The group will solicit poetry on the theme “10 Syracuse Spirits” and welcome short-form poetry outside the tradition of haiku.
In a special collaboration with the New York State Fair, the Project will also produce one “reverse process” poster, starting with an illustration, and inviting writers to complete the illustration with a poem. For the special poster, the Project commissioned an image by Lydia Nichols, a professional illustrator who first participated in 2007 when she was an illustration student at Syracuse University.
The nonprofit Project, founded in 2001, brings together poets and artists to create an annual series of illustrated poetry posters for Syracuse.
This year’s call for poetry, ongoing through Sept. 30, prompts writers with a series of “Syracuse Spirits,” and invites them to submit poems about, or in the voice of, these spirits. For example: “Spirit of Regional Taste.”
The group’s call for poetry was formerly limited to traditional haiku. To appeal to more participants, the call now welcomes haiku and other short, three- and four-line poems.
This year, panelists will select 10 pairings of poem and illustration. The artists of the selected posters will receive a $500 fee and $500 for first place, $300 for second place, and $100 for third place. Artists and poets of the selected posters will also receive two poster prints and complimentary merchandise.
Writers can find entry materials at https://www.posterproject.org, or by directly contacting Jim Emmons, project coordinator, at (315) 937-7123. Artists interested in illustrating a poster should send contact information to jim@posterproject.org. The deadline for submitting poems is Sept. 30. The deadline for completed posters is Nov. 14. Selected artist and poet pairs are announced in December and the posters are revealed in April.
For online listings: The following link goes to the “Participate” section of our website, where visitors can find entry materials: http://www.posterproject.org/participate/index.php
