In honor of National Poetry Month, Nimitz Library and The Writing Center are hosting a Blackout Poetry Contest. Entries will be collected between Wednesday, April 7th and Friday, April 23rd. Prizes will be awarded to the top entries.
Blackout Poetry (also known as Erasure Poetry) is when a poet takes a marker (usually a black marker) to already established text - like a newspaper - and starts redacting words until a poem is formed. The key thing with a blackout poem is that the text AND redacted text form a sort of visual poem.
We encourage you to try your hand at this creative poetry form, and the following information will give you further instructions on how to familiarize yourself with this kind of poetry and submit an entry to our contest.
Here are some examples to spark your creativity:
https://schoollibrarylady.com/2016/05/02/winners-in-the-blackout-poetry-contest/
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/
http://www.nowsparkcreativity.
Nimitz Library is providing supplies for you to create your own blackout poetry, including newspapers, magazines, and book pages for the canvas. We'll also have markers and other materials together on the main deck. Look for the Blackout Poetry area. You are also welcome to use your own supplies. Look for the poetry creation station on one of the tables on your way to the Old Salt Grind Coffee Bar on the main deck!
You may drop off your entries in the drop-off basket in Nimitz Library. The basket is on our Blackout Poetry table near the Old Salt Grind Coffee Shop. Please be sure to include your name and class number on your entry. If you cannot submit your poem in person, please take a photo of it and e-mail a copy to: koshute@usna.edu. Please note that entries may be shared on our Nimitz Library Social media channels.
The deadline for submissions is Friday, April 23rd,
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| 1st place | 2nd place | 3rd place |
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| Honorable mention | Honorable mention |
Austin Kleon
Credit: https://artbyro.com/how-to-create-blackout-poetry/
