Art & Poetry Walks
Presented by Arts Los Altos and Salt & Poetry

Friday, September 5, 2025

Friday, September 11, 2026

If you were in downtown Los Altos on First Friday, September 5, 2025 or September 11, 2026 you might have seen a large group of people wandering from place to place downtown following someone with a microphone. Who were they and what were they doing?

It’s an annual Art & Poetry Walk, and what a successful turnout! An estimated forty to fifty people came out to listen to poems written and inspired by specific public art installations in downtown Los Altos, followed by a reception. Arts Los Altos teamed up with local poetry groups to make these events happen.

Inspired by similar events in other cities, Hilary King of Poetry Los Altos and Salt & Poetry sought out local poets to write original poems about the art. Maddy McBirney, co-founder of Arts Los Altos, led the tour. Six poets read their poems at each of the artworks on the tour. Enjoy them below!

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Why is Los Altos
Why is Los Altos
An art publication page featuring a poem titled 'Mandahlia' and a photo of a green, illuminated geometric art piece casting patterned shadows on the floor.
Poem about the Fibonacci spiral, self-similarity, and natural growth patterns, featuring imagery of a statue, stained glass, rainbow colors, pinecones, and pineapples.
A poem about a gemstone, describing its structure, shape, and symbolism, with references to a dodecahedron, pentagon, and a diamond.
A page of printed poetry by Peter Herreshoff, with the author's name and location at the bottom.
A page from Los Altos Art & Poetry Walk September 2025 featuring a poem titled 'Floral Therapy' and a photograph of a mural painting of pink and white flowers by Nora Bruhn. The poem is authored by Shamiram Melko from Los Altos, California.
Colorful mural on a building wall featuring orange poppies and black monarch butterflies, with a poem printed beside it.
A poem about poppies transforming into butterflies, attributed to Peter Herreshoff, Los Altos, California, printed on a beige background.
Flyer for Los Altos Art & Poetry Walk, September 2025, featuring a poem about change and leaves, and a photo of a building with a colorful leaf mural and a coffee bar sign.
A magazine page featuring a poem about California birds alongside a photograph of a mural depicting various colorful California birds on a building wall.
Poster for Los Altos Art & Poetry Walk September 2025, featuring artwork of the Los Altos Theatre, with a poem titled 'In The Altos Theater, 1955' by John Fadely, about the theater, childhood, and memories of Rome.
A poem titled 'Welcome to Heaven' on a beige background with a colorful illustration of a bluebird in a forest setting on the right side.
A poem titled 'Now to the main muse' by Abika Santhosh, printed on a beige background.
A flyer for the Los Altos Art & Poetry Walk in September 2025 features a colorful illustration of the Los Altos theater and information about the event. It includes a poem titled 'In The Altos Theater, 1955' by John Fadely, printed on a cream backgro
A group of people gathered outdoors listening to a man speaking while holding a microphone, in front of a building with colorful mural art.