SEQUIM — Selected poems chosen as winning entries for the 2016 Rainshadow Poetry Competition will be read at 2 p.m. Sunday.
The poetry will be read during a gala at Olympic Theatre Arts, 414 N. Sequim Ave.
Anthologies containing the winning poetry can be purchased for $10 during the reading.
The event is free, although donations and sales of the anthology benefit OTA, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Judith Duncan and Ruth Marcus — co-founders of the Rainshadow Poetry Competition — invite friends, family and supporters of the arts to attend.
Meet poets
“It’s an afternoon to meet the poets, enjoy the readings and acknowledge literary talent here on the Peninsula,” Marcus said.
This annual event was organized in 2015 as a tribute to Jim Fisher, a respected professor at Peninsula College who encouraged and inspired many writers.
The winning poems this year were chosen from more than 200 submitted.
Calls for entries began last November, culminating in the publication of the 2016 Poetry Rainshadow Anthology during National Poetry Month this month.
The published poems represent poets of all ages from Clallam and Jefferson counties.
Judges for the blind-jury process were Sally Albiso, a poet from Port Angeles; Danielle Gayman, a librarian from Port Angeles; and Peter Quinn, a writer from Port Townsend.
Also during the reading, Ryoko Toyama, Blue Whole Gallery artist, will display the original canvas painting “Harvest Time I,” which is featured on the cover of the anthology.
This painting was exhibited in three juried shows in 2015: Collective Vision Gallery in Bremerton, Sequim Arts Juried Show and “Northwest Expressions” of the Northwind Arts Center in Port Townsend.
Winning poets
In alphabetical order, the winning poets are John Victor Anderson, Craig William Andrews, Joy Beaver, Michelle de Beixedon, Cheryle Hoskins Bigelow, Roger Briggs, Gary E. Bullock, Penny Burdick, Howard Chadwick, Gigi Christensen, Katie Cobb, Nyla Dartt, Risa Denenberg and Susie Dong.
Also, Judy A. Drechsler, Gail E. Elliott, Jane Evans, Paul Fiorini, Robert Fletcher, Alitya Florence, Ruth Geiger, Sharon R. Gilmour, Alice Hastings, Sierra Hemmig, Gina Hietpas, David T. Hoopes, Janet Kailin, Mary Jill Klay, Caitlin Knapple, Robert Komishane, Paula Lalish, Ingrid Lehrer and Sara Ybarra Lopez.
Also, John Merton Marrs, Charlotte McElroy, Amy McFarland, Trudy McFarland, Eva McGinnis, Gary McMannon, Terry Moore, Keith Moul, Helena Paneyko, Terri Paquin, Carolyn Parker, Tony Porto, Teya Priest Johnston, Linda M. Robertson, Judy Rosen, Georgina Stockman-Clark, George Stratton, Mia Torres, Stephen Delos Treacy, Marcia VanCleve and Ella Ventura.
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Reporter Chris McDaniel can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56650, or at cmcdaniel@peninsuladailynews.com.
