Release: Mayor Coleman Announces Annual Saint Paul Sidewalk Poetry Contest
City of St. Paul sent this bulletin at 02/14/2013 09:31 AM CST
Mayor Coleman Announces Annual Saint Paul Sidewalk Poetry Contest
SAINT PAUL—Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman announced the opening of the 6th Annual Saint Paul Sidewalk Poetry Contest today. Beginning on February 15 and ending on March 15, the contest will award five poets a $150 cash prize and publication of their work on sidewalks across the city. Saint Paul residents of any age are eligible to enter the contest.
“It’s hard to believe that sidewalk poetry, a unique piece of Saint Paul’s literary tradition, is already in its sixth year,” Mayor Chris Coleman said. “I have consistently enjoyed the unique poems of past winners, and I’m looking forward to what Saint Paul’s local resident poets have to add to this year’s sidewalks.”
Selected poems become part of Everyday Poems for City Sidewalk, an innovative work of conceptual art that re-imagines Saint Paul’s annual sidewalk maintenance program as a publishing opportunity with the city serving as a book. With this year’s winning submissions, the collection of sidewalk poetry will grow to more than 45 poems and surpass 700 installations throughout the city.
“I love how the poems blend into people’s everyday lives. Poems quietly appear on sidewalks and create softness within the hardscape built and maintained by the city. In this imaginative space, Saint Paul residents express their thoughts, dreams, and stories to help pave our streets with poetry,” Marcus Young, City Artist in Residence and creator of the project, said.
To submit a poem or to learn more about the contest rules and guidelines, visit www.stpaul.gov/poetry.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
Everyday Poems for City Sidewalk was created by Marcus Young, City Artist in Residence, with support from Public Art Saint Paul in collaboration with the Saint Paul Department of Public Works. It is supported by the City of Saint Paul’s Public Art Ordinance, Saint Paul Public Library, the Saint Paul Foundation, the F. R. Bigelow Foundation, and the Mardag and McKnight Foundations, ArtPlace America, and Readings by Writers. This activity is made possible in part by a grant provided by the Minnesota State Arts Board through an appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature from the State’s general fund and Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund enabled by a vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008.
Media Contacts:
Dave Hunt, Saint Paul Public Works
651-266-6134 (o)
Clarise Tushie-Lessard, Office of Mayor Chris Coleman
651-266-8571 (o)
clarise.tushie-lessard@ci.stpaul.mn.us
####
