2020 TPSR

The Polk Street Review 2020 book launch podcast recordings:

2020 The Polk Street Review Awards:

Ribbon awards were given in each category (prose; artwork images; poetry/song lyrics).
  2020 Theme Contest winner: Sunrise, submitted by Deborah Petersen
2020 Award of Merit: Bonita Cox Searle, for The Name Game
The Polk Street Review’s highest honor is the Award of Merit, our Best in Book. It recognizes one submission from any of the three categories that is technically and artistically outstanding, meets our guidelines, and is one that is felt deeply for a long time. Our 2020 Award of Merit choice this year, our Best in Book, went to Bonita Cox Searle, for The Name Game. We love the consistent child’s perspective in her prose piece, especially the child’s understanding and ability to find moments of shining connections within a relationship that is largely disconnected due to the challenges with her mom’s health that are clear but not clinically defined. It is a testament to Bonnie’s skill that we can all connect to this piece. 

2020 Special Awards: 
Special Awards recognize not one particular piece of writing or imagery, but rather one submitter. A Special Award goes to a person whose submission(s) are just a bit distinct from the norm: perhaps taking a risk (in life or art form), has a fresh perspective or voice, or has submitted piece/pieces that impact us and/or the book itself. In no particular order, 2020’s Special Awards go to:
Leslie Ober
For several years, Leslie has consistently submitted quality writings and images. Her paintings, writings, and photographs have been selected for a variety of TPSR awards in the past. This year, in addition to her writings and her more traditional art pieces, we love her new mixed media pieces that she created with fabrics.
  Jenny Kalahar
Jenny always submits wonderful writings to TPSR, and this year is no exception. Jenny’s won TPSR awards in the past, including an Award of Merit, but this year we felt Jenny’s poems deserve a Special Award. Her life has been marked by losses in the past year, and those losses have touched her writing in a way that people will connect to and be comforted by.

Prose Category:
    First Prize:  The Night Bobby Came to the Mall by Sandy Stewart
  Second Prize:  Blowing Things Up by Mark Wilkinson
  Third Prize:  The Pivot by Vivianne Belle
Honorable Mention:  “Zombies Can’t Open Doors” by Michelle
Payne
 
Poetry/Song Lyrics Category:
  First Prize:  The First Dawn by George Wolfe
Second Prize:  Garage Sale Blues by Steve VandeWater
Third Prize:  Tree Whispers by Dennis White
Honorable Mention:  Good Morning by David Allen
 
Images Category:
  First Prize:  Morse Lake Sunset After A Storm by Sophie Doell
Second Prize:  Blue City by Simona Buna
Third Prize:  Sunrise by Lori Cates Hand
Honorable Mention:  Sunrise by Tim Baker
 
CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE!

The 2020 edition of The Polk Street Review (TPSR) is available to purchase online: 

Direct from Lulu: https://www.lulu.com/en/us/shop/community-education-arts-inc/the-polk-street-review-2020-edition/paperback/product-16668r6r.html

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Polk-Street-Review-2020-Sunrise/dp/0999885839/