Artist Rendition of Toni Morrison with Flowers and the wording Toni Morrison Poster & Poetry Contests - Calling All Artists!

LPLS invites students living or attending school in Lorain County to express your creativity and showcase your talent in our annual Toni Morrison Poster and Poetry Contests!

Poster Contest:

Choose one of two inspiring Toni Morrison quotations and create an original artwork reflecting its meaning using any physical medium or digital tools:

“You can do some rather extraordinary things if that's what you really believe.”

or

“At some point in life the world’s beauty becomes enough. You don’t need to photograph, paint or even remember it. It is enough.”

Artwork should be drawn horizontally and be either 12 inches by 18 inches or 8.5 inches x 11 inches in size (under/oversized artwork will not be eligible) and drawn on white poster board or white drawing paper (no lines). Artwork must be original (no traced, trademarked or copyrighted characters, slogans, etc.).

Submit your artwork beginning Oct. 1 by scanning it as a .JPEG with at least 300 dpi resolution to morrisonposter@lpls.info or drop it off at any LPLS branch. Include your contact information, school name (if applicable) and for participants aged 18 and under, provide the name of your teacher, parent or caregiver. The deadline is Nov. 17. Open to kindergarten through college.

Judging will take place in January Winners will be notified via phone or email. First-place winners will have their work displayed in the Toni Morrison Room at the Main Library for one year.

Poetry Contest:

Submit your original poem of up to 40 lines, in free or formal verse, beginning Nov. 1. Email your poem to lorainpoetry@lpls.info in the body of the email, not as an attachment, and include your legal name, pen name (if applicable), school grade or college level, name of school, home address, phone number and email address. The deadline is Dec. 9. Open to grades 6 to 8, 9 to 12 and college.

All entrants are invited to attend the Open Mic Poetry event in February where the poetry contest winners will be announced. If you are unable to attend, arrangements will be made for you to receive your prize.