Grand Impromptu Gallery presents Ekphrastic Poetry Contest 2008 (poems in response to art) Around the Corner, a metaphor for life.   What:  An Ekphrastic Poetry Juried Contest.  Write a poem of 50 lines or less in response to any work of art in the Grand Impromptu Gallery Tacoma during the month of October 2008.  The October theme of Around the Corner includes paintings, photographs, drawings and prints, mixed media pieces, and sculpture. Contest will be juried by award winning author, Philip Heldrich, UWT Associate Professor. The Top 15 finalists will be asked to read their work at the gallery reception on Saturday October 25th and be videotaped for web streaming and a DVD, which will be for sale at the gallery. Selected poems may be chosen for a publication commemorating the event. After the reading, poems and artwork will be posted to the grandimpromptugallery.com website.   Where: Grand Impromptu Gallery Tacoma, 608 S. Fawcett, Tacoma, WA 98402.  Gallery located next to the Grand Cinema, corner of 6th & Fawcett.   Contact Curator Trinda Love: trinda.love@grandimpromptugallery.com Phone: 253- 539-1551   Fees:  $5 entry fee, which may be redeemed for $5.00 off a DVD of the event. Additional poems $1 each, with limit of 3 poems total.  Fees may be paid at the gallery when you come in both to register, and also to be inspired by the artwork in the Grand Impromptu Gallery October 2-12.   Important Dates: October 2-12th—pick up contest prospectus and register at Grand Impromptu Gallery, or online at gallery website: grandimpromptugallery.com October 3rd,   Friday--Opening party, everyone invited, 5-8 PM. October 12th   Sunday--All entries must be received by gallery (use mail slot if gallery closed) or, received electronically by October 12th in Word document format.  Send to: poetry@grandimpromptugallery.com October 20th, Monday—top 15 finalists list posted at grandimpromptugallery.com. October 25th, Saturday from 4:00 to 5:30 PM; Reception & Reading by top 15 finalists.   Awards:  Multiple cash awards given, with a guaranteed minimum first prize award of $100.  Other awards determined by total fees collected. Top 15 finalists will be asked to read at the award ceremony on Saturday, October 25th from 4-5:30 PM.      Contest Prospectus:  There will be copies of the prospectus at the Grand Impromptu Gallery front desk and on the website, grandimpromptugallery.com        Format: Please submit two copies of poem. One copy with all contact information at top left of page: Name, address, contact phone number and email address. Include the title of poem, the title of artwork and the artist who created it. Another copy to be used for judging with title of the poem, the title of the artwork chosen and artist’s name.  DO NOT INCLUDE YOUR NAME OR CONTACT INFO ON THIS POEM.   Gallery Operating Hours: Thursday and Friday 4-9 PM; Saturday 2-9 PM; and Sunday 2-6 PM. Special added daytime hours for access to artwork: Thursday October 2nd noon to 4 PM, and Friday October 10th noon to 4 PM.   SPECIAL NOTE   POEMS MUST BE WRITTEN ABOUT ARTWORK IN THE GALLERY DURING THE MONTH OF OCTOBER—OCTOBER 2-12TH 2008.   FINISHED POEMS ARE DUE BACK OCTOBER 12TH BY MIDNIGHT. Poems may be sent by email or put into gallery mail slot if gallery is closed.   So come in, pull up a chair, gaze at the artwork, pet the sculpture, and be inspired.   Grand Impromptu Gallery 608 S. Fawcett Tacoma, WA 98402 (253) 572-9232 www.grandimpromptugallery.com