Everybody has heard it: A picture is worth 1,000 words.
How many words, then, is a painting worth?
The Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery, 12th and R streets, wants to know.
The Nebraska Poets on Sheldon Paintings Poetry Contest, which began Jan. 1 and runs through March 1, encourages poets statewide to submit original poems based on Sheldon paintings.
"There are just so many ways to respond to paintings, and we're looking forward to reading the results," said contest coordinator Rebecca Bednarz.
Mary K. Stillwell, a poet and professor in the University of Nebraska-Lincoln English department, proposed the concept for the competition. Sheldon officials welcomed the idea.
"Almost simultaneously, Rebecca (Bednarz) came to us with a similar idea," said Karen Janovy, curator of education at the Sheldon. "We said, 'Go for it.'"
Organizing the poetry contest began in September 2007.
"We began planning with the idea that the poetry contest would be in conjunction with the upcoming 'Poets on Painters' exhibition," Bednarz said.
"Poets on Painters," an exhibit pairing modern poets with modern painters, will open at the Sheldon on April 25. During the opening reception, winning poems from each age division will be presented alongside their source of inspiration.
"We are hopeful that the winners can be here, and we are hopeful to have the real poem be presented beside the real painting," Janovy said.
"We are pleased with the whole concept of making a large project out of a Sheldon exhibit."
Bednarz also cited the connection between language and paintings as an additional source of inspiration for the contest.
"We thought it was a great educational opportunity to link visiting the museum with creative writing," she said.
Bednarz's previous experience in writing grants helped her in applying for and receiving one from the Nebraska Arts Council for the poetry contest.
"Writing the grant meant organizing volunteers and supporters, setting a budget and timeline and describing the elements of the project in detail," Bednarz said.
As a result of these efforts, contest winners will each receive a monetary prize.
"Winners will each be paid $100," said Tom White, public relations director for the Sheldon.
"For a college student, that's a dinner or two."
So long as the painting is featured at the Sheldon, it can be used as a source of inspiration, White said. Potential poets can access Sheldon paintings in a variety of ways.
"They can go online, find a print catalogue, or find a painting hanging up at the Sheldon," Janovy said.
The finished poems will then be judged by both an artist and a poet.
"It will be interesting to find out what's the connection here between poets and paintings," Janovy said.
For specific contest rules and regulations, visit www.sheldon artgallery.com.
MOLLYYOUNG@DAILYNEBRASKAN.COM
