NM Department of Cultural Affairs announces winners of 1st Annual Ekphrastic Poetry Contest

April 22nd, 2024

After a month of poetry, art, and inspiration, the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs (NMDCA) is thrilled to announce the winners of its inaugural Ekphrastic Poetry Contest!  

In preparation for National Poetry Month in April, New Mexicans had the opportunity to write and submit poems inspired by 10 works of art from the collections of NMDCA institutions across the state. More information about the contest is available HERE.  

Each winner receives two NMDCA CulturePasses and an opportunity to read their poem during a special event on Sunday, May 19 at the National Hispanic Cultural Center Bank of America Theatre, located at 1701 4th St. SE in Albuquerque. 

The winners of the inaugural contest are below. Visit https://nmculture.org/poetry to view and learn more about the artworks that inspired the poems! 

Youth category- 

• “Untitled” by Diego Viscarra (Inspired by Age of Dinosaurs at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science. 
• “Bobo bu Ku” by Abram Baldillez (BoBo bu Ko Robotic Assemblage at the Museum of International Folk Art) 
• “A Letter to My Space Man” by Marley Launer (Inspired by Lumen Space II at the New Mexico Museum of Space History) 
• “The Sky Doesn’t Leave When It Rains” by Amelia Martinez (Pablita Passes (Walking Rain) at New Mexico Museum of Art) 
• “Cracked Ice” by Isabella Lobaina (Water Girls at Museum of Indian Arts & Culture) 

Adult Category 

• “Walk With Me” by Susan Gatewood (Age of Dinosaurs) 
• “His Garden of Peace” by Terry Mulert (Band of Familiar, on view at Bataan Memorial Building through New Mexico Arts) 
• “Budding Life” by Alison Penn (Blessing of the Fields at the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum) 
• “Grandpa” by Erica Photiades (BoBo bu Ko Robotic Assemblage) 

• “Awakening” by Tammy Iralu (Children playing on swing, Jemez Pueblo School, New Mexico at the New Mexico History Museum) 
• “Lumen Space II” by Rebecca Aronson (Lumen Space II) 
• “Pablita Passes” by Andrea Watson (Pablita Passes (Walking Rain)) 
• “Mesilla Joyride” by Kristin Knight (The Mesilla Guard at Taylor-Mesilla Historic Site) 
• “Sing Out” by Alison Ely (Untitled at the National Hispanic Cultural Center) 
• “Water Girls” by Shauna Osborn (Water Girls)