Elaine Powers, Tucson Poetry Society Chair (TPS)
SAACA (Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance) has been partnering with the Veterans Affairs for the past 3 years for the local VA Creative Arts Competition by helping find judges for the competition. The categories include visual arts (all kinds), creative writing, music, dance, and spoken word. SAACA will showcase the 1st place winners at CATALYST in the Tucson Mall after the competition ends. The SAACA staff thought I would be a satisfactory judge for the creative writing, poetry, and short stories. Fortunately, I was given most of the submissions the week before, so I could take my time reading and evaluating them. This was the biggest group of submissions they had ever had. In preparing the works for judging, the staff had read them all and had their favorites. Of course, they knew the authors and knew this familiarity with the vets might influence their opinion. That’s why they needed an impartial judge. I didn’t know any of the authors. Fortunately, I did give the highest rating to the ‘correct’ short story. It was a tear-jerker.
Previously, I’d judged science fair projects and only recently started judging writing. Earlier this year, I judged elementary school poetry for ASPS. Wow, they were exceptional. I enjoyed reading them, but the judging was very hard.
For this event, all I had to do was rate 5 areas on a scale from 1-10. I wondered if I should include comments to the authors about my thoughts and suggestions, but they will never see my scoring. I really would have enjoyed discussing the works with the authors. (I have invited the poets to join us at the Tucson Poetry Society>)
All of the poetry submitted was non-rhyming and divided into several categories, such as inspirational, military experience, and general. I enjoyed the wide range of topics, all very creative. The quality of the writing was very good. Of course, this made grading them very difficult.
I read each work over multiple times and once out loud. The majority were so well written that I looked for any small aspect that could be improved. A few moved me emotionally – the desired effect of poems, and short stories. I tried to incorporate all I had learned from my years with the TPS.
I hadn’t heard of this competition before, but it’s part of the VA’s rehabilitation program. What a wonderful way to showcase the creative achievements of the veterans. So, the works are judged by authors and artists, but there is also a public vote as well! The top three winning entries advance to a national competition. First place winners are invited to attend the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival hosted by a different VA facility each year.
I attended the session where the visual arts judging did their work. It’s a good thing I attended, since two short stories hadn’t been sent to me! Then in a couple of categories, there were ties for third place, so I had to select one.
I was impressed that every entry was carefully recorded and photographed if a visual art. The works presented were certainly worthy of the effort of the VA employees.
After public event at the Tucson VA complex, the winning entries will be displayed at SAACA’s CATALYST Creative Collective at Tucson Mall. I need to go see who won in all the categories!