Poetry Contest
Are you inspired by the art and culture of New Mexico?
Let the artwork on display around the state serve as your guide for our poetry contest! The 10 pieces of art below, each on display at a different institution operated by New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs, range from photographs of life in early New Mexico statehood to cosmic depictions of the vast universe. Each piece of art on display contributes to artistic and cultural heritage of New Mexico in its own way. In celebration of National Poetry Month, we invite all New Mexicans to seek inspiration in the works of art on display below and express that feeling through ekphrastic poetry, or poetry inspired by works of art.
Congratulations to our 2024 Winners!
This year's contest included more than 100 submissions. The contest judge, and our State Poet Laureat, Lauren Camp was blown away by the thoughtful creativity. Click the images of each artwork to read the poems of the winners.
Youth Category
Winner: "Untitled" by Diego Viscarra | Inspired by Age of Dinosaurs
Winner: "Bobo bu Ko" by Abram Baldillez | Inspired by BoBo bu Ko Robotic Assemblage
Winner: "A Letter to My Space Man" by Marley Launer | Inspired by Lumen Space II
Winner: "The Sky Doesn't Leave When It Rains" by Amelia Martinez | Inspired by Pablita Passes (Walking Rain)
Winner: "Cracked Ice" by Isabella Lobaina | Inspired by Water Girls
Honorable Mention: "A Million Little Tears" by Jenna Chavez | Inspired by Pablita Passes (Walking Rain)
Adult Category
Winner: "Walk With Me" by Susan Gatewood | Inspired by Age of Dinosaurs
Winner: "His Garden of Peace" by Terry Mulert | Inspired by Band of Familiar
Winner: "Budding Life" by Alison Penn | Inspired by Blessing of the Fields
Winner: "Grandpa" by Erica Photiades | Inspired by BoBo bu Ko Robotic Assemblage
Winner: "Awakening" by Tammy Iralu | Inspired by Children playing on swing, Jemez Pueblo School, New Mexico
Winner: "Lumen Space II" by Rebecca Aronson | Inspired by Lumen Space II
Winner: "Pablita Passes" by Andrea Watson | Inspired by Pablita Passes (Walking Rain)
Winner: "Mesilla Joyride" by Kristin Knight | Inspired by The Mesilla Guard
Winner: "Sing Out" by Alison Ely | Inspired by Untitled (Tree of Life)
Winner: "Water Girls" by Shauna Osborn | Inspired by Water Girls
Honorable Mention: "Untitled" by Jodi Creager | Inspired by Blessing of the Fields
Honorable Mention: "Age of Dragons" by Taylor Smith | Inspired by Age of Dinosaurs
Honorable Mention: "Holding On" by Thelma Giomi| Inspired by Children playing on swing, Jemez Pueblo School, New Mexico
Honorable Mention: "Untitled (Tree of Life) by Candice Yanez | Inspired by Untitled (Tree of Life)
Rules
- Contest runs now through March 31, 2024. Winners will be announced on April 22, 2024.
- Upload your poem by clicking the "submit" button below. Please respect our limit of one poetry submission per person.
- Only complete submission forms will be judged.
- Contest open to all New Mexico residents.
- The contest will feature two tracks: Youth (6th to 12th Grade) and Adult. Please select your category when you submit your poem.
- Submissions will be judged anonymously by New Mexico Poet Laureate Lauren Camp and a panel of experts.
- One Adult winner and one Youth winner for each of the 10 works of art will be selected. Each winner will receive a pair of New Mexico CulturePasses and other fun surprises!
New Mexico CulturePass
Your ticket to New Mexico's exceptional Museums and Historic Sites.
From Indian treasures to space exploration, world-class folk art to awesome dinosaurs—our museums and monuments celebrate the essence of New Mexico every day.
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Encounter Culture
Take a look inside the museums and historic sites of New Mexico without leaving home. Join host Charlotte Jusinski, and a variety of guest curators, artists, and exhibitors in exploring the art and culture of the state in Encounter Culture, a new podcast from the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs.
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