Powderhorn Writers Festival

The Broadside Project Contest

For those unfamiliar with the form, Broadsides have a long tradition as an economical answer to self-publishing. Around the turn of the century broadsides were used to communicate messages from political activists, union organizers, and writers and artists. The format began to be used by advertisers as well, eventually emerging into the more familiar form of posters. However, broadsides are unique in that they combine a literary art, generally poetry, with a visual art. The broadsides of the Powderhorn Writers Festival (PWF) project strive for a balence, for the words and illustrations to work together. As Ricardo Levins Morales of Northland Poster Collective informed a group of potential broadside contributors, "a broadside is not a graphic piece of art that happens to have some words or vice versa". It is the whole, that balance of art and poem, that matters.
There are currently fourteen broadsides in Powderhorn Writers Festival's circulation. The current competitive round will add another four to that number. A panel of writers and artists will review mock-ups submitted to the contest and select the work of four artist/writer pairs to finalize their work in the Broadside Project. The artists and writers will get help along the way from previous participants, the project coordinator and Levins Morales, who is an old hand at the fine art of silk-screening and making broadsides.
There will be an informational meeting about the Project at the Powderhorn Park Neighborhood Association, 3222 Blommington Ave. S., on Saturday, February 17, at 10:00 a.m. Interested people can hear about the guidelines and requirements to submit work. They can see the work of previous participants, talk to artists and poets, and receive helpful hints. The deadline for submissions will be at 5:00 p.m. on March 14. If you are unable to make the meeting but are interested in participating in the project, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to PWF c/o PPNA at the above address to receive guidelines. Or stop by the office and pick them up. The phone number is 612-722-4817.

You got your poem published where??? The Bumper Sticker Poetry Contest
Are you tired of seeing those "My governor can beat up your governor” bumper stickers? Do you ever wish for a more profound read at a red light while stuck behind, "I © yellow labs" or "Go Vikes"? This may be your opportunity to have your poetry seen by hundreds. The Powderhorn Writers Festival is looking for a few good lines of poetry to celebrate National Poetry Month by sponsoring this unconventional, some people may even say curious (albeit loveable) contest. The guidelines are rather simple; poems must be no longer than four lines. Each line will appear on a bumper sticker itself so there will be four bumper stickers printed in total. The poet's name along with Powderhorn Writers Festival will also appear. Entries will be judged on beauty, appropriateness, originality and the unique ability to work on a bumpersticker (go figure). If you wish to enter this contest, send your submission along with your name, personal information and name(s) of poem(s) on a separate piece of paper to PWF c/o PPNA, 3222 Bloomington Ave S., Minneapolis, MN 55407. Include an SASE if you wish to be notified of winners. The deadline for submissions will be February at 5:00 p.m. on February 27. The winning submission and the runners-up will be unveiled on the closing night of the Festival, Sat., April 6.

Magnetic Poetry Contest

Local poets will compete for literary prizes in the first MAGNETIC POETRY SLAM. Using special kits provided by Powderhorn Writers Festival, contestants will have ten minutes to complete their poem before presenting them to the audience who will determine winners. Come celebrate National Poetry Month with fresh poetry. Open to poets of all ages. Limited to the first 15 to sign-up. Winners will be invited to participate in festival-ending cabaret.

A sample of magnetic poetry given to us by Warren Park. Warren used a special northern Minnesota kit for his selection.

Metaphorical Surrealism in the North Woods
Fresh sausage, caught like venison lutefisk, froze every picnic supper-
And my paddle pothole orchestra can sit green and fat on a
Slushy snow canoe;
And muggy aluminum mosquito church camp moms
Smoke loon flannel from Duluth,
As water folk watch lunker walleye gopher cow hotdish
Brew on corn beer pie.

Jazz Song Lyrics Competition

Here's your chance to become a song lyricist for a jazz tune. In cooperation with the West Bank School of Music, Powderhorn Writers Festival is holding a contest for jazz song lyrics. The form used may be 'AABA' standard song form: the first 'A' represents the first verse, the next 'A' is the second verse using the same melody, the 'B' is the third verse (a bridge) and the last 'A' repeats the first verse or uses a fourth verse. The winning text will be handed over to the West Bank School Jazz Ensemble for the creation of a new jazz song in traditional mainstream style (such as "Do Nothing 'Til You Hear From Me by Duke Ellington or Rogers and Hart's "My Romance"). The Jazz Ensemble led by WBSM Jazz Studies Director and jazz composer Paul Renz, consists of advanced student instrumentalists and a lead singer. Performance of the new piece will take place at the Powderhorn Writers Festival Finale Cabaret on Saturday, April 7th, 2001. Deadline for this contest is February 20th, 2001 by 5pm. If you wish to enter this contest, send your submission along with your name, personal information and name(s) of poem(s) on a separate piece of paper to PWF c/o PPNA, 3222 Bloomington Ave S., Minneapolis, MN 55407. Include an SASE if you wish to be notified of winners. For further information or questions, you can call Warren Park at 612-729-0711.

Powderhorn Writers Festival 2001
Contest Deadline Calendar
February 17th -informational Meeting for the Broadside Project 10am 3222 Bloomingon Ave S. February 20th -

Deadline for Jazz Song Lyrics contest. 5:00pm February 27th -
Deadline for the Bumper Sticker contest. 5:00 pm March 14th - Deadline for the Broadside Project. 5:00pm

A full calendar of events will be available March 1st. For your up-to-date listing of these literary happenings please send a self-addressed stamped envelope to: PWF (c/o PPNA, 3222 Bloomington Ave., Mpls., MN 55407)

Events
April 5th Powderhorn Writers Festival
begins with The Poetry-Puppetry Cabaret Walker Community Church, 3104 16th Ave S., 7:00pm April 6th - Workshops, Readings & more April 7th - Workshops, Readings, Magnetic Poetry Slam. Bloomington-Lake. Closing Finale Cabaret, Walker Community Church 6:00pm.