Writers are invited to contribute to public art in Whistler through the annual Poet’s Pause competition this spring.
Each year, the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) invites writers to submit original, unpublished poems for the Poet’s Pause poetry competition. Winning poems will be displayed at the Poet’s Pause sculpture sites in Alta Lake Park – specifically the large metal chimes art pieces titled Lost in Sound at the north part of the park, and the giant Adirondack chairs titled Lakeside Couple in the south end of the park.
“The Resort Municipality of Whistler’s public art program continues to nurture the arts and brings a rich variety of artistic work into Whistler for the benefit of the community and visitors,” said Whistler Mayor Jack Crompton. “The Poet’s Pause poetry competition runs annually and is an opportunity for local writers to have their work displayed within Alta Lake Park.”
The winning poems will receive a prize of $200 each and be read at a Council meeting in April as part of National Poetry Month.
Poet’s Pause is part of a public art concept created by the late Joan Baron, an artist who developed the two Alta Lake Park sculpture sites with the intention of inspiring creativity.
The public can submit poems for one or both display sites. Poems should respond to the themes of the two sculpture sites: the theme for the large metal chimes is listening, and the theme for the giant Adirondack chairs is togetherness. Poems can be of any type and format and should be no longer than 240 words.
The deadline for submissions is Thursday, March 10, 2022 at 3 p.m.
To submit a poem, email resortexperience@whistler.ca.
Full details are available at whistler.ca/poetrycompetition.
Public Art Program
Whistler’s public art program involves 56 public and private art pieces in various locations throughout Whistler, including Whistler Village, public parks and the Valley Trail. The public art program was established in 1996 and includes periodic calls to artists to submit proposals for specific projects, the Poet’s Pause poetry competition and the Street Banner Art program. In addition a local artist recently completed a large mural on the newly built Whistler Olympic Plaza public washroom buildings as part of the public art program.
