Stouffville Hosts Inaugural Ekphrastic Writing Contest

In the prose category, Mary Ann McKenzie took first place, followed by Karen Lee Boulton in second and Kaireen Adamson in third. The poetry competition resulted in a tie for first, with Mary Findlater and Barb Wride both recognized, while Julia Khen secured third.

The event was organized by the Inklings Adult Writing Group, which meets bi-weekly at the Stouffville Library. Member Johnny Wideman noted that the group’s name pays homage to the historic literary circle known as the Inklings, which included C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien.

One of the highlights of the contest was the collaboration between writers and visual artists, with artists present at the awards ceremony to hear the entries inspired by their work. Wideman remarked on the excitement surrounding the event, emphasizing the unique opportunity for both creative communities to come together.

Participants were tasked with choosing one of four artworks to inspire their entries, which included pieces like Urn by Carlos Fentanes and La Reine de la Patate by Nancy R. Chalut. Submissions were capped at 500 words.

Judging was conducted by a panel experienced in writing and publishing, including author Elise Abram, novelist and poet James Dewar, award-winning journalist Daemon Fairless, and communications manager Glenn Jackson.

Winners were revealed during a ceremony on September 23, where they read their works aloud. Wideman expressed satisfaction with how the event fostered interaction between different artistic disciplines, calling it a special experience.

The contest was entirely volunteer-run and received support from local sponsors, with cash prizes from Ramani Real Estate and additional contributions from community partners like Foxglove Books and Growtown. Following its success, organizers aim to make the contest an annual event.