writing as a way to break the cycle of what you look at and use everyday.

the facilitator:

Alina Gregorian is an Armenian American artist, poet, and designer currently living in Oslo, Norway. Themes in her work include diaspora, language, dreams, and creating spaces where people can gather. With Cleo Abrahamian, Alina co-created Yeraz, an archive for reimagining SWANA rituals. She curated and appeared in the exhibition Talk to me in Parsley and Tambourines: Artists of the Armenian Diaspora (Babycastles in New York) and is the author of two chapbooks — Navigational Clouds (Monk Books) and Flags for Adjectives (Diez). Her poetry can be found in Boston Review, BOMB Magazine, and Brooklyn Poets Anthology, among other publications. Find her here: alinagregorian.com

Check out Alina’s poem, “Loveboat and Sailorwife: a play in 3 acts,” in Issue 9: NINE, and her guest editorial work for Issue 22: DIASPORA!

discount codes for those who need

No, Dear aims to be as inclusive and barrier-free as we can. If the workshop rate is a barrier for you to participate, please keep reading!

• If you’re a student or a senior citizen, and would benefit from a $10 reduction in the price, use the code LEARN at checkout.

• If you’re experiencing financial hardship, and would only be able to participate with a $20 reduction in the price, use the code SUPPORT at checkout.

• If you’re in need of a full scholarship, email your interest to nodearmagazine at gmail dot com.